Syllabus
Cambridge International
AS & A Level
Computer Science 9618
Use this syllabus for exams in 2024 and 2025.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Version 2
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certification of Secondary Education.
,Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a
lasting passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can
shape the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways
to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for
life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by
subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong
platform for students to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning
resources.
We review all our syllabuses regularly, so they reflect the latest research evidence and professional teaching
practice – and take account of the different national contexts in which they are taught.
We consult with teachers to help us design each syllabus around the needs of their learners. Consulting with
leading universities has helped us make sure our syllabuses encourage students to master the key concepts in
the subject and develop the skills necessary for success in higher education.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications
for school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge
learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the
modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future
with the Cambridge Pathway.
School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Feedback from: Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes for
students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2021
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge University Press &
Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy
material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre.
,Contents
Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2
1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 4
2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 8
Aims 8
Content overview 9
Assessment overview 11
Assessment objectives 13
3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................14
AS content 14
A Level content 32
Teacher guidance 39
4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 40
Submission of Paper 4 Practical 40
Command words 41
5 What else you need to know .................................................................................... 42
Before you start 42
Making entries 43
Accessibility and equality 44
After the exam 45
How students, teachers and higher education can use the grades 46
Grade descriptions 46
Changes to this syllabus for 2024 and 2025 47
Important: Changes to this syllabus
For information about changes to this syllabus for 2024 and 2025, go to page 47.
The latest syllabus is version 2, published March 2023.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2021 are still suitable for use with this
syllabus.
, Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 syllabus for 2024 and 2025.
1 Why choose this syllabus?
Key benefits
The best motivation for a student is a real passion for the
subject they’re learning. By offering students a variety of
Cambridge International AS & A Levels, you can give them the
greatest chance of finding the path of education they most
want to follow. With over 50 subjects to choose from, students
can select the ones they love and that they’re best at, which
helps motivate them throughout their studies. Cambridge
learner
Following a Cambridge International AS & A Level programme
helps students develop abilities which universities value highly,
including:
• a deep understanding of their subjects.
• higher order thinking skills – analysis, critical thinking,
problem solving.
• presenting ordered and coherent arguments.
• independent learning and research.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science encourages learners to meet the needs of
Higher Education courses in computer science as well as twenty-first century digital employers. It encourages
learners to think creatively, through applying practical programming solutions, demonstrating that they are
effective users of technology.
Our approach in Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science encourages learners to be:
confident, using a range of technology and programming paradigms
responsible, using technology ethically
reflective, as programmers, improving their own programming solution
innovative, creating efficient solutions to problems
engaged, in technology, how it is built and how software solutions are developed.
School feedback: ‘Cambridge students develop a deep understanding of subjects and
independent thinking skills.’
Feedback from: Principal, Rockledge High School, USA
Back to contents page www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel 4
Cambridge International
AS & A Level
Computer Science 9618
Use this syllabus for exams in 2024 and 2025.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Version 2
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certification of Secondary Education.
,Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a
lasting passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can
shape the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways
to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for
life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by
subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong
platform for students to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning
resources.
We review all our syllabuses regularly, so they reflect the latest research evidence and professional teaching
practice – and take account of the different national contexts in which they are taught.
We consult with teachers to help us design each syllabus around the needs of their learners. Consulting with
leading universities has helped us make sure our syllabuses encourage students to master the key concepts in
the subject and develop the skills necessary for success in higher education.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications
for school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge
learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the
modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future
with the Cambridge Pathway.
School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Feedback from: Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes for
students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2021
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge University Press &
Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy
material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre.
,Contents
Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2
1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 4
2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 8
Aims 8
Content overview 9
Assessment overview 11
Assessment objectives 13
3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................14
AS content 14
A Level content 32
Teacher guidance 39
4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 40
Submission of Paper 4 Practical 40
Command words 41
5 What else you need to know .................................................................................... 42
Before you start 42
Making entries 43
Accessibility and equality 44
After the exam 45
How students, teachers and higher education can use the grades 46
Grade descriptions 46
Changes to this syllabus for 2024 and 2025 47
Important: Changes to this syllabus
For information about changes to this syllabus for 2024 and 2025, go to page 47.
The latest syllabus is version 2, published March 2023.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2021 are still suitable for use with this
syllabus.
, Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 syllabus for 2024 and 2025.
1 Why choose this syllabus?
Key benefits
The best motivation for a student is a real passion for the
subject they’re learning. By offering students a variety of
Cambridge International AS & A Levels, you can give them the
greatest chance of finding the path of education they most
want to follow. With over 50 subjects to choose from, students
can select the ones they love and that they’re best at, which
helps motivate them throughout their studies. Cambridge
learner
Following a Cambridge International AS & A Level programme
helps students develop abilities which universities value highly,
including:
• a deep understanding of their subjects.
• higher order thinking skills – analysis, critical thinking,
problem solving.
• presenting ordered and coherent arguments.
• independent learning and research.
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science encourages learners to meet the needs of
Higher Education courses in computer science as well as twenty-first century digital employers. It encourages
learners to think creatively, through applying practical programming solutions, demonstrating that they are
effective users of technology.
Our approach in Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science encourages learners to be:
confident, using a range of technology and programming paradigms
responsible, using technology ethically
reflective, as programmers, improving their own programming solution
innovative, creating efficient solutions to problems
engaged, in technology, how it is built and how software solutions are developed.
School feedback: ‘Cambridge students develop a deep understanding of subjects and
independent thinking skills.’
Feedback from: Principal, Rockledge High School, USA
Back to contents page www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel 4
