9618 May/June 2022 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the May/June 2022 examination series: 12 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
12
4 papers × 3 variants
Questions mapped
84
900 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 | 5 | Information Representation | State, Convert, Show | AO1 1 · AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 20 | Hardware | Describe, Explain, Write, Complete | AO1 8 · AO2 12 |
| Q3 | 7 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | State, Identify | AO1 7 |
| Q4 | 19 | Databases | Describe, Explain, Give, Write | AO1 11 · AO2 8 |
| Q5 | 9 | Ethics and Ownership+ System Software (7) | Explain, Identify, Draw | AO1 9 |
| Q6 | 15 | Processor Fundamentals | Describe, Identify, Complete | AO1 12 · AO2 3 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 6 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/12 Paper 1, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 10 | Information Representation | Describe, Explain, Identify, Draw, Calculate, Show | AO1 8 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 5 | Hardware | Explain, Identify, Tick | AO1 5 |
| Q3 | 9 | Processor Fundamentals+ Information Representation (4) | Write, Convert, Show | AO2 9 |
| Q4 | 10 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Describe, Explain, Give, Complete | AO1 10 |
| Q5 | 17 | Databases | Explain, Write, Complete | AO1 10 · AO2 7 |
| Q6 | 8 | System Software | Describe, Explain | AO1 8 |
| Q7 | 2 | Hardware | Complete | AO2 2 |
| Q8 | 3 | Ethics and Ownership | Describe | AO1 3 |
| Q9 | 11 | Communication | Describe, Complete | AO1 7 · AO2 4 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/13 Paper 1, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 14 | Information Representation | Describe, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 9 · AO2 5 |
| Q2 | 8 | Processor Fundamentals | Describe, Explain | AO1 8 |
| Q3 | 10 | Processor Fundamentals | Describe, Complete, Draw | AO1 7 · AO2 3 |
| Q4 | 9 | System Software | Describe, Give | AO1 9 |
| Q5 | 10 | Databases+ Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (5) | State, Explain, Identify, Give | AO1 10 |
| Q6 | 13 | Databases | Describe, Write, Complete | AO1 7 · AO2 6 |
| Q7 | 5 | Hardware | Write, Complete | AO2 5 |
| Q8 | 6 | Communication | State, Give, Define | AO1 6 |
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 | 11 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (2) | Identify, Give, Complete | AO2 11 |
| Q2 | 7 | Software Development+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (5) | Complete, Examine | AO2 7 |
| Q3 | 4 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (2) | Describe, Identify | AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 6 | Data Types and Structures | Complete | AO2 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Data Types and Structures | Describe | AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 9 | Programming | Write | AO3 9 |
| Q7 | 11 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (6) | Write, Complete | AO3 11 |
| Q8 | 21 | Programming | Describe, Identify, Give, Write | AO2 8 · AO3 13 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/22 Paper 2, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 11 | Software Development+ Programming (6) | State, Give, Complete | AO2 10 · AO3 1 |
| Q2 | 4 | Programming | Draw | AO3 4 |
| Q3 | 9 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (5) | Describe, Complete | AO2 6 · AO3 3 |
| Q4 | 9 | Programming | Write, Outline | AO2 3 · AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 10 | Programming | Describe, Identify, Complete | AO2 10 |
| Q6 | 7 | Programming | Write | AO3 7 |
| Q7 | 6 | Programming | State, Write | AO2 2 · AO3 4 |
| Q8 | 19 | Programming | Describe, Write | AO2 6 · AO3 13 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/23 Paper 2, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 8 | Programming | Give, Complete, Program | AO2 8 |
| Q2 | 4 | Software Development | Name | AO2 4 |
| Q3 | 7 | Programming | Describe, Draw | AO2 2 · AO3 5 |
| Q4 | 4 | Software Development | Complete | AO2 4 |
| Q5 | 12 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (6) | State, Give, Write, Name | AO2 2 · AO3 10 |
| Q6 | 10 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO2 4 · AO3 6 |
| Q7 | 8 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (5) | State, Describe, Write | AO2 6 · AO3 2 |
| Q8 | 6 | Software Development | Explain, Identify, Complete | AO2 6 |
| Q9 | 16 | Programming | Explain, Write | AO2 3 · AO3 13 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 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 | 8 | Data Representation | Explain, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q2 | 6 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 6 |
| Q3 | 8 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe | AO1 8 |
| Q4 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q5 | 12 | System Software+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (5) | State, Describe, Write, Show | AO1 6 · AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 6 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving+ Hardware and Virtual Machines (3) | Describe | AO1 6 |
| Q7 | 11 | Further Programming | Describe, Complete, Name | AO1 11 |
| Q8 | 8 | Security | State, Give | AO1 8 |
| Q9 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines+ Further Programming (10) | State | AO1 10 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/32 Paper 3, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 9 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (4) | Explain, Write | AO1 2 · AO2 7 |
| Q2 | 7 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 7 |
| Q3 | 8 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe, Identify | AO1 8 |
| Q4 | 13 | System Software | State, Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 7 · AO2 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q6 | 5 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | State, Complete | AO1 3 · AO2 2 |
| Q7 | 10 | Security | State, Explain | AO1 10 |
| Q8 | 13 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | State, Describe, Explain, Complete, Compare | AO1 6 · AO2 7 |
| Q9 | 4 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (4) | State | AO1 4 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/33 Paper 3, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 8 | Data Representation | Explain, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q2 | 6 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 6 |
| Q3 | 8 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe | AO1 8 |
| Q4 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q5 | 12 | System Software | State, Describe, Write, Show | AO1 6 · AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe | AO1 6 |
| Q7 | 11 | Further Programming | Describe, Complete, Name | AO1 11 |
| Q8 | 8 | Security+ Further Programming (1) | State, Give | AO1 8 |
| Q9 | 10 | Further Programming | State | AO1 10 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 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 | 29 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 29 |
| Q2 | 25 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 25 |
| Q3 | 21 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (10) | Write, Amend | AO3 21 |
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 | 25 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 25 |
| Q2 | 23 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Amend | AO3 23 |
| Q3 | 27 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 27 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 3 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/43 Paper 4, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 29 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 29 |
| Q2 | 25 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 25 |
| Q3 | 21 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (10) | Write, Amend | AO3 21 |
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
- Processor Fundamentals38 marks · 17% · trend
- Information Representation33 marks · 15% · trend
- System Software24 marks · 11% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity22 marks · 10% · trend
- Communication17 marks · 8% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership5 marks · 2% · trend
Paper 2 225 marks over 3 variants
- Programming164 marks · 73% · trend
- Data Types and Structures29 marks · 13% · trend
- Software Development22 marks · 10% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving12 marks · 5% · trend
Paper 3 225 marks over 3 variants
- Further Programming70 marks · 31% · trend
- Hardware and Virtual Machines32 marks · 14% · trend
- System Software32 marks · 14% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies24 marks · 11% · trend
- Data Representation22 marks · 10% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving21 marks · 9% · trend
Paper 4 225 marks over 3 variants
- Further Programming157 marks · 70% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving68 marks · 30% · 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.