“Outline” — what the examiner wants
How to answer a Cambridge Computer Science question that starts with Outline (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 57 current-syllabus past-paper questions.
Cambridge's definition
“set out the main points”
What earns full marks
The headline points only, in a logical order — a brief description without detail or justification.
What loses the mark
Going into depth on the first point and running out of space for the others. Breadth beats depth here.
A question that uses it
Outline the stages of the fetch–decode–execute cycle.
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.
57
questions
57
parts open with it
2
median marks a part
By paper
- 2210 / 0478 Paper 27 of 262 questions · 3%
- 9618 Paper 28 of 251 questions · 3%
- 9618 Paper 342 of 353 questions · 12%
Typical marks per part: 2 marks (51%), 3 marks (28%), 4 marks (11%), 5 marks (7%).
Topics where “Outline” comes up most
- A2 LevelData Representation10 questions
- A2 LevelCommunication and Internet Technologies9 questions
- A2 LevelSystem Software8 questions
- A2 LevelHardware and Virtual Machines6 questions
- AS LevelData Types and Structures5 questions
- A2 LevelArtificial Intelligence4 questions
- A2 LevelSecurity4 questions
- O Level / IGCSEProgramming4 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 “Outline”, b = the whole question.
Don't confuse it with
- Describe“state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features”1 mark per feature, usually 2–4
- Explain“set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how, and support with relevant evidence”2 marks per point, usually 2–6
- Summarise“select and present the main points, without detail”2–3 marks
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.