9618 May/June 2026 Past Papers — A Level Computer Science
AS & A Level Computer Science — the May/June 2026 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
88
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 | 12 | Information Representation | Identify, Complete, Convert, Show | AO1 9 · AO2 3 |
| Q2 | 10 | Ethics and Ownership+ System Software (7) | Describe, Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 7 · AO2 3 |
| Q3 | 9 | Processor Fundamentals | Identify, Write, Complete | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q4 | 18 | Databases+ Security, Privacy and Data Integrity (3) | Explain, Give, Write, Complete | AO1 9 · AO2 9 |
| Q5 | 9 | Information Representation | Explain, Complete, Justify, Tick | AO1 6 · AO2 3 |
| Q6 | 4 | Hardware | Write | AO2 4 |
| Q7 | 13 | Communication | State, Explain, Give | AO1 13 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 7 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/12 Paper 1, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 8 | Information Representation | Describe, Explain, Identify, Tick | AO1 8 |
| Q2 | 13 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | State, Describe, Identify, Complete | AO1 13 |
| Q3 | 16 | Databases | Describe, Give, Write, Complete | AO1 7 · AO2 9 |
| Q4 | 4 | Information Representation | Describe, Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 7 | Information Representation | Complete | AO2 7 |
| Q6 | 11 | Hardware | Describe, Explain, Justify, Tick, Discuss | AO1 5 · AO2 6 |
| Q7 | 13 | System Software | Explain, Identify | AO1 13 |
| Q8 | 3 | Hardware | Write, Complete | AO2 3 |
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 | 5 | Security, Privacy and Data Integrity | Complete | AO1 5 |
| Q2 | 3 | Hardware | State, Complete | AO1 1 · AO2 2 |
| Q3 | 13 | Information Representation | State, Explain, Give, Calculate, Show | AO1 11 · AO2 2 |
| Q4 | 17 | Databases | Explain, Give, Write | AO1 8 · AO2 9 |
| Q5 | 10 | System Software | State, Describe, Identify, Define | AO1 10 |
| Q6 | 8 | Information Representation | Complete, Draw, Convert, Show, Tick | AO1 4 · AO2 4 |
| Q7 | 9 | Processor Fundamentals | Explain, Identify, Complete | AO1 5 · AO2 4 |
| Q8 | 10 | Hardware+ Information Representation (3) | Describe, Complete | AO1 10 |
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 | 2 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (1) | State, Identify | AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 7 | Programming | State, Identify, Write, Complete | AO2 2 · AO3 5 |
| Q3 | 9 | Software Development | State, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q4 | 4 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 4 |
| Q5 | 5 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO3 5 |
| Q6 | 12 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO2 2 · AO3 10 |
| Q7 | 12 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (5) | Identify, Write, Complete, Justify | AO2 7 · AO3 5 |
| Q8 | 6 | Programming | Give, Complete | AO2 6 |
| Q9 | 18 | Data Types and Structures+ Programming (9) | Write, Complete | AO3 18 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 9 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/22 Paper 2, variant 2
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 27 | Software Development+ Programming (13) | Identify, Complete | AO2 15 · AO3 12 |
| Q2 | 5 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | State, Explain | AO2 5 |
| Q3 | 6 | Data Types and Structures | Complete | AO2 6 |
| Q4 | 9 | Data Types and Structures | Identify, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q5 | 10 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (4) | State, Describe, Explain, Write | AO2 6 · AO3 4 |
| Q6 | 18 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO3 18 |
Q links open the question with its mark scheme. 6 questions · 75 marks mapped.
