3. Hardware
The CPU and Von Neumann architecture, the fetch–decode–execute cycle, input/output devices, storage and virtual memory.
Statometer96BankerNext Paper 194%Everything for this topic — study hub
O Level / IGCSE · 2210 · 0478 · Paper 1
Statometer — what 25 real papers say about this topic and each of its 5 syllabus bullets
Banker · #2 of 10 in O Level / IGCSE · recomputed with every new session
Set in nearly every paper and worth a big slice of it — revise first, expect it.
- Next Paper 1
- 94%
- 9 in 10 chance it is set
- Marks a paper
- 22.5 / 75
- 30% of Paper 1 · fair share 17%
- Appeared in
- 25 / 25
- Paper 1 sittings 2023–2026
- Last set
- May/Jun 2026
- 0478/13 · Q4 · 3 marks · 11-series streak
What the papers say
- Set in 25 of 25 Paper 1 sittings on the current syllabus — treat it as certain.
- Worth about 22.5 marks a paper (30% of Paper 1, 1.8× its fair share).
- Last set May/Jun 2026 · 0478/13 · Q4 for 3 marks — in the most recent series.
- Set in each of the last 11 series without a miss.
- Easing off: about 22.3 marks a paper earlier, 21.7 in the latest years — still examined, just smaller.
- Lives on “Describe” and “Give” — 54% of its questions: full sentences with a reason, not one-word answers.
- Most of its marks (85%) come in extended questions of 6+ marks — plan the answer before writing.
- Its biggest question so far: 16 marks (Oct/Nov 2025 · 2210/12 · Q7).
- Inside the topic, §3.2 Input and output devices carries the most marks (37%) and §3.1 CPU performance and embedded systems the least (4%).
- §3.4 Network hardware has not been asked for 4 series — the bullet most likely to be “due”.
- It is examined mostly as AO1 (Knowledge & understanding, 70%) — definitions and descriptions in syllabus words score.
- The examiner has commented on 188 of its questions — read “What the examiner said” before you practise.
- The single biggest share of Paper 1 among its 6 topics.
Command words
Share of questions using the word (a question can use several). What each wants →
Question shapes
- 1–2 mk3
- 3–4 mk49
- 5–6 mk73
- 7–9 mk82
- 10+ mk68
Average 8 marks a question · 16% with a figure or table · 31% with code · biggest 16 marks
Assessment objectives — how it is examined
Every part of every current-syllabus question filed under Cambridge's AO1 / AO2 / AO3 (from its command word and what it asks you to do), so you know whether this topic pays for definitions, for applying, or for judging and building.
- AO1 Knowledge & understanding
- AO2 Apply to a context
- AO3 Evaluate & judge
Paper 1 as a whole
| Paper 1 | Syllabus | Measured |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 Knowledge & understanding | 60% | 64% |
| AO2 Apply to a context | 20% | 24% |
| AO3 Evaluate & judge | 20% | 12% |
Syllabus = Cambridge's grid; measured = the bank's current-syllabus papers.
Inside the topic — every syllabus bullet, measured
Each part of each question is filed under the bullet it examines; the numbers are per Paper 1 sitting, exactly like the topic's. Open a bullet for its own Statometer.
3.1Computer architecture#2 of 20 on Paper 1Banker · 9183% next paper7.1 marks21/25 sittings→ May/Jun 2026Banker · 9183%
7.1 · 27% of topic21/25May/Jun 2026latest series · →Asked in nearly every paper — the bullet to know cold.Syllabus: role of the CPU and the microprocessor; Von Neumann components (ALU, CU, PC, MAR, MDR, CIR, ACC, address/data/control buses); the fetch–decode–execute cycle
- Next Paper 1
- 83%
- 8 in 10
- Marks a paper
- 7.1
- 9% of the paper · 27% of the topic
- Asked in
- 21 / 25
- Paper 1 sittings · 97 questions
- Last asked
- May/Jun 2026
- 0478/13 · Q4 · 3 marks
- Asked in 21 of 25 Paper 1 sittings — about 8 papers in 10.
- About 7.1 marks a paper (9% of Paper 1; 27% of the topic's marks across its 5 bullets).
- Last asked May/Jun 2026 · 0478/13 · Q4 (3 marks) — in the most recent series.
- Usually “Identify” or “Explain”: short, precise answers in syllabus words.
- Biggest chunk of marks so far: 10 in May/Jun 2025 · 0478/13 · Q3.
- It is examined mostly as AO1 (Knowledge & understanding, 69%), the rest AO2 (30%) — definitions and descriptions in syllabus words score.
