“Contrast” — what the examiner wants
How to answer a Cambridge Computer Science question that starts with Contrast (9618): Cambridge's definition, what a full-mark answer contains, the mistake that loses the mark.
Cambridge's definition
“identify / comment on differences”
What earns full marks
Differences only, each stated for both items: "a compiler produces object code whereas an interpreter does not".
What loses the mark
Including similarities — they earn nothing here.
A question that uses it
Contrast the roles of the lexical analysis and syntax analysis stages of compilation.
In real past papers
None of the current-syllabus questions in the bank opens with this word yet — it is in the syllabus list, so it can still be set.
Don't confuse it with
The definition follows the command-word table in the Cambridge syllabus; the guidance is ZAK's. Statistics come from the real past-paper question bank (command words are read from each question's wording). Command words and past papers are © Cambridge Assessment International Education.