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2018

Cambridge A Level · 9608 · Paper 3 · Advanced theory

Computer Science 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9608) (previous syllabus, now 9618) Paper 3 (Advanced theory), variant 2, Oct/Nov 2018: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 6 questions worth 75 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.

Questions
6
Marks
75
Grade A from
64
Open the question paperMark scheme

File names: 9608_w18_qp_32 · 9608_w18_ms_32

Grade thresholds for 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018

The minimum raw marks Cambridge set for each grade on this component (out of 75). Thresholds change every session and variant, so always compare your score with the paper you actually sat.

ABCDE
6457514640

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

ChapterQuestionsMarks
Hardware and Virtual Machines233
System Software (A Level)115
Data Representation111
Communication and internet technologies19
Security (A Level)17

Questions in 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018

  1. Question 1Data Representation · 11 marks

    (a) A computer system uses floating-point representation to store real numbers. The floating-point numbers have: • 8 bits for the mantissa • 8 bits for the exponent The mantissa and exponent are both in two’s complement form. (i) Calculate the …

  2. Question 2Communication and internet technologies · 9 marks

    (a) A network can be set up using a star topology. Give three features of a star topology. …

  3. Question 3Hardware and Virtual Machines · 19 marks

    (a) Consider the following Boolean expression. …

  4. Question 4System Software (A Level) · 15 marks

    A compiler uses a keyword table and a symbol table. Part of the keyword table is shown. • Tokens for keywords are shown in hexadecimal. • All of the keyword tokens are in the range …

  5. Question 5Hardware and Virtual Machines · 14 marks

    (a) Most desktop or laptop computers use CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) architecture. Most smartphones and tablets use RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing). State four features that are different for the CISC and RISC architectures. …

  6. Question 6Security (A Level) · 7 marks

    (a) The following table shows descriptions and terms relating to data transmission security. Add appropriate descriptions and terms to complete the table. Description Term A The result of encryption that is transmitted to the recipient. B The type of cryptography …

Other Computer Science papers from Oct/Nov 2018

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018 mark scheme?
Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9608_w18_ms_32), and on a wide screen it sits beside the question you are reading.
What was the grade threshold for an A in 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018?
64 marks out of 75, a C needed 51.
Which topics came up in 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018?
Mostly Hardware and Virtual Machines, System Software (A Level), Data Representation. The full list is in the table above.
Do I need an account to open 9608/32 Oct/Nov 2018?
No. Every paper opens for free without signing in. A free account also saves your pen marks and records your score against the grade thresholds.