9618 Oct/Nov 2023 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the Oct/Nov 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
96
894 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 | 7 | Information Representation | State, Explain, Draw | AO1 7 |
| Q2 | 10 | Communication | Describe, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 10 |
| Q3 | 11 | Databases | Identify, Write, Complete | AO1 6 · AO2 5 |
| Q4 | 4 | Hardware | Complete, Draw | AO2 4 |
| Q5 | 12 | Processor Fundamentals | Describe, Explain, Identify | AO1 12 |
| Q6 | 9 | System Software | State, Describe, Identify | AO1 9 |
| Q7 | 7 | Hardware | State, Describe | AO1 7 |
| Q8 | 10 | Processor Fundamentals | Identify, Give, Show | AO1 4 · AO2 6 |
| Q9 | 5 | Hardware | Explain, Give | AO1 5 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/12 Paper 1, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 | Hardware | Describe, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q2 | 11 | Databases | State, Describe, Explain | AO1 7 · AO2 4 |
| Q3 | 6 | Information Representation | State, Identify, Convert | AO1 3 · AO2 3 |
| Q4 | 5 | Hardware | Write, Complete | AO2 5 |
| Q5 | 6 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | State, Describe | AO1 6 |
| Q6 | 8 | Information Representation | Explain, Show, Tick | AO1 6 · AO2 2 |
| Q7 | 17 | Communication | State, Describe, Explain, Complete, Draw | AO1 11 · AO2 6 |
| Q8 | 8 | Processor Fundamentals+ System Software (4) | State, Describe, Explain, Identify, Give | AO1 8 |
| Q9 | 8 | Processor Fundamentals | Identify, Compare, Trace | AO1 4 · 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 | 3 | Information Representation | State, Draw | AO1 3 |
| Q2 | 4 | Information Representation | Describe, Give, Calculate, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 2 |
| Q3 | 18 | Databases+ Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (9), Communication (4) | State, Describe, Explain, Write, Complete | AO1 14 · AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 4 | Hardware | Complete, Draw | AO2 4 |
| Q5 | 9 | System Software | Describe, Explain | AO1 9 |
| Q6 | 6 | Ethics and Ownership | State, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q7 | 11 | Hardware+ Processor Fundamentals (5) | Describe, Explain, Identify, Justify | AO1 8 · AO2 3 |
| Q8 | 7 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | State, Describe, Explain | AO1 7 |
| Q9 | 13 | Processor Fundamentals | State, Identify, Write, Complete, Program | AO1 6 · AO2 7 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 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 (4) | State, Identify, Give, Complete | AO2 11 |
| Q2 | 7 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | Identify, Outline | AO2 7 |
| Q3 | 8 | Data Types and Structures | Complete | AO2 8 |
| Q4 | 9 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (5) | Write | AO3 9 |
| Q5 | 7 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (2) | Explain, Identify, Give | AO2 7 |
| Q6 | 9 | Programming | Explain, Write | AO3 9 |
| Q7 | 5 | Software Development | Complete | AO2 5 |
| Q8 | 13 | Data Types and Structures | Explain, Write | AO2 6 · AO3 7 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 8 questions · 69 marks mapped of 75 — questions that lean on pre-release material, or that the bank could not slice cleanly, are left out.
9618/22 Paper 2, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 11 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (4) | Describe, Complete | AO2 11 |
| Q2 | 7 | Programming | Give, Draw, Justify, Name | AO2 2 · AO3 5 |
| Q3 | 9 | Data Types and Structures | Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q4 | 9 | Programming+ Software Development (2) | Give, Write | AO2 3 · AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Programming | Complete | AO3 6 |
| Q6 | 9 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (4) | State, Identify, Write | AO2 2 · AO3 7 |
| Q7 | 6 | Programming | Explain, Complete | AO2 2 · AO3 4 |
| Q8 | 18 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (9) | Describe, Write, Suggest | AO2 4 · 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 | 11 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (3) | State, Identify, Complete | AO2 7 · AO3 4 |
| Q2 | 9 | Data Types and Structures | Explain, Write, Draw | AO2 2 · AO3 7 |
| Q3 | 9 | Data Types and Structures | Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q4 | 7 | Programming | Write | AO3 7 |
| Q5 | 6 | Programming | Complete | AO3 6 |
| Q6 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q7 | 7 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (3) | Explain, Write | AO2 2 · AO3 5 |
| Q8 | 20 | Programming | Describe, Explain, Write | AO2 6 · 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 | 5 | Data Representation | Explain, Write, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Draw, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q3 | 4 | Data Representation | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q4 | 6 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Describe, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q5 | 4 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q6 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Complete, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q7 | 5 | System Software | State, Identify, Outline | AO1 5 |
| Q8 | 8 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (6) | State, Complete, Define | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q9 | 9 | System Software | Explain, Write, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 6 |
| Q10 | 10 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Complete, Compare | AO2 10 |
| Q11 | 8 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 8 |
| Q12 | 4 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain | AO1 4 |
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 | 6 | Data Representation | Explain, Write, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 4 | Data Representation | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q3 | 5 | Data Representation+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (3) | Explain, Outline | AO1 5 |
| Q4 | 3 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Complete | AO1 3 |
| Q5 | 5 | System Software | Explain, Outline | AO1 5 |
| Q6 | 7 | System Software | Explain, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q7 | 5 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Complete, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 3 |
| Q8 | 5 | Artificial Intelligence | Calculate, Show | AO2 5 |
| Q9 | 13 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Explain, Complete, Justify | AO1 4 · AO2 9 |
| Q10 | 4 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q11 | 9 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 9 |
| Q12 | 9 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (5) | Describe, Complete, Name | AO1 2 · AO2 7 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 12 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/33 Paper 3, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5 | Data Representation | Explain, Write, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Draw, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q3 | 4 | Data Representation | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q4 | 6 | Data Representation | Describe, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q5 | 4 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q6 | 6 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Complete, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q7 | 5 | System Software | State, Identify, Outline | AO1 5 |
| Q8 | 8 | Data Representation | State, Complete, Define | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q9 | 9 | System Software | Explain, Write, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 6 |
| Q10 | 10 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Complete, Compare | AO2 10 |
| Q11 | 8 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 8 |
| Q12 | 4 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain | AO1 4 |
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 | 16 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Rewrite | AO3 16 |
| Q2 | 29 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (14) | Write | AO3 29 |
| Q3 | 30 | Further Programming | Write, Name | AO3 30 |
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 | 27 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (12) | Write | AO3 27 |
| Q2 | 17 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 17 |
| Q3 | 31 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 31 |
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 | 16 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Rewrite | AO3 16 |
| Q2 | 29 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (14) | Write | AO3 29 |
| Q3 | 30 | Further Programming | Write, Name | AO3 30 |
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 Fundamentals52 marks · 23% · trend
- Communication31 marks · 14% · trend
- Information Representation28 marks · 12% · trend
- System Software22 marks · 10% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity22 marks · 10% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership6 marks · 3% · trend
Paper 2 219 marks over 3 variants
- Programming125 marks · 57% · trend
- Data Types and Structures79 marks · 36% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving9 marks · 4% · trend
- Software Development7 marks · 3% · trend
Paper 3 225 marks over 3 variants
- Data Representation55 marks · 24% · trend
- System Software40 marks · 18% · trend
- Further Programming38 marks · 17% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving36 marks · 16% · trend
- Hardware and Virtual Machines29 marks · 13% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies15 marks · 7% · trend
- Artificial Intelligence13 marks · 6% · trend
Paper 4 225 marks over 3 variants
- Further Programming137 marks · 61% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving88 marks · 39% · 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.