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2021

Cambridge A Level · 9608 · Paper 3 · Advanced theory

Computer Science 9608/32 May/June 2021 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9608) (previous syllabus, now 9618) Paper 3 (Advanced theory), variant 2, May/June 2021: 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
50
Open the question paperMark scheme

File names: 9608_s21_qp_32 · 9608_s21_ms_32

Grade thresholds for 9608/32 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
5045403428

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9608/32 May/June 2021 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

ChapterQuestionsMarks
Hardware and Virtual Machines215
Processor Fundamentals113
System Software (A Level)112
Security (A Level)111
Data Representation19
Communication and internet technologies18
Communication17

Questions in 9608/32 May/June 2021

  1. Question 1Data Representation · 9 marks

    In a 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 Mantissa …

  2. Question 2Communication and internet technologies · 8 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 Transport Handles …

  3. Question 3Communication · 7 marks

    (a) Describe, with the aid of a diagram, a bus topology network. Description (b) Describe the way in which a bus network uses Ethernet technology for communication.

  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 5Hardware and Virtual Machines · 5 marks

    Flip-flops are used in computer construction. (a) Describe the role of flip-flops in a computer. (b) Describe the difference between an SR flip-flop and a JK flip-flop.

  6. Question 6System Software (A Level) · 12 marks

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

  7. Question 7Security (A Level) · 11 marks

    (a) A digital certificate and a digital signature are used to ensure that a message is not changed during transmission. Write an appropriate term in each space to complete the descriptions. A digital certificate contains the key of the owner. …

  8. Question 8Processor Fundamentals · 13 marks

    Four greenhouses are used to grow tomatoes. The temperature inside each greenhouse should be kept between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius inclusive. Each greenhouse has a temperature sensor. A computer system is programmed to control each greenhouse’s temperature by: • …

Other Computer Science papers from May/June 2021

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9608/32 May/June 2021 mark scheme?
Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9608_s21_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 2021?
50 marks out of 75, a C needed 40.
Which topics came up in 9608/32 May/June 2021?
Mostly Hardware and Virtual Machines, Processor Fundamentals, System Software (A Level). The full list is in the table above.
Do I need an account to open 9608/32 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.