Cambridge A Level · 9618 · Paper 1 · Theory fundamentals

Computer Science 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) Paper 1 (Theory fundamentals), variant 1, Oct/Nov 2024: 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: 47

Open the question paper Mark scheme

File names: 9618_w24_qp_11 · 9618_w24_ms_11

Grade thresholds for 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024

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
47	39	32	24	16

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

Chapter	Questions	Marks
Hardware	2	22
Databases	1	17
System Software	1	17
Information representation	1	7
Artificial Intelligence (AI)	1	4
Ethics and Ownership	1	4
Processor Fundamentals	1	4

Questions in 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024

Question 1Information representation · 7 marks
(a) State one difference between a tebibyte and a gigabyte. (b) (i) Convert the unsigned binary integer into hexadecimal. 110001100111 Answer (ii) Convert the two’s complement binary number into denary. 100110010111 Answer (iii) Convert the Binary Coded Decimal (BCD) into …
Question 2Databases · 17 marks
A shop repairs electronic devices, for example mobile phones and tablet computers. The shop owner stores the data about the repairs using a file-based approach. (a) Give one limitation of using a file-based approach to store the data and explain …
Question 3Hardware · 16 marks
A computer system has a dual-core Central Processing Unit (CPU). (a) State the purpose of the system clock and the Control Unit (CU) in a CPU. System clock CU (b) (i) The number of cores in the processor affects the …
Question 4System Software · 17 marks
A student uses a laptop to write a program that is saved as a text file. (a) The laptop has utility software and an Operating System (OS). (i) Describe the file management tasks carried out by an OS. (ii) Explain …
Question 5Hardware · 6 marks
A security system has both a floodlight (very bright light) and an audio alarm. The data from multiple sensors is analysed and used to: • turn on the floodlight • sound the audio alarm. Sensors can be used to detect: …
Question 6Artificial Intelligence (AI) · 4 marks
A car park system uses a camera to record the registration number of each car as it enters and leaves the car park. Explain how artificial intelligence is used in the car park system to identify the car’s registration number.
Question 7Ethics and Ownership · 4 marks
Software is distributed with a licence. (a) Give two benefits of distributing software using a shareware software licence. …
Question 8Processor Fundamentals · 4 marks
A computer designed using the Von Neumann model for a computer system contains general purpose registers and special purpose registers. (a) Describe the purpose of the Status Register (SR). (b) Identify two differences between general purpose registers and special purpose …

Other Computer Science papers from Oct/Nov 2024

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024 mark scheme?

Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9618_w24_ms_11), and on a wide screen it sits beside the question you are reading.

What was the grade threshold for an A in 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024?

47 marks out of 75, a C needed 32.

Which topics came up in 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024?

Mostly Hardware, Databases, System Software. The full list is in the table above.

Do I need an account to open 9618/11 Oct/Nov 2024?

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.