9618/23 Paper 2, variant 3
| Q | Marks | Topic | Command words | AO mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 2 | Programming+ Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving (1) | State, Identify | AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 6 | Programming | State, Explain, Identify, Write | AO2 5 · AO3 1 |
| Q3 | 11 | Software Development | State, Identify, Complete | AO2 11 |
| Q4 | 4 | Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 4 |
| Q5 | 11 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO3 11 |
| Q6 | 13 | Data Types and Structures | State, Describe, Complete | AO2 7 · AO3 6 |
| Q7 | 9 | Programming+ Data Types and Structures (5) | State, Complete | AO2 9 |
| Q8 | 19 | Programming | Write, Complete | AO3 19 |
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 | State, Identify, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 6 | Data Representation | State, Describe, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q3 | 6 | Data Representation | Calculate, Show | AO2 6 |
| Q4 | 4 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Draw | AO1 4 |
| Q5 | 4 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Outline | AO1 4 |
| Q6 | 9 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Describe, Write, Complete, Draw, Show | AO1 1 · AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 9 | System Software | Write, Show | AO2 9 |
| Q8 | 6 | Security | Outline, Define | AO1 6 |
| Q9 | 9 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain, Calculate, Show | AO1 4 · AO2 5 |
| Q10 | 9 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | State, Describe, Write | AO1 4 · AO2 5 |
| Q11 | 8 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 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 | State, Give, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 4 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Complete | AO1 4 |
| Q3 | 5 | Data Representation | Describe, Calculate, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 3 |
| Q4 | 6 | Data Representation | State, Describe, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q5 | 4 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Explain | AO1 4 |
| Q6 | 9 | System Software | Write, Show | AO2 9 |
| Q7 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Complete, Draw, Show | AO1 2 · AO2 6 |
| Q8 | 7 | Security | Describe, Outline | AO1 7 |
| Q9 | 9 | Artificial Intelligence | State, Outline, Calculate, Show | AO1 4 · AO2 5 |
| Q10 | 9 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving+ Data Representation (3) | Describe, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 6 |
| Q11 | 9 | Further Programming | Write, Complete | AO1 4 · AO2 5 |
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 | 5 | Data Representation | Explain, Write | AO1 3 · AO2 2 |
| Q2 | 4 | Communication and Internet Technologies | Complete | AO1 4 |
| Q3 | 6 | Data Representation | State, Describe, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q4 | 5 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | State, Describe | AO1 5 |
| Q5 | 7 | Data Representation | Explain, Calculate, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 4 |
| Q6 | 8 | Hardware and Virtual Machines | Write, Draw, Show | AO2 8 |
| Q7 | 9 | System Software | Write, Outline, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 6 |
| Q8 | 6 | Security | Describe, Outline | AO1 6 |
| Q9 | 8 | Artificial Intelligence | Explain, Calculate, Show | AO1 3 · AO2 5 |
| Q10 | 9 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Describe, Complete | AO1 2 · AO2 7 |
| Q11 | 8 | Further Programming | Show | AO1 5 · AO2 3 |
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 | 26 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 26 |
| Q2 | 28 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 5 · AO3 23 |
| Q3 | 21 | Further Programming | Write | 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 | 18 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 18 |
| Q2 | 30 | Further Programming | Write | AO2 13 · AO3 17 |
| Q3 | 27 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | 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 | 21 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | AO3 21 |
| Q2 | 29 | Further Programming | Write, Name | AO3 29 |
| Q3 | 25 | Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving | Write | 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
- Information Representation64 marks · 28% · trend
- System Software30 marks · 13% · trend
- Security, Privacy and Data Integrity21 marks · 9% · trend
- Processor Fundamentals18 marks · 8% · trend
- Communication13 marks · 6% · trend
- Ethics and Ownership4 marks · 2% · trend
Paper 2 225 marks over 3 variants
- Programming124 marks · 55% · trend
- Data Types and Structures53 marks · 24% · trend
- Software Development35 marks · 15% · trend
- Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving14 marks · 6% · trend
Paper 3 225 marks over 3 variants
- Data Representation54 marks · 24% · trend
- Hardware and Virtual Machines38 marks · 17% · trend
- System Software27 marks · 12% · trend
- Artificial Intelligence26 marks · 12% · trend
- Further Programming25 marks · 11% · trend
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving24 marks · 11% · trend
- Communication and Internet Technologies12 marks · 5% · trend
Paper 4 225 marks over 3 variants
- Computational Thinking and Problem-Solving117 marks · 52% · trend
- Further Programming108 marks · 48% · 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.