9618 May/June 2024 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the May/June 2024 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
89
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 | 3 | Hardware | Draw, Tick | AO1 1 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 18 | Communication+ Hardware (12), Information Representation (2) | State, Describe, Identify, Give, Complete, Justify | AO1 12 · AO2 6 |
| Q3 | 5 | System Software | Explain | AO1 3 · AO2 2 |
| Q4 | 7 | Processor Fundamentals | Complete, Program | AO2 7 |
| Q5 | 16 | Communication+ Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (9), Ethics and Ownership (2) | Describe, Explain, Complete | AO1 16 |
| Q6 | 15 | Databases | Describe, Give, Write | AO1 10 · AO2 5 |
| Q7 | 3 | Information Representation | Complete, Show | AO2 3 |
| Q8 | 8 | Communication | State, Identify, Tick | AO1 8 |
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 | 6 | Hardware | Describe, Draw | AO1 4 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 17 | Information Representation+ Hardware (11) | Describe, Explain, Give, Complete | AO1 17 |
| Q3 | 14 | Communication+ Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (7) | Describe, Identify, Complete | AO1 14 |
| Q4 | 11 | Databases | Describe, Identify, Write | AO1 6 · AO2 5 |
| Q5 | 7 | Processor Fundamentals | Complete, Program | AO2 7 |
| Q6 | 4 | System Software | Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q7 | 6 | Information Representation | Convert, Show, Tick | AO1 1 · AO2 5 |
| Q8 | 10 | System Software | Describe, Complete | AO1 10 |
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, Explain, Complete, Convert | AO1 8 · AO2 1 |
| Q2 | 9 | Information Representation | Explain, Identify, Give, Calculate, Show | AO1 7 · AO2 2 |
| Q3 | 7 | Processor Fundamentals | Complete, Program | AO2 7 |
| Q4 | 14 | Databases | Describe, Identify, Write | AO1 6 · AO2 8 |
| Q5 | 11 | Communication | State, Describe, Explain, Identify, Define | AO1 11 |
| Q6 | 3 | Hardware | Draw | AO1 3 |
| Q7 | 22 | Ethics and Ownership+ Hardware (5), System Software (5), Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (4) | State, Describe, Explain, Complete, Program | AO1 22 |
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 | 11 | Programming | State, Identify, Give, Complete | AO2 7 · AO3 4 |
| Q2 | 7 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving+ Programming (4) | Describe, Complete | AO2 2 · AO3 5 |
| Q3 | 8 | Data Types and Structures | Describe, Complete | AO2 8 |
| Q4 | 6 | Programming | Write | AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 8 | Programming | State, Write, Complete | AO2 7 · AO3 1 |
| Q6 | 8 | Programming | Describe, Complete | AO2 2 · AO3 6 |
| Q7 | 12 | Programming | State, Explain, Identify, Write, Justify, Name | AO2 8 · AO3 4 |
| Q8 | 15 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO3 15 |
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 | State, Complete, Program | AO2 10 |
| Q2 | 10 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (5) | Write, Complete | AO3 10 |
| Q3 | 9 | Data Types and Structures | State, Write | AO2 3 · AO3 6 |
| Q4 | 5 | Programming | Write | AO3 5 |
| Q5 | 6 | Programming+ Software Development (2) | Identify | AO2 5 · AO3 1 |
| Q6 | 10 | Programming | State, Identify, Write, Suggest | AO2 3 · AO3 7 |
| Q7 | 9 | Programming+ Software Development (5) | Identify, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q8 | 16 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (8) | Write, Complete, Suggest | AO2 2 · 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 | 9 | Programming | State, Describe, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q2 | 7 | Data Types and Structures+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (4) | Identify, Outline | AO2 2 · AO3 5 |
| Q3 | 9 | Data Types and Structures | Write, Complete, Suggest | AO2 1 · AO3 8 |
| Q4 | 11 | Programming | Describe, Identify, Write | AO2 5 · AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 6 | Programming | Explain, Suggest | AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 9 | Programming | State, Write | AO2 1 · AO3 8 |
| Q7 | 9 | Programming | Explain, Identify, Draw | AO2 3 · AO3 6 |
| Q8 | 15 | Programming | Write | AO3 15 |
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 | Calculate, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q2 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe, Complete, Outline | AO1 4 · AO2 2 |
| Q3 | 7 | Data Representation | Explain, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 5 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Describe, Explain | AO1 5 |
| Q5 | 9 | System Software | Write, Show, Evaluate | AO2 9 |
| Q6 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 5 | Security | Describe, Explain | AO1 5 |
| Q8 | 8 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 8 |
| Q9 | 3 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain | AO1 3 |
| Q10 | 8 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | State, Describe, Complete | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q11 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | State, Explain, Outline | AO1 8 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 11 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/32 Paper 3, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5 | Data Representation | Describe, Calculate, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 7 | Communication and Internet Technologies | State, Explain, Outline | AO1 7 |
| Q3 | 7 | Data Representation | Explain, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 4 | Security | Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 9 | System Software | Write, Show, Evaluate | AO2 9 |
| Q6 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 6 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Explain, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q8 | 8 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Complete, Compare | AO2 8 |
| Q9 | 7 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Explain, Outline | AO1 7 |
| Q10 | 9 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 9 |
| Q11 | 3 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain | AO1 3 |
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 | Calculate, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q2 | 6 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe, Complete, Outline | AO1 4 · AO2 2 |
| Q3 | 7 | Data Representation | Explain, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 5 | Data Representation | Describe, Explain | AO1 5 |
| Q5 | 9 | System Software | Write, Show, Evaluate | AO2 9 |
| Q6 | 10 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 5 | Security | Describe, Explain | AO1 5 |
| Q8 | 8 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 8 |
| Q9 | 3 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain | AO1 3 |
| Q10 | 8 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | State, Describe, Complete | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q11 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | State, Explain, Outline | AO1 8 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 11 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 | 27 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 27 |
| Q2 | 31 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (16) | Write | AO3 31 |
| Q3 | 17 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO2 6 · AO3 11 |
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 | 22 | Further Programming | Write, Amend | AO3 22 |
| Q2 | 30 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (14) | Write | AO3 30 |
| Q3 | 23 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write, Amend | AO3 23 |
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 | 27 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 27 |
| Q2 | 31 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (16) | Write | AO3 31 |
| Q3 | 17 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO2 6 · AO3 11 |
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
- Communication37 marks · 16% · trend
- Information Representation35 marks · 16% · trend
- System Software24 marks · 10% · trend
- Processor Fundamentals21 marks · 9% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity19 marks · 8% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership11 marks · 5% · trend
Paper 2 225 marks over 3 variants
- Programming169 marks · 75% · trend
- Data Types and Structures38 marks · 17% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving12 marks · 5% · trend
- Software Development7 marks · 3% · trend
Paper 3 225 marks over 3 variants
- Hardware and Virtual Machines53 marks · 24% · trend
- Data Representation49 marks · 22% · trend
- Further Programming31 marks · 14% · trend
- System Software27 marks · 12% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving24 marks · 11% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies19 marks · 8% · trend
- Artificial Intelligence9 marks · 4% · trend
Paper 4 225 marks over 3 variants
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving157 marks · 70% · trend
- Further Programming68 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.