9618 Oct/Nov 2021 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the Oct/Nov 2021 examination series: 10 question papers with their mark schemes, the examiner report and the grade thresholds. Under each paper is ZAK's question map: the topic, marks, command words and assessment objectives of every question, each one a click away from its mark scheme in the past-paper practice tool.
Papers
10
4 papers × 3 variants
Questions mapped
68
750 marks
Examiner report
Yes
per-question comments
Grade thresholds
Yes
marks needed for each grade
Paper 1 — Theory Fundamentals
1h 30m · 75 marks · 25% of A Level (50% of AS)
9618/11 Paper 1, variant 1
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 9 | Information Representation | State, Draw, Convert, Show | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 9 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Describe, Explain, Give | AO1 9 |
| Q3 | 8 | Hardware | Identify, Write, Complete, Draw | AO2 8 |
| Q4 | 14 | Ethics and Ownership+ System Software (8) | Describe, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 14 |
| Q5 | 10 | Databases | Describe, Complete, Tick | AO1 10 |
| Q6 | 8 | Processor Fundamentals | Complete | AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 8 | Information Representation | Describe, Explain | AO1 8 |
| Q8 | 9 | Communication | State, Describe, Identify, Justify | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/12 Paper 1, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 2 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Draw | AO1 2 |
| Q2 | 4 | Hardware | Complete, Draw | AO2 4 |
| Q3 | 8 | Communication+ Hardware (2) | Describe, Identify, Justify | AO1 6 · AO2 2 |
| Q4 | 8 | Information Representation | State, Convert, Show | AO1 1 · AO2 7 |
| Q5 | 12 | Information Representation | Describe, Complete | AO1 4 · AO2 8 |
| Q6 | 15 | Databases | Describe, Write, Complete, Draw, Tick | AO1 9 · AO2 6 |
| Q7 | 11 | System Software+ Processor Fundamentals (4) | Describe, Identify, Tick | AO1 11 |
| Q8 | 15 | Processor Fundamentals | Describe, Identify, Write, Complete, Compare | AO1 7 · AO2 8 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/13 Paper 1, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 9 | Information Representation | State, Draw, Convert, Show | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 9 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Describe, Explain, Give | AO1 9 |
| Q3 | 8 | Hardware | Identify, Write, Complete, Draw | AO2 8 |
| Q4 | 14 | System Software | Describe, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 14 |
| Q5 | 10 | Databases | Describe, Complete, Tick | AO1 10 |
| Q6 | 8 | Processor Fundamentals | Complete | AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 8 | Information Representation | Describe, Explain | AO1 8 |
| Q8 | 9 | Communication | State, Describe, Identify, Justify | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 questions · 75 marks mapped.
Paper 2 — Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills
2h · 75 marks · 25% of A Level (50% of AS)
9618/21 Paper 2, variant 1
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 14 | Software Development+ Data Types and Structures (10) | State, Identify, Complete, Tick | AO2 14 |
| Q2 | 12 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 12 |
| Q3 | 13 | Data Types and Structures | Describe, Complete | AO2 13 |
| Q4 | 7 | Software Development+ Programming (4) | Complete | AO2 7 |
| Q5 | 10 | Data Types and Structures | Identify, Write, Suggest | AO2 3 · AO3 7 |
| Q6 | 19 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (12) | Write | AO3 19 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 6 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/22 Paper 2, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 11 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (2) | Describe, Complete, Evaluate | AO2 7 · AO3 4 |
| Q2 | 10 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving+ Software Development (5) | State, Identify, Give, Draw | AO2 3 · AO3 7 |
| Q3 | 14 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (7) | State, Give, Write | AO2 2 · AO3 12 |
| Q4 | 11 | Programming | State, Identify, Write, Complete | AO2 10 · AO3 1 |
| Q5 | 10 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (8) | State, Describe, Write | AO2 3 · AO3 7 |
| Q6 | 19 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (18) | Describe, Give, Write, Outline | AO2 6 · AO3 13 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 6 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/23 Paper 2, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 14 | Software Development+ Data Types and Structures (10) | State, Identify, Complete, Tick | AO2 14 |
| Q2 | 12 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 12 |
| Q3 | 13 | Data Types and Structures | Describe, Complete | AO2 13 |
| Q4 | 7 | Software Development+ Programming (4) | Complete | AO2 7 |
| Q5 | 10 | Data Types and Structures | Identify, Write, Suggest | AO2 3 · AO3 7 |
| Q6 | 19 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (12) | Write | AO3 19 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 6 questions · 75 marks mapped.
