9618 · Cambridge International AS Level
Computer Science (9618) Exam Tips
In Paper 1 (Theory Fundamentals), you are up against a strict timer: 90 minutes to secure 75 marks. This translates to exactly 1.2 minutes per mark. High-scoring candidates do not treat this paper as a race of speed, but as a test of scientific precision. Examiners repeatedly pen…
Papers
2
Total marks
150
Time limit
3h 30min
Grade scale
Additional note
Calculator policy
A silent scientific calculator is required where the syllabus permits one. It must NOT be graphical, programmable, or capable of symbolic algebra (CAS), and it must contain no stored programs or notes.
2
Papers
4
Strategies
7
Mistakes
- In Paper 1 (Theory Fundamentals), you are up against a strict timer: 90 minutes to secure 75 marks. This translates to exactly 1.2 minutes per mark. High-scoring candidates do not treat this paper as a race of speed, but as a test of scientific precision. Examiners repeatedly penalize candidates who use everyday general terms instead of precise computer science terminology. For example, never call storage 'memory' or data 'information'. When explaining hardware, saying SRAM is simply 'faster' will lose you the mark; you must specify that it has a 'faster access time' compared to DRAM, which requires a continuous physical refreshing mechanism.
Tips are paraphrased for study purposes from exam structure data and marking patterns. Always verify against your official syllabus and mark scheme.