Cambridge A Level · 9618 · Paper 2 · Problem-solving & programming

Computer Science 9618/21 Oct/Nov 2024 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) Paper 2 (Problem-solving & programming), variant 1, Oct/Nov 2024: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 8 questions worth 90 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.

Questions: 8
Marks: 75
Grade A from: 45

Open the question paper Mark scheme

File names: 9618_w24_qp_21 · 9618_w24_ms_21

Grade thresholds for 9618/21 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
45	38	30	22	15

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9618/21 Oct/Nov 2024 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

Chapter	Questions	Marks
Programming	5	40
Data Types and Structures	2	40
Software Development	1	10

Questions in 9618/21 Oct/Nov 2024

Question 1Programming · 9 marks
A program will calculate the tax payable based on the cost of an item. Calculations will occur at many places in the program and these involve the use of one of three tax rates. Tax rate values represent a percentage. …
Question 2Programming · 6 marks
A program uses three global integer variables HH, MM and SS to represent the current time in hours, minutes and seconds using the 24-hour clock notation. Midnight would be represented as 00:00:00 (HH:MM:SS). If the variables HH, MM and SS …
Question 3Programming · 9 marks
An algorithm will output the last three lines from a text file Result.txt The lines need to be output in the same order as they appear in the file. Assume: • Three variables LineX, LineY and LineZ will store the …
Question 4Data Types and Structures · 10 marks
A program includes the following assignment statement: Result ← STR_TO_NUM(x) / STR_TO_NUM(y) When the program evaluates the expression in the statement, it performs a calculation. Variable Result is of type real and variables x and y are of type string. …
Question 5Software Development · 10 marks
A software developer follows a program development life cycle. The life cycle divides the development process into various stages. (a) The following table lists some development activities. Complete the table by writing the name of the life cycle stage for …
Question 6Programming · 9 marks
A factory produces food items. The items must be used within a certain number of days after their production date. The number of days is known as the shelf life. It is different for each type of item but is …
Question 7Programming · 7 marks
A program contains six modules with headers as follows: Pseudocode module header PROCEDURE Connect() FUNCTION Activate(H1 : STRING, Code : INTEGER) RETURNS BOOLEAN FUNCTION Sync(T1 : BOOLEAN, S2 : REAL) RETURNS INTEGER PROCEDURE Initialise(BYREF ID : INTEGER, BYVAL CC : …
Question 8Data Types and Structures · 30 marks
An exam paper has a maximum of 75 marks. One of five pass grades (A to E) is assigned, depending on the mark obtained. The lowest mark for a given grade is known as the grade boundary. For example, if …

Other Computer Science papers from Oct/Nov 2024

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9618/21 Oct/Nov 2024 mark scheme?

Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9618_w24_ms_21), and on a wide screen it sits beside the question you are reading.

What was the grade threshold for an A in 9618/21 Oct/Nov 2024?

45 marks out of 75, a C needed 30.

Which topics came up in 9618/21 Oct/Nov 2024?

Mostly Programming, Data Types and Structures, Software Development. The full list is in the table above.

Do I need an account to open 9618/21 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.