Cambridge · A Level
Cambridge A Level Computer Science
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science (9618). What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official syllabus, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.
- Syllabus
- 9618
- Board
- Cambridge
- Qualification
- A Level
- Not your course?
- Change course
Topics and resources
Each topic below is from the official Cambridge document for Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science (9618), with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) only.
- Learn with study guides
- Revise with revision notes
- Practise with practice questions
- Test yourself in 10 minutes Four AS topics
- Test yourself in 10 minutes Four A Level topics
- Self-check practice 63 questions with worked answers
- Printable topic checklist Tick off each topic as you revise
Searches topic names and resource titles for this course only.
No Computer Science (9618) resources match “”.
- Try one shorter word, or check the spelling.
- Try the wording the syllabus uses for the topic, as listed below once you clear the search.
- Some topics have no Marlbridge resource yet; they are still listed.
AS Level
Topics 1–12. Usually studied in the first year, and assessed at AS.
- AS topic 1
Information representation
Covers Data Representation, Multimedia – Graphics, Sound, Compression
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 2
Communication
Covers Networks including the internet
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 3
Hardware
Covers Computers and their components, Logic Gates and Logic Circuits
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 4
Processor Fundamentals
Covers Central Processing Unit (CPU) Architecture, Assembly Language, Bit manipulation
Study guides
Revision notes
Practice questions
- AS topic 5
System Software
Covers Operating Systems, Language Translators
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 6
Security, privacy and data integrity
Covers Data Security, Data Integrity
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 7
Ethics and Ownership
Covers Ethics and Ownership
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 8
Databases
Covers Database Concepts, Database Management Systems (DBMS), Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manipulation Language (DML)
Study guides
No study guide for this topic yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Practice questions
- AS topic 9
Algorithm Design and Problem-solving
Covers Computational Thinking Skills, Algorithms
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 10
Data Types and Structures
Covers Data Types and Records, Arrays, Files, Introduction to Abstract Data Types (ADT)
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 11
Programming
Covers Programming Basics, Constructs, Structured Programming
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- AS topic 12
Software Development
Covers Program Development Life cycle, Program Design, Program Testing and Maintenance
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
A Level
Topics 13–20. Studied in addition to the AS content for the full A Level.
- A Level topic 13
Data Representation
Covers User-defined data types, File organisation and access, Floating-point numbers, representation and manipulation
Study guides
No study guide for this topic yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
- A Level topic 14
Communication and internet technologies
Covers Protocols, Circuit switching, packet switching
Study guides
No study guide for this topic yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
- A Level topic 15
Hardware and Virtual Machines
Covers Processors, Parallel Processing and Virtual Machines, Boolean Algebra and Logic Circuits
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- A Level topic 16
System Software
Covers Purposes of an Operating System (OS), Translation Software
Study guides
No study guide for this topic yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
- A Level topic 17
Security
Covers Encryption, Encryption Protocols and Digital certificates
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- A Level topic 18
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Covers Artificial Intelligence
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- A Level topic 19
Computational thinking and Problem-solving
Covers Algorithms, Recursion
No Marlbridge resource for this topic yet. It is still part of the syllabus, so use the official document and past papers for it.
- A Level topic 20
Further Programming
Covers Programming Paradigms, File Processing and Exception Handling
Study guides
No study guide for this topic yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this topic yet.
Covering more than one topic
Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.
Study guides
No study guide for this course yet.
Revision notes
No revision notes for this course yet.
Practice questions
Source: Cambridge Assessment International Education — official syllabus PDF — 2026 series. Verified 2026-08-19. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.
About this course
- Qualification
- Cambridge A Level Computer Science
- Spec code
- 9618
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes — request a free trial class
- Who teaches it?
- Harris Khan
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 15 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- Official syllabus
- Cambridge syllabus
- Topic checklist
- Printable 9618 checklist
- Where was this verified?
- 2026-08-19, official Cambridge specification
- Free practice questions?
- Yes — 63 self-check questions
- Free 10-minute diagnostic?
- Yes — Four AS topics · Four A Level topics
Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official Cambridge specification on 2026-08-19.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.
The qualification
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science (9618)
Marlbridge's summary of the course
This syllabus enables learners to understand the main principles of problem-solving using computers and gives them opportunities to develop their skills in a number of programming languages, together with the skills necessary to apply this understanding to develop computer based solutions to problems.
The board's own description is on the official Cambridge syllabus page.
Syllabus for exams in 2026; Cambridge has published a 2027-2029 syllabus (721397) which states there are no significant changes which affect teaching, and the Marlbridge 9618 resources follow it. Staged: AS (sections 1-12) and A Level (adds 13-20), assessed across four papers (Theory Fundamentals, Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming, Advanced Theory, Practical).
Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the Cambridge syllabus page for your examination year.
Assessment structure
Staged qualification
| Component | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Theory Fundamentals | 1h 30m | 75 | 25% | Written exam |
| Paper 2: Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills | 2h | 75 | 25% | Written exam |
| Paper 3: Advanced Theory | 1h 30m | 75 | 25% | Written exam |
| Paper 4: Practical | 2h 30m | 75 | 25% | Practical |
Source: official Cambridge specification, verified 2026-08-27. Directly confirmed against the official PDF's "Assessment overview" (Syllabus overview, p.11-12): Paper 1 Theory Fundamentals (1h30/75 marks, 50% of AS / 25% of A Level) and Paper 2 Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills (2h/75 marks, 50% of AS / 25% of A Level) form the AS Level; Paper 3 Advanced Theory (1h30/75 marks, 25% of A Level only) and Paper 4 Practical (2h30/75 marks, 25% of A Level only – candidates submit complete program code and testing evidence on a computer with no internet/email access) complete the full A Level. Weighting figures recorded here are the "% of A Level" figures (25+25+25+25=100); the AS-only route uses the separate 50%/50% figures instead, not modeled as a distinct record. Calculators must not be used in any paper. All four papers externally assessed. This record models the 2026 syllabus; the 2027-2029 syllabus (721397, Version 2) sets the same four papers with the same durations, marks and weightings.
Questions about this course
How is Cambridge Computer Science (9618) assessed?
Cambridge Computer Science (9618) is assessed through: Paper 1 (Theory Fundamentals) — 1h 30m, 75 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills) — 2h, 75 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 3 (Advanced Theory) — 1h 30m, 75 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 4 (Practical) — 2h 30m, 75 marks, 25% of the qualification. It is a staged qualification. Source: official Cambridge specification, verified 2026-08-27.
What topics does Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) cover?
20 topics in the current syllabus: Information representation; Communication; Hardware; Processor Fundamentals; System Software; Security, privacy and data integrity; Ethics and Ownership; Databases; Algorithm Design and Problem-solving; Data Types and Structures; Programming; Software Development; Data Representation; Communication and internet technologies; Hardware and Virtual Machines; System Software; Security; Artificial Intelligence (AI); Computational thinking and Problem-solving; Further Programming. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.
Can I get a tutor for Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618)?
Yes. Marlbridge teaches Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) live online, one-to-one or in small groups, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.
Are there free Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618) revision notes and practice questions?
Yes. Marlbridge has published 15 free resources for this course (past-paper guidance, practice questions, revision notes, study guides), free to read with no sign-up.
The subject
Computer Science teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.
Computer Science at other qualifications
These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.
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