“Describe” — what the examiner wants
How to answer a Cambridge Computer Science question that starts with Describe (2210, 0478 & 9618): Cambridge's definition, what a full-mark answer contains, the mistake that loses the mark, and how often the word has come up in 397 current-syllabus past-paper questions.
Cambridge's definition
“state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features”
What earns full marks
Say what it is and what its main features are — one clear statement per mark. For a process, describe the steps in order.
What loses the mark
Explaining why (that is a different command word) or listing advantages when the question asked for features.
A question that uses it
Describe how a check digit is used to detect errors in a barcode.
In real past papers
Current-syllabus questions only (2210 / 0478 from 2023, 9618 from 2021); a question set under both 2210 and 0478 counts once.
397
questions
482
parts open with it
3
median marks a part
By paper
- 2210 / 0478 Paper 173 of 210 questions · 35%
- 2210 / 0478 Paper 235 of 262 questions · 13%
- 9618 Paper 1120 of 270 questions · 44%
- 9618 Paper 257 of 251 questions · 23%
- 9618 Paper 3112 of 353 questions · 32%
Typical marks per part: 2 marks (43%), 3 marks (24%), 4 marks (22%), 5 marks (5%).
Topics where “Describe” comes up most
- A2 LevelData Representation29 questions
- AS LevelData Types and Structures28 questions
- AS LevelProgramming26 questions
- O Level / IGCSEAlgorithm Design and Problem-Solving22 questions
- AS LevelCommunication21 questions
- AS LevelDatabases19 questions
- O Level / IGCSEHardware19 questions
- A2 LevelCommunication and Internet Technologies17 questions
Recent questions that use it
Open any one to read it and mark your answer against the official mark scheme.
Marks shown as “a / b”: a = marks in parts that open with “Describe”, b = the whole question.
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.