Cambridge A Level · 9618 · Paper 1 · Theory fundamentals

Computer Science 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) Paper 1 (Theory fundamentals), variant 3, Oct/Nov 2023: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 9 questions worth 75 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.

Questions: 9
Marks: 75
Grade A from: 44

Open the question paper Mark scheme

File names: 9618_w23_qp_13 · 9618_w23_ms_13

Grade thresholds for 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023

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.

A	B	C	D	E
44	37	30	23	17

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

Chapter	Questions	Marks
Hardware	3	24
Databases	1	18
Processor Fundamentals	1	13
Information representation	2	7
Security, privacy and data integrity	1	7
Ethics and Ownership	1	6

Questions in 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023

Question 1Information representation · 3 marks
(a) State what is meant by analogue data. (b) Draw one line from each term to its most appropriate description. Term Description sampling the number of samples taken per second sampling rate taking measurements at regular intervals and storing the …
Question 2Information representation · 4 marks
(a) Describe the impact of increasing the image resolution on the quality of a bitmap graphic. (b) Calculate the file size of a bitmap image using the following information: • image resolution of 2048 pixels wide and 1024 pixels high …
Question 3Databases · 18 marks
A company sells online Computer Science courses to students in different countries. The courses are stored on a public cloud. (a) (i) Explain why the company uses a public cloud to store these courses. (ii) Describe two disadvantages of storing …
Question 4Hardware · 4 marks
(a) Complete the truth table for the logic expression: …
Question 5Hardware · 9 marks
A programmer uses an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to develop a program that monitors air quality. (a) Describe the following features of a typical IDE. Context‑sensitive prompts Single stepping (b) The program is distributed by downloading the source code and …
Question 6Ethics and Ownership · 6 marks
(a) State two benefits to a programmer of distributing a program using a shareware licence. …
Question 7Hardware · 11 marks
A laptop computer has Static RAM (SRAM). A virtual reality headset and a laser printer are connected to the laptop. (a) Explain why Static RAM is used in the laptop instead of Dynamic RAM. (b) Identify two reasons for using …
Question 8Security, privacy and data integrity · 7 marks
(a) Data verification is one method of protecting the integrity of data. Describe one other method of protecting the integrity of data. (b) State one difference and one similarity between pharming and phishing. Difference Similarity (c) Explain how the data …
Question 9Processor Fundamentals · 13 marks
A computer system is designed using the basic Von Neumann model. Registers and buses are components in the Von Neumann model. (a) (i) Identify three other components in the Von Neumann model of a computer system. Do not include registers …

Other Computer Science papers from Oct/Nov 2023

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023 mark scheme?

Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9618_w23_ms_13), and on a wide screen it sits beside the question you are reading.

What was the grade threshold for an A in 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023?

44 marks out of 75, a C needed 30.

Which topics came up in 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023?

Mostly Hardware, Databases, Processor Fundamentals. The full list is in the table above.

Do I need an account to open 9618/13 Oct/Nov 2023?

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.