Cambridge A Level Computer Science (9618): Ethics and Ownership – Practice Questions

These are original questions written for Marlbridge, for revision and practice on this content. They are not reproduced past-paper questions, and they do not replicate the exam’s exact structure, question count or mark tariffs — Cambridge International holds copyright in its own papers. Use these alongside the official past papers available from your board.

Related: Ethics and Ownership revision notes · Ethics and Ownership study guide

These questions cover Topic 7 Ethics and Ownership of Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618, examined in Paper 1: professional ethics and ethical bodies, acting ethically, copyright, software licences, and the applications and impact of AI. Answers are written in mark-scheme style; for scenario questions, any well-applied point of the same kind is also credited.

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Questions

1. Explain why a software engineer should join a professional ethical body such as the BCS or the IEEE. [3]

2. Saira works for a company that writes software for hospital drug-dosage pumps. Testing shows that the software occasionally rounds a dose incorrectly. Her manager tells her to release the software on time and fix the fault in a later update.

(a) Explain why releasing the software would be unethical. [3] (b) Describe what Saira should do, acting ethically. [2] (c) Describe two possible impacts on the company if it acts unethically in this situation. [2]

3. A developer at a web design company is asked to collect users’ browsing data from a client’s website and sell it to an advertising firm without telling the users. Identify two principles of a professional code of conduct that this would break, and explain how. [4]

4. Explain why copyright legislation is needed for software. [3]

5. A student copies 200 lines of code from a commercial game into his own game, which he sells online. Explain why this is a breach of copyright. [2]

6. For each situation, identify the most suitable type of software licence and justify your choice.

(a) A small company has written a photo editor. It wants people to try it for 30 days, then pay to keep using it. [2] (b) A university research group wants other researchers to be able to use, study and change its data-analysis software, and wants every changed version to remain freely changeable. [2] (c) A bank needs accounting software with guaranteed support and regular security updates from the supplier. [2]

7. Give two differences between software released under a Free Software Foundation licence and commercial software. [2]

8. Describe two applications of artificial intelligence. [2]

9. A city plans to use AI to control its traffic lights and to run driverless buses. Discuss the social, economic and environmental impact of this plan. [6]

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Answers

1. Any three: the engineer agrees to follow a published code of conduct, which shows employers and clients that they can be trusted [1]; the body sets standards for professional behaviour and gives guidance on ethical dilemmas [1]; it supports members in refusing an unethical instruction [1]; it offers training / continuing professional development