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2025

Cambridge A Level · 9618 · Paper 3 · Advanced theory

Computer Science 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025 past paper

Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) Paper 3 (Advanced theory), variant 1, Oct/Nov 2025: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 11 questions worth 75 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.

Questions
11
Marks
75
Grade A from
54
Open the question paperMark scheme

File names: 9618_w25_qp_31 · 9618_w25_ms_31

Grade thresholds for 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025

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
5446393123

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

ChapterQuestionsMarks
Data Types and Structures323
Communication and internet technologies110
Hardware and Virtual Machines19
Processor Fundamentals17
Data Representation16
System Software (A Level)16
Artificial Intelligence (AI)16
Security (A Level)15
Further Programming13

Questions in 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025

  1. Question 1Data Types and Structures · 6 marks

    The composite record data type, ClubMember, is defined in pseudocode as: TYPE ClubMember DECLARE Code : INTEGER DECLARE LastName : STRING DECLARE FirstName : STRING DECLARE Telephone : STRING DECLARE JoinDate : DATE DECLARE Fees : REAL DECLARE FeesPaid : …

  2. Question 2Data Representation · 6 marks

    Numbers are stored in a computer system using binary floating‑point representation with: • 12 bits for the mantissa • 4 bits for the exponent • two’s complement form for both the mantissa and the exponent. (a) Write the normalised floating‑point …

  3. Question 3Communication and internet technologies · 10 marks

    (a) Explain why protocols are essential for communication between computer systems. (b) POP3 is an email communication protocol. Identify and describe two other communication protocols that are used when sending or receiving emails. Protocol 1 Description Protocol 2 Description (c) …

  4. Question 4System Software (A Level) · 6 marks

    (a) A scheduling routine determines how processes are managed by the operating system. Identify two scheduling routines. …

  5. Question 5Security (A Level) · 5 marks

    (a) Identify two items commonly found within a digital certificate. …

  6. Question 6Hardware and Virtual Machines · 9 marks

    (a) The diagram shows a logic circuit. …

  7. Question 7Artificial Intelligence (AI) · 6 marks

    (a) Identify one Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm to find the shortest distance between two points on a graph. (b) Describe Deep Learning.

  8. Question 8Data Types and Structures · 8 marks

    (a) Outline the purpose of lexical analysis during the compilation of a program. (b) Write the Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) for the given infix expression: …

  9. Question 9Data Types and Structures · 9 marks

    (a) A stack has been implemented using pseudocode to store a maximum of 100 string items using the global variables in the following table: Identifier Data type Description Initialisation value Base INTEGER pointer for the bottom of the stack 0 …

  10. Question 10Further Programming · 3 marks

    Explain what is meant by exception handling. Include an example of a possible cause of an exception in your answer. Explanation Example

  11. Question 11Processor Fundamentals · 7 marks

    The table shows assembly language instructions for a processor that has one register, the Accumulator (ACC). Instruction Label Opcode Operand Explanation LDM #n Load the number n to ACC LDD <address> Load the contents of the location at the given …

Other Computer Science papers from Oct/Nov 2025

Questions students ask

Where can I get the 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025 mark scheme?
Open the mark scheme above - it is the official Cambridge scheme for this exact paper (9618_w25_ms_31), and on a wide screen it sits beside the question you are reading.
What was the grade threshold for an A in 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025?
54 marks out of 75, a C needed 39.
Which topics came up in 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025?
Mostly Data Types and Structures, Communication and internet technologies, Hardware and Virtual Machines. The full list is in the table above.
Do I need an account to open 9618/31 Oct/Nov 2025?
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.