9618 May/June 2025 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the May/June 2025 examination series: 12 question papers with their mark schemes 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
90
900 marks
Examiner report
—
not published for this series
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 | 4 | Hardware | Write, Complete | AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 13 | Communication+ Information Representation (5) | Explain, Identify, Complete, Justify | AO1 6 · AO2 7 |
| Q3 | 7 | Information Representation | Give, Complete, Convert | AO2 7 |
| Q4 | 6 | Ethics and Ownership+ Hardware (2) | State, Explain, Identify | AO1 6 |
| Q5 | 13 | Databases | Explain, Identify, Give, Write, Complete | AO1 9 · AO2 4 |
| Q6 | 14 | Processor Fundamentals+ System Software (5), Hardware (4) | Describe, Explain, Complete | AO1 14 |
| Q7 | 11 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Explain, Identify | AO1 11 |
| Q8 | 7 | Processor Fundamentals | Write, Trace | AO2 7 |
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 | 9 | Processor Fundamentals | Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 7 | Information Representation | Give, Write, Convert | AO1 2 · AO2 5 |
| Q3 | 12 | Ethics and Ownership | State, Describe, Explain | AO1 12 |
| Q4 | 4 | Ethics and Ownership+ Hardware (4) | Write, Complete | AO2 4 |
| Q5 | 16 | Databases | Explain, Identify, Give, Write | AO1 10 · AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 19 | Databases+ Communication (19) | State, Describe, Explain, Complete, Draw | AO1 11 · AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 8 | Processor Fundamentals | State, Identify, Write, Trace | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
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 | 14 | Information Representation | Explain, Give, Complete, Calculate, Show | AO1 9 · AO2 5 |
| Q2 | 10 | Processor Fundamentals | Describe, Explain, Write | AO1 6 · AO2 4 |
| Q3 | 15 | Communication+ System Software (2), Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (2), Ethics and Ownership (2) | State, Describe, Explain, Complete | AO1 11 · AO2 4 |
| Q4 | 4 | Hardware | Write, Complete | AO2 4 |
| Q5 | 9 | Processor Fundamentals | Write, Complete, Trace | AO1 4 · AO2 5 |
| Q6 | 18 | Databases | Explain, Identify, Write, Complete | AO1 10 · AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 5 | Information Representation | Complete, Show | AO2 5 |
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 | 12 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (5), Data Types and Structures (1) | Describe, Complete | AO2 9 · AO3 3 |
| Q2 | 10 | Programming+ Software Development (5) | State, Explain, Identify | AO2 10 |
| Q3 | 8 | Programming | Write | AO3 8 |
| Q4 | 8 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (1) | State, Complete | AO2 8 |
| Q5 | 7 | Data Types and Structures | Describe | AO2 7 |
| Q6 | 12 | Data Types and Structures+ Software Development (6) | Write, Complete | AO2 4 · AO3 8 |
| Q7 | 18 | Programming | Explain, Write | AO2 4 · AO3 14 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 7 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/22 Paper 2, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 14 | Software Development+ Programming (5), Data Types and Structures (4) | State, Explain, Identify, Give, Complete | AO2 10 · AO3 4 |
| Q2 | 8 | Software Development+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (3) | State, Describe, Identify | AO2 6 · AO3 2 |
| Q3 | 8 | Programming | Write | AO3 8 |
| Q4 | 6 | Data Types and Structures | Complete | AO3 6 |
| Q5 | 12 | Data Types and Structures+ Software Development (4) | Write, Complete | AO2 4 · AO3 8 |
| Q6 | 9 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (7) | Identify, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q7 | 18 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (9) | Explain, Write | AO2 3 · AO3 15 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 7 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/23 Paper 2, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 14 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (2) | State, Complete | AO2 14 |
| Q2 | 11 | Data Types and Structures | State, Describe, Complete | AO2 11 |
| Q3 | 7 | Programming | Write | AO3 7 |
| Q4 | 8 | Data Types and Structures+ Software Development (6) | Describe | AO2 3 · AO3 5 |
| Q5 | 8 | Programming | Write | AO3 8 |
| Q6 | 9 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (4) | Explain, Write, Complete | AO2 4 · AO3 5 |
| Q7 | 18 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO3 18 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 7 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 | Write | AO2 6 |
| Q2 | 6 | Data Representation | Write, Calculate, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q3 | 9 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe | AO1 9 |
