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2019

Cambridge A Level · 9608 · Paper 3 · Advanced theory

Computer Science 9608/32 May/June 2019 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9608) (previous syllabus, now 9618) Paper 3 (Advanced theory), variant 2, May/June 2019: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 8 questions worth 75 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.

Questions
8
Marks
75
Grade A from
51
Open the question paperMark scheme

File names: 9608_s19_qp_32 · 9608_s19_ms_32

Grade thresholds for 9608/32 May/June 2019

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
5144383124

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9608/32 May/June 2019 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

ChapterQuestionsMarks
Hardware and Virtual Machines223
System Software (A Level)220
Data Representation115
Security (A Level)19
Communication and internet technologies14
Hardware14

Questions in 9608/32 May/June 2019

  1. Question 1Data Representation · 15 marks

    (a) A computer stores real numbers using floating-point representation. The floating-point numbers have: • eight bits for the mantissa • four bits for the exponent. The mantissa and exponent are both stored in two’s complement format. (i) Calculate the denary …

  2. Question 2Communication and internet technologies · 4 marks

    Packet switching can be used to transmit data across the Internet. Packet switching is not always the most appropriate method of transferring data. (a) Name an alternative method of transferring data across the Internet. (b) Give an example of a …

  3. Question 3Hardware and Virtual Machines · 13 marks

    (a) A Boolean algebraic expression produces the following truth table. INPUT OUTPUT …

  4. Question 4System Software (A Level) · 8 marks

    (a) Describe the main steps in the evaluation of a Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) expression using a stack. (b) The infix expression …

  5. Question 5Security (A Level) · 9 marks

    Sanjeet is a member of the public, and he wants to send a private message to a government department. (a) Explain how asymmetric encryption is used to ensure that the message remains private. (b) When the government department replies to …

  6. Question 6Hardware · 4 marks

    A company sells plant watering systems that automatically turn on water sprinklers when the soil becomes too dry. The plant watering system has a processor and connecting cables. Identify two other hardware devices that are required in this system. State …

  7. Question 7Hardware and Virtual Machines · 10 marks

    (a) RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) and CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) are two types of processor. Tick (3) one box in each row to show if the statement applies to RISC or CISC processors. Statement RISC CISC Larger instruction …

  8. Question 8System Software (A Level) · 12 marks

    (a) A computer process can be in one of three states. Identify and describe two of these states. State 1 Description State 2 Description (b) One of the main tasks of an operating system is resource management. Describe how an …

Other Computer Science papers from May/June 2019

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9608/32 May/June 2019 mark scheme?
Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9608_s19_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 May/June 2019?
51 marks out of 75, a C needed 38.
Which topics came up in 9608/32 May/June 2019?
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 May/June 2019?
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.