All exam insights

0478 · June 2024

Computer Science

Candidates and centres are reminded that written papers are scanned in and marked on computer screens by Examiners. If a candidate writes the answer to a question on an additional pag COMPUTER SCIENCE Paper 0478/11 Computer Systems

16 pitfalls150 questions2 takeawaysView official report
Last reviewed: 2026-06-30Paraphrased for study purposes — not an official publication of the exam board.

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

No data available in official reports

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

Candidates must show a greater use of technical terminology in their responses.

2

They also need to note the key terms given in a question and structure their response based on the given context.

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

0478/11

Computer Systems

Weakest: Q4(a)(c), Q5(a)(d), Q5(a), Q7(a)(b)(i), Q2(a)(c), Q6(a)(b), Q7(a)(b), Q6(a)(b)
Q1(a)
Q1(a)(b)
Q1(a)(c)
Q2(a)
Q2(a)(b)
Q3(a)
Q3(a)(b)
Q3(a)(c)
Q3(a)(d)
Q4(a)
Q4(a)(b)
Q4(a)(c)
Q5(a)
Q5(a)(b)
Q5(a)(c)
Q5(a)(d)
Q6(a)
Q6(a)(b)
Q6(a)(c)
Q7
Q8(a)
Q8(a)(b)
Q8(a)(c)
Q8(a)(d)
Q8(a)(e)
Q8(a)(f)
Q9(a)
Q9(a)(b)(i)
Q9(a)(b)(ii)
Q9(a)(c)(i)
Q9(a)(c)(ii)
Q1(a)
Q1(a)(b)
Q1(a)(c)
Q1(a)(d)
Q2(a)
Q2(a)(b)
Q2(a)(c)(i)
Q2(a)(c)(ii)
Q3(a)
Q3(a)(b)(i)
Q3(a)(b)(ii)
Q3(a)(c)
Q3(a)(d)
Q4(a)
Q4(a)(b)
Q4(a)(c)
Q5(a)
Q5(a)(b)
Q6
Q7(a)
Q7(a)(b)(i)
Q7(a)(b)(ii)
Q8(a)
Q8(a)(b)
Q9(a)
Q9(a)(b)
Q10(a)
Q10(a)(b)
Q11(a)
Q11(a)(b)
Q11(a)(c)
Q1(a)
Q1(a)(b)
Q1(a)(c)
Q2(a)
Q2(a)(b)
Q3(a)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(a)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(i)
Q3(a)(i)(b)(ii)
Q3(a)(i)(c)
Q3(a)(i)(d)
Q3(a)(i)(e)
Q4
Q5(a)
Q5(a)(b)
Q6(a)
Q6(a)(b)
Q6(a)(c)
Q7(a)
Q7(a)(b)
Q7(a)(c)
Q7(a)(d)(i)
Q7(a)(d)(ii)
Q7(a)(e)
Q8(a)
Q8(a)(b)(i)
Q8(a)(b)(ii)
Q8(a)(c)
Q8(a)(d)
Q9(a)
Q9(a)(b)
Q1
Q2(a)
Q2(a)(b)
Q2(a)(c)
Q3
Q4(a)
Q4(a)(b)
Q4(a)(c)
Q5
Q6(a)
Q6(a)(b)
Q7(a)
Q7(a)(b)
Q8(a)
Q8(a)(b)
Q9(a)
Q9(a)(b)
Q10
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4(a)
Q4(a)(b)(i)
Q4(a)(b)(ii)
Q5
Q6(a)
Q6(a)(b)
Q7(a)
Q7(a)(b)
Q8(a)
Q8(a)(b)
Q9(a)
Q9(a)(b)
Q10(a)
Q10(a)(b)
Q10(a)(c)
Q10(a)(d)
Q11
Q1
Q2(a)
Q2(a)(b)
Q3
Q4(a)
Q4(a)(b)
Q4(a)(c)
Q5(a)
Q5(a)(b)
Q5(a)(c)
Q5(a)(d)
Q6(a)
Q6(a)(b)
Q7(a)
Q7(a)(b)
Q8(a)
Q8(a)(b)
Q8(a)(c)
Q9
StrongMixedWeak

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

No data available in official reports

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

No data available in official reports

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

No data available in official reports

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

No data available in official reports

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

No data available in official reports

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Algorithm design and problem-solving

41
12
19
72

Programming concepts

13
32
26
71

Arrays

15
15

Cyber security

15
15

Robotics

14
14

Methods of error detection

13
13

The internet and the world wide web

13
13

Data storage

11
11

Difficulty trend

How session difficulty has shifted across recent years

202320242025
2023 June 2023 · 3.5/52024 June 2024 · 3.4/52025 June 2025 · 3.5/5

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

No data available in official reports

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

No data available in official reports

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    Candidates must show a greater use of technical terminology in their responses.

  • 2Message

    They also need to note the key terms given in a question and structure their response based on the given context.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Computer Science

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education 0478 Computer Science June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers © 2024 COMPUTER SCIENCE Paper 0478/11 Computer Systems Key messages Candidates must show a greater use of technical terminology in their respo

  • Candidates must show a greater use of technical terminology in their responses.

  • They also need to note the key terms given in a question and structure their response based on the given context.

Examiner insights

General comments

  • Candidates and centres are reminded that written papers are scanned in and marked on computer screens by Examiners.
  • If a candidate writes the answer to a question on an additional pag COMPUTER SCIENCE Paper 0478/11 Computer Systems