Computer Science 9618/32 Oct/Nov 2025 past paper

Grade thresholds for 9618/32 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.

Topics in this paper

Which syllabus chapters 9618/32 Oct/Nov 2025 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.

Questions in 9618/32 Oct/Nov 2025

1. Question 1Data Types and Structures · 6 marks

   The composite data type, Car, is defined in pseudocode as: TYPE Car DECLARE RegNumber : STRING DECLARE Make : STRING DECLARE Model : STRING DECLARE BodyStyle : STRING DECLARE Colour : STRING DECLARE IntoStock : DATE DECLARE Price : REAL …

2. Question 2Data Representation · 6 marks

   Numbers are stored in a computer system using binary floating-point representation with: • 10 bits for the mantissa • 6 bits for the exponent • two’s complement form for both the mantissa and the exponent. (a) Calculate the denary value …

3. Question 3Communication and internet technologies · 6 marks

   (a) HTTP and IMAP are examples of protocols used in the Application Layer of the TCP/IP protocol suite. State the purpose of the HTTP and IMAP protocols. HTTP IMAP (b) Describe how files are shared using the BitTorrent protocol.

4. Question 4Communication and internet technologies · 4 marks

   (a) Identify one benefit of circuit switching and one benefit of packet switching. Circuit switching Packet switching (b) Identify two differences between circuit switching and packet switching. 1 2

5. Question 5System Software (A Level) · 5 marks

   (a) Describe how interrupt handling is used in low-level scheduling. (b) In process management, a process can be in one of three process states: running, ready or blocked. Complete the table to identify one reason why a process could be …

6. Question 6Hardware and Virtual Machines · 9 marks

   (a) The diagram shows a logic circuit. …

7. Question 7Security (A Level) · 5 marks

   (a) Asymmetric encryption is a type of cryptography. Identify one other type of cryptography. (b) An organisation holds two asymmetric encryption keys, which they intend to use to receive secure transmissions. Explain how the organisation makes use of the two …

8. Question 8Data Types and Structures · 8 marks

   (a) State the purpose of the optimisation stage in the compilation of a program. (b) Convert this Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) back to its original infix form: …

9. Question 9Artificial Intelligence (AI) · 6 marks

   (a) Deep Learning is a form of Machine Learning. (i) State one example where Deep Learning is used. (ii) Identify how Deep Learning can be made more effective. (b) Describe the back propagation of errors method in Machine Learning.

10. Question 10System Software (A Level) · 4 marks

    An exception is an error that may cause a program to halt unexpectedly. (a) Describe how program termination due to an exception can be avoided. (b) Identify two possible causes of exceptions. 1 2

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 the ACC LDD <address> Load the contents of the location at the …

12. Question 12Data 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 …

Other Computer Science papers from Oct/Nov 2025

• 9618/11 Theory fundamentals
• 9618/12 Theory fundamentals
• 9618/13 Theory fundamentals
• 9618/21 Problem-solving & programming
• 9618/22 Problem-solving & programming
• 9618/23 Problem-solving & programming
• 9618/31 Advanced theory
• 9618/33 Advanced theory
• 9618/41 Practical programming
• 9618/42 Practical programming
• 9618/43 Practical programming