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2021

Cambridge A Level · 9608 · Paper 3 · Advanced theory

Computer Science 9608/31 May/June 2021 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9608) (previous syllabus, now 9618) Paper 3 (Advanced theory), variant 1, May/June 2021: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 7 questions worth 75 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.

Questions
7
Marks
75
Grade A from
50
Open the question paperMark scheme

File names: 9608_s21_qp_31 · 9608_s21_ms_31

Grade thresholds for 9608/31 May/June 2021

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
5045393428

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9608/31 May/June 2021 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

ChapterQuestionsMarks
System Software (A Level)114
Processor Fundamentals113
Security (A Level)112
Data Representation111
Hardware and Virtual Machines110
Communication and internet technologies19
Communication16

Questions in 9608/31 May/June 2021

  1. Question 1Data Representation · 11 marks

    In a particular computer system, two real numbers, A and B, are stored using floating-point representation with: • 12 bits for the mantissa • 4 bits for the exponent • two’s complement form for both mantissa and exponent. Number A …

  2. Question 2Communication and internet technologies · 9 marks

    The TCP/IP protocol suite can be viewed as a stack with four layers. (a) Write the correct descriptions for the two layers and the correct layers for the two descriptions given in the following table. Layer Description Application Handles forwarding …

  3. Question 3Communication · 6 marks

    Describe, with the aid of a diagram for each one, the bus and star network topologies. Bus Description Star Description

  4. Question 4Hardware and Virtual Machines · 10 marks

    (a) The truth table for a logic circuit with four inputs is shown. INPUT OUTPUT …

  5. Question 5System Software (A Level) · 14 marks

    The following syntax diagrams for a programming language show the syntax of: • an assignment statement • a variable • an unsigned integer • a digit • a letter • an operator assignment statement variable letter unsigned integer operator digit …

  6. Question 6Security (A Level) · 12 marks

    Encryption is used to provide security when messages are transferred over a communication link. (a) (i) Explain the way in which asymmetric key cryptography is used to encrypt a message being sent from one computer user to another over the …

  7. Question 7Processor Fundamentals · 13 marks

    Four shipping containers are used to store goods on the dockside at a port. The temperature inside each container should be kept between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius inclusive. Each container has a temperature sensor. A computer system is programmed …

Other Computer Science papers from May/June 2021

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9608/31 May/June 2021 mark scheme?
Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9608_s21_ms_31), and on a wide screen it sits beside the question you are reading.
What was the grade threshold for an A in 9608/31 May/June 2021?
50 marks out of 75, a C needed 39.
Which topics came up in 9608/31 May/June 2021?
Mostly System Software (A Level), Processor Fundamentals, Security (A Level). The full list is in the table above.
Do I need an account to open 9608/31 May/June 2021?
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.