Cambridge International AS Level Computer Science
Paper 1 covers the theory: data, hardware, processors, system software, security, ethics and databases. Paper 2 is pure problem-solving and programming with CAIE pseudocode.
Sitting AS and A2 together, all four papers in one series? Full A Level treats both halves as one course and pairs each A2 topic with the AS topic it builds on.
AS Level Computer Science 9618
Course tourFollow the study route
39 sections in syllabus order. Each one: read, watch, pass a 5-question check, flashcards, real past-paper questions. A short check first tells you where to begin.
Paper 1
Theory Fundamentals
1h 30m75 marks25% of A Level (50% of AS)
Written paper. Short-answer and structured questions.
Assessment objectives:AO1 60% Knowledge & understandingAO2 40% Apply & analysewhat each topic is examined as →
Information Representation
Number systems, BCD, two's complement, character sets, multimedia (bitmap/vector, sound) and file compression.
Communication
Networks (LAN/WAN, client–server, peer-to-peer, thin and thick clients), topologies, cloud computing, wired and wireless media, LAN hardware, Ethernet, bit streaming, the internet's infrastructure, IP addressing, URLs and DNS.
Hardware
Input, output and storage devices and how they work, buffers, embedded systems, memory types (RAM/ROM, SRAM/DRAM, PROM/EPROM/EEPROM), monitoring and control systems, and logic gates and circuits.
Processor Fundamentals
Von Neumann CPU, registers, buses, the FDE cycle with register transfer notation, interrupts, assembly language, addressing modes and bit manipulation.
System Software
Operating systems and utilities, language translators, compilers vs interpreters, IDE features.
Security, Privacy and Data Integrity
Data security vs data integrity, threats, prevention, validation and verification.
Ethics and Ownership
Ethical behaviour, professional codes of conduct (BCS/ACM/IEEE), copyright, licensing and AI ethics.
Databases
Relational databases, normalisation to 3NF, ER diagrams, DDL and DML with SQL.
Paper 2
Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills
2h75 marks25% of A Level (50% of AS)
Written paper. Candidates answer using pseudocode; the pseudocode insert is provided.
Assessment objectives:AO2 40% Apply & analyseAO3 60% Design, program & evaluatewhat each topic is examined as →
Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving
Computational thinking (abstraction, decomposition), identifier tables, pseudocode with the three basic constructs, structured English and flowcharts (and converting between them), stepwise refinement and logic statements.
Data Types and Structures
Data types, records, arrays (1D/2D), files, and how ADTs are implemented with arrays.
Programming
Programming basics, constructs, structured programming — procedures, functions, parameters by value/reference, scope.
Software Development
Program development life cycle, program design tools, program testing, test data and maintenance.