Last 12 sittings→ SteadyAssessment objectives
AO1 69%AO2 30%- AO1 Knowledge & understanding
- AO2 Apply to a context
- AO3 Evaluate & judge
- Identify38%
- Explain36%
- Describe36%
- Give32%
3.1CPU performance and embedded systems#14 of 20 on Paper 1Regular · 5173% next paper2.4 marks18/25 sittings→ May/Jun 2026Regular · 5173%
2.4 · 4% of topic18/25May/Jun 2026latest series · →Set most sessions for a few marks; know the definition and one example.Syllabus: cores, cache and clock speed; the instruction set; purpose and characteristics of embedded systems and where they are used
- Next Paper 1
- 73%
- 7 in 10
- Marks a paper
- 2.4
- 3% of the paper · 4% of the topic
- Asked in
- 18 / 25
- Paper 1 sittings · 25 questions
- Last asked
- May/Jun 2026
- 0478/13 · Q3 · 4.5 marks
- Asked in 18 of 25 Paper 1 sittings — about 7 papers in 10.
- About 2.4 marks a paper (3% of Paper 1; 4% of the topic's marks across its 5 bullets).
- Last asked May/Jun 2026 · 0478/13 · Q3 (4.5 marks) — in the most recent series.
- Usually “Explain” or “Describe”: full sentences with a reason, not one-word answers.
- Biggest chunk of marks so far: 5 in Oct/Nov 2025 · 2210/12 · Q4.
- It is examined mostly as AO1 (Knowledge & understanding, 69%), the rest AO3 (31%) — definitions and descriptions in syllabus words score.
Last 12 sittings→ SteadyAssessment objectives
AO1 69%AO3 31%- AO1 Knowledge & understanding
- AO2 Apply to a context
- AO3 Evaluate & judge
- Explain68%
- Describe56%
- State48%
- Identify48%
3.2Input and output devices#9 of 20 on Paper 1Core · 5966% next paper3.6 marks17/25 sittings↗ May/Jun 2026Core · 5966%
3.6 · 37% of topic17/25May/Jun 2026latest series · ↗A regular earner inside the topic — most papers touch it.Syllabus: input devices (scanners, camera, keyboard, microphone, mouse, touch screens), output devices (printers, projectors, screens, speakers, actuators) and the 14 sensors
- Next Paper 1
- 66%
- 7 in 10
- Marks a paper
- 3.6
- 5% of the paper · 37% of the topic
- Asked in
- 17 / 25
- Paper 1 sittings · 135 questions
- Last asked
- May/Jun 2026
- 0478/13 · Q3 · 3 marks
- Asked in 17 of 25 Paper 1 sittings — about 7 papers in 10.
- About 3.6 marks a paper (5% of Paper 1; 37% of the topic's marks across its 5 bullets).
- Last asked May/Jun 2026 · 0478/13 · Q3 (3 marks) — in the most recent series.
- Rising: 3.4 → 3.8 marks a paper.
- Usually “Describe” or “Identify”: full sentences with a reason, not one-word answers.
- Biggest chunk of marks so far: 10 in Oct/Nov 2025 · 2210/12 · Q7.
- It is examined almost entirely as AO1 (Knowledge & understanding, 81%) — definitions and descriptions in syllabus words score.
Last 12 sittings↗ RisingAssessment objectives
AO1 81%- AO1 Knowledge & understanding
- AO2 Apply to a context
- AO3 Evaluate & judge
- Describe42%
- Identify34%
- Explain30%
- Give30%
3.3Data storage#4 of 20 on Paper 1Banker · 8574% next paper6.3 marks20/25 sittings↘ May/Jun 2026Banker · 8574%
6.3 · 27% of topic20/25May/Jun 2026latest series · ↘Asked in nearly every paper — the bullet to know cold.Syllabus: primary storage (RAM vs ROM), secondary storage (magnetic, optical and solid-state operation), virtual memory, and cloud storage vs local storage
- Next Paper 1
- 74%
- 7 in 10
- Marks a paper
- 6.3
- 8% of the paper · 27% of the topic
- Asked in
- 20 / 25
- Paper 1 sittings · 98 questions
- Last asked
- May/Jun 2026
- 2210/11 · Q4 · 2.5 marks · 4-series streak
- Asked in 20 of 25 Paper 1 sittings — about 8 papers in 10.
- About 6.3 marks a paper (8% of Paper 1; 27% of the topic's marks across its 5 bullets).
- Last asked May/Jun 2026 · 2210/11 · Q4 (2.5 marks) — in the most recent series.
- Asked in each of the last 4 series.
- Easing: 6.9 → 5.5 marks a paper.
- Usually “Explain” or “Give”: full sentences with a reason, not one-word answers.
- Biggest chunk of marks so far: 12 in Feb/Mar 2026 · 0478/12 · Q5.
- It is examined mostly as AO1 (Knowledge & understanding, 63%) — definitions and descriptions in syllabus words score.
Last 12 sittings↘ EasingAssessment objectives
AO1 63%AO2 17%AO3 20%- AO1 Knowledge & understanding
- AO2 Apply to a context
- AO3 Evaluate & judge
- Explain43%
- Give41%
- Describe34%
- Identify31%
3.4Network hardware#19 of 20 on Paper 1Occasional · 1921% next paper1.1 marks6/25 sittings↘ Feb/Mar 2025Occasional · 1921%
1.1 · 5% of topic6/25Feb/Mar 20254 series ago · ↘Rotated in occasionally — the bullet students skip and then meet.Syllabus: the network interface card, MAC addresses, IP addresses (IPv4 vs IPv6, static vs dynamic) and the role of a router
- Next Paper 1
- 21%
- 1 in 5 or less
- Marks a paper
- 1.1
- 2% of the paper · 5% of the topic
- Asked in
- 6 / 25
- Paper 1 sittings · 17 questions
- Last asked
- Feb/Mar 2025
- 0478/12 · Q5 · 7 marks · 4 series ago
- Asked in 6 of 25 Paper 1 sittings — roughly one paper in 4.
- About 1.1 marks a paper (2% of Paper 1; 5% of the topic's marks across its 5 bullets).
- Not asked since Feb/Mar 2025 · 0478/12 · Q5 — 4 series ago. Bullets rotate inside a topic more than topics do: this one is due a turn.
- Easing: 2.3 → 0.5 marks a paper.
- Usually “Describe” or “Identify”: full sentences with a reason, not one-word answers.
- Biggest chunk of marks so far: 7 in Feb/Mar 2025 · 0478/12 · Q5.
- It is examined almost entirely as AO1 (Knowledge & understanding, 90%) — definitions and descriptions in syllabus words score.
Last 12 sittings↘ EasingAssessment objectives
AO1 90%- AO1 Knowledge & understanding
- AO2 Apply to a context
- AO3 Evaluate & judge
- Describe59%
- Identify53%
- Tick35%
- Give35%
15% of the topic's marks sit in question parts that belong to another topic (scenario questions cross sections) or that no bullet claims; they count for the topic, not for a bullet.
Marks a paper, year by year
Grey years are the previous syllabus (2010–2022, 211 questions) — history, not counted in the rates.
By exam series
- Feb/Mar4/4 · 19 mk
- May/Jun12/12 · 20.1 mk
- Oct/Nov9/9 · 27.8 mk
What you need to know5syllabus §3.1, §3.2, §3.3, §3.4
- 3.1Computer architecture — role of the CPU and the microprocessor; Von Neumann components (ALU, CU, PC, MAR, MDR, CIR, ACC, address/data/control buses); the fetch–decode–execute cycle
- 3.1CPU performance and embedded systems — cores, cache and clock speed; the instruction set; purpose and characteristics of embedded systems and where they are used
- 3.2Input and output devices — input devices (scanners, camera, keyboard, microphone, mouse, touch screens), output devices (printers, projectors, screens, speakers, actuators) and the 14 sensors
- 3.3Data storage — primary storage (RAM vs ROM), secondary storage (magnetic, optical and solid-state operation), virtual memory, and cloud storage vs local storage
- 3.4Network hardware — the network interface card, MAC addresses, IP addresses (IPv4 vs IPv6, static vs dynamic) and the role of a router
Video lectures40ZAK's YouTube channel · play here
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Infographics3draw these the way the examiner expects · download as PNG
Von Neumann architecture
Fetch–Decode–Execute cycle
Primary, secondary & virtual storage
Key terms17use these exact words in the exam
Dotted terms are defined in the glossary.
Code help2referenced to the Cambridge pseudocode guide
Fetch–decode–execute in register transfer notation
textMAR ← [PC] ; address of next instruction → MAR PC ← [PC] + 1 ; ready for the next fetch MDR ← [[MAR]] ; contents of that address → MDR CIR ← [MDR] ; instruction → CIR ; decode in the CU, then execute (ALU / registers / memory)
💡 Not on the 2210 exam as RTN, but memorising it makes the FDE description questions easy.
DECLARE ACC, MDR : INTEGERACC ← 5 // value already in the accumulatorMDR ← 7 // value fetched from memoryACC ← ACC + MDROUTPUT "ACC = ", ACC
Playground examples1runnable program for this topic
- Run
Fetch–decode–execute simulator
A tiny CPU: PC and ACC registers, instructions in memory, one loop that fetches, decodes with CASE and executes.
ASPseudocodeTheory in code 9618 §4.1, §4.3
Test yourself
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