9618 May/June 2023 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the May/June 2023 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
88
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 | 13 | Information Representation | Explain, Identify, Give, Complete, Calculate, Show | AO1 11 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 16 | Databases | State, Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 7 · AO2 9 |
| Q3 | 17 | System Software+ Information Representation (7) | State, Describe, Explain, Identify, Give, Convert, Show | AO1 12 · AO2 5 |
| Q4 | 20 | Communication+ Hardware (9), Ethics and Ownership (2) | Describe, Identify, Complete | AO1 20 |
| Q5 | 4 | Hardware | Describe, Draw | AO1 2 · AO2 2 |
| Q6 | 5 | Processor Fundamentals | Explain | AO1 5 |
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 | 11 | Communication | Describe, Give, Draw | AO1 9 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 17 | Databases | Describe, Explain, Identify, Write, Complete, Name | AO1 5 · AO2 12 |
| Q3 | 6 | Processor Fundamentals | Complete, Draw | AO1 3 · AO2 3 |
| Q4 | 6 | Information Representation | State, Give, Convert, Show | AO1 1 · AO2 5 |
| Q5 | 15 | Processor Fundamentals+ System Software (5) | Describe, Identify | AO1 15 |
| Q6 | 4 | Hardware | Complete, Draw | AO2 4 |
| Q7 | 16 | Ethics and Ownership+ System Software (13) | Explain, Identify, Complete, Define, Justify | AO1 10 · AO2 6 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 7 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/13 Paper 1, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 3 | Hardware | Write, Complete | AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 15 | Communication | Describe, Explain, Identify, Give | AO1 15 |
| Q3 | 15 | Ethics and Ownership+ Hardware (7), Information Representation (7) | Describe, Explain, Complete | AO1 15 |
| Q4 | 17 | Databases | State, Describe, Write, Complete | AO1 9 · AO2 8 |
| Q5 | 9 | Ethics and Ownership+ System Software (5) | Explain, Identify | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q6 | 7 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Explain, Complete | AO1 7 |
| Q7 | 9 | Processor Fundamentals+ Information Representation (3) | Explain, Complete, Draw | AO1 7 · AO2 2 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 7 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 | 10 | Programming | Describe, Write, Complete | AO2 5 · AO3 5 |
| Q2 | 7 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (4) | Write, Draw | AO3 7 |
| Q3 | 11 | Data Types and Structures+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (7) | Describe, Explain, Identify, Write, Name | AO2 6 · AO3 5 |
| Q4 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Software Development+ Programming (3) | Identify, Give | AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q7 | 8 | Programming | Explain, Identify, Draw | AO2 5 · AO3 3 |
| Q8 | 21 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (12) | State, Describe, Identify, Write | AO2 7 · AO3 14 |
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 | 10 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (2) | State, Describe, Identify, Give | AO2 10 |
| Q2 | 9 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (4) | Write, Define | AO2 6 · AO3 3 |
| Q3 | 10 | Data Types and Structures | State, Describe | AO2 10 |
| Q4 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 8 | Programming+ Software Development (5) | State, Describe, Explain | AO2 7 · AO3 1 |
| Q6 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q7 | 9 | Programming | State, Identify, Complete, Justify | AO2 9 |
| Q8 | 17 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (10) | Identify, Write | AO2 3 · AO3 14 |
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 | 10 | Data Types and Structures | State, Identify, Complete | AO2 10 |
| Q2 | 6 | Programming | Describe, Complete | AO2 4 · AO3 2 |
| Q3 | 11 | Data Types and Structures | State, Write, Complete | AO2 6 · AO3 5 |
| Q4 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 4 | Software Development | State, Identify | AO2 3 · AO3 1 |
| Q6 | 11 | Programming | Describe, Write | AO2 4 · AO3 7 |
| Q7 | 8 | Programming | State, Identify, Complete, Justify | AO2 5 · AO3 3 |
| Q8 | 19 | Programming | Describe, Explain, Write | AO2 5 · AO3 14 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 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 | 6 | Data Representation | Explain, Calculate, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 6 | Data Representation+ Artificial Intelligence (6) | Describe, Draw | AO1 6 |
| Q3 | 6 | Artificial Intelligence+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (4) | Describe, Complete | AO1 4 · AO2 2 |
| Q4 | 4 | Data Representation | Give | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | State, Give | AO1 6 |
| Q6 | 8 | System Software | State, Complete, Draw | AO1 4 · AO2 4 |
| Q7 | 7 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q8 | 3 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Outline | AO1 3 |
| Q9 | 6 | Security | Describe, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q10 | 5 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (5) | Complete | AO2 5 |
| Q11 | 11 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Explain, Write, Complete | AO1 4 · AO2 7 |
| Q12 | 7 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Describe, Complete | AO1 2 · AO2 5 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 12 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/32 Paper 3, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5 | Data Representation | Describe, Write, Show | AO2 5 |
| Q2 | 5 | Data Representation | Describe, Complete | AO1 3 · AO2 2 |
| Q3 | 9 | System Software | State, Complete, Draw | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q4 | 4 | Further Programming | Draw | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 5 | Security | Describe, Explain | AO1 5 |
| Q6 | 9 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Write, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q7 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | State, Give | AO1 6 |
| Q8 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe, Complete | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q9 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 3 · AO2 7 |
| Q10 | 6 | Artificial Intelligence | State, Calculate, Show | AO1 1 · AO2 5 |
| Q11 | 10 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Explain, Complete | AO1 8 · AO2 2 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 11 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/33 Paper 3, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 | Data Representation | Explain, Calculate, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 6 | Artificial Intelligence | Describe, Draw | AO1 6 |
| Q3 | 6 | Data Representation | Describe, Complete | AO1 4 · AO2 2 |
| Q4 | 4 | Data Representation | Give | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | State, Give | AO1 6 |
| Q6 | 8 | System Software | State, Complete, Draw | AO1 4 · AO2 4 |
| Q7 | 7 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q8 | 3 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Outline | AO1 3 |
| Q9 | 6 | Security | Describe, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q10 | 5 | Data Representation | Complete | AO2 5 |
| Q11 | 11 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Explain, Write, Complete | AO1 4 · AO2 7 |
| Q12 | 7 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Describe, Complete | AO1 2 · AO2 5 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 12 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 | 18 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 18 |
| Q2 | 32 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 32 |
| Q3 | 25 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 25 |
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 | 14 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 14 |
| Q2 | 28 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (12) | Write, Amend | AO3 28 |
| Q3 | 33 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 33 |
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 | 18 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 18 |
| Q2 | 32 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 32 |
| Q3 | 25 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 25 |
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
- Communication36 marks · 16% · trend
- Information Representation36 marks · 16% · trend
- System Software33 marks · 14% · trend
- Processor Fundamentals28 marks · 12% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership10 marks · 4% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity7 marks · 3% · trend
Paper 2 225 marks over 3 variants
- Programming147 marks · 65% · trend
- Data Types and Structures57 marks · 25% · trend
- Software Development12 marks · 5% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving11 marks · 5% · trend
Paper 3 225 marks over 3 variants
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving50 marks · 22% · trend
- Data Representation48 marks · 21% · trend
- Hardware and Virtual Machines36 marks · 16% · trend
- System Software25 marks · 11% · trend
- Artificial Intelligence20 marks · 9% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies18 marks · 8% · trend
- Further Programming12 marks · 5% · trend
Paper 4 225 marks over 3 variants
- Further Programming214 marks · 95% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving12 marks · 5% · 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.