| Q4 | 7 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Describe, Identify, Complete | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q5 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 2 · AO2 6 |
| Q6 | 4 | System Software | Describe | AO1 4 |
| Q7 | 6 | System Software | State, Complete | AO1 6 |
| Q8 | 6 | System Software | Describe, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q9 | 4 | Security | State, Give | AO1 4 |
| Q10 | 6 | Artificial Intelligence | Describe, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q11 | 8 | Further Programming | Describe, Identify, Complete | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q12 | 5 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Complete | 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 | 6 | Data Representation | Write | AO2 6 |
| Q2 | 6 | Data Representation | Calculate, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q3 | 5 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe, Identify | AO1 5 |
| Q4 | 4 | Communication and Internet Technologies | State | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 7 | System Software | Describe, Identify | AO1 7 |
| Q6 | 6 | Artificial Intelligence | Describe, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q7 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Show | AO2 8 |
| Q8 | 4 | System Software | Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q9 | 6 | System Software | State, Complete | AO1 6 |
| Q10 | 4 | Security+ Communication and Internet Technologies (2) | Identify | AO1 4 |
| Q11 | 6 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Identify, Give, Complete | AO2 6 |
| Q12 | 8 | Further Programming | Describe, Identify, Complete, Name | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q13 | 5 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Complete | AO2 5 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 13 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/33 Paper 3, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6 | Data Representation | Identify, Write | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q2 | 6 | Data Representation | Give, Calculate, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 4 |
| Q3 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw | AO1 2 · AO2 6 |
| Q4 | 9 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Describe | AO1 9 |
| Q5 | 4 | Further Programming | Complete | AO1 4 |
| Q6 | 6 | System Software | Describe, Explain | AO1 6 |
| Q7 | 4 | Security | Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q8 | 4 | System Software | Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q9 | 6 | System Software | State, Complete | AO1 6 |
| Q10 | 6 | Artificial Intelligence | State, Explain, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q11 | 5 | Data Representation+ Further Programming (3) | Complete | AO2 5 |
| Q12 | 7 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Describe, Identify, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q13 | 4 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Complete | AO2 4 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 13 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 | 20 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 20 |
| Q2 | 25 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 25 |
| Q3 | 30 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving+ Further Programming (15) | Write | 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 | 22 | Further Programming | Write | AO3 22 |
| Q3 | 26 | Further Programming | Write, Name | AO3 26 |
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 | 26 | Further Programming+ Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving (15) | Write | AO3 26 |
| Q2 | 20 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 20 |
| Q3 | 29 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving+ Further Programming (14) | Write | AO3 29 |
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 Fundamentals49 marks · 22% · trend
- Information Representation38 marks · 17% · trend
- Communication37 marks · 16% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership18 marks · 8% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity13 marks · 6% · trend
- System Software7 marks · 3% · trend
Paper 2 225 marks over 3 variants
- Programming122 marks · 54% · trend
- Data Types and Structures59 marks · 26% · trend
- Software Development31 marks · 14% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving13 marks · 6% · trend
Paper 3 225 marks over 3 variants
- System Software49 marks · 22% · trend
- Data Representation44 marks · 19% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies29 marks · 13% · trend
- Further Programming28 marks · 12% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving24 marks · 11% · trend
- Hardware and Virtual Machines24 marks · 11% · trend
- Artificial Intelligence18 marks · 8% · trend
Paper 4 225 marks over 3 variants
- Further Programming128 marks · 57% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving98 marks · 43% · 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.