Paper 3 — Advanced Theory
1h 30m · 75 marks · 25% of A Level
9618/31 Paper 3, variant 1
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 7 | Data Representation | State, Explain, Write, Justify | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 4 | Further Programming | Draw | AO1 4 |
| Q3 | 4 | Data Representation | Write | AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 7 | System Software | State, Write | AO1 1 · AO2 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | State, Compare | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q6 | 8 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Explain, Outline | AO1 8 |
| Q7 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 2 · AO2 8 |
| Q8 | 6 | Security | Describe, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q9 | 10 | Artificial Intelligence+ Communication and Internet Technologies (5) | State, Explain, Show | AO1 4 · AO2 6 |
| Q10 | 13 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | State, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 8 · AO2 5 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 10 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/32 Paper 3, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 7 | Data Representation | State, Explain, Write, Justify | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 4 | Further Programming | Draw | AO1 4 |
| Q3 | 4 | Data Representation | Write | AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 7 | System Software | State, Write | AO1 1 · AO2 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Data Representation | State, Compare | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q6 | 8 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Explain, Outline | AO1 8 |
| Q7 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 2 · AO2 8 |
| Q8 | 6 | Security | Describe, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q9 | 10 | Artificial Intelligence | State, Explain, Show | AO1 4 · AO2 6 |
| Q10 | 13 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | State, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 8 · AO2 5 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 10 questions · 75 marks mapped.
Paper 4 — Practical
2h 30m · 75 marks · 25% of A Level
9618/41 Paper 4, variant 1
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 17 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Amend, Rewrite | AO3 17 |
| Q2 | 30 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 30 |
| Q3 | 28 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 28 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 3 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/42 Paper 4, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 17 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Amend, Rewrite | AO3 17 |
| Q2 | 30 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 30 |
| Q3 | 28 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 28 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 3 questions · 75 marks mapped.
Topics in this session
Marks per topic, added up over every variant of the paper (a question that spans topics shares its marks between them). See how each topic behaves across all sessions on the Statometer.
Paper 1 225 marks over 3 variants
- Information Representation54 marks · 24% · trend
- Processor Fundamentals35 marks · 15% · trend
- System Software30 marks · 13% · trend
- Communication25 marks · 11% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity20 marks · 9% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership6 marks · 3% · trend
Paper 2 225 marks over 3 variants
- Data Types and Structures92 marks · 41% · trend
- Programming84 marks · 37% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving29 marks · 13% · trend
- Software Development20 marks · 9% · trend
Paper 3 150 marks over 2 variants
- Data Representation31 marks · 21% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving26 marks · 17% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies21 marks · 14% · trend
- Hardware and Virtual Machines20 marks · 13% · trend
- Artificial Intelligence15 marks · 10% · trend
- System Software14 marks · 9% · trend
- Further Programming11 marks · 7% · trend
Paper 4 150 marks over 2 variants
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving90 marks · 60% · trend
- Further Programming60 marks · 40% · trend
Command words in this session
How many of the session's questions use each command word — each one tells you what the mark scheme wants.
Question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports and grade thresholds are © Cambridge Assessment International Education; the links open the PDFs on PapaCambridge (BestExamHelp or Cambridge's own site where PapaCambridge lacks a file). The question map shows references, marks and ZAK's topic and assessment-objective tagging only — topics and AOs are estimated from the question and mark-scheme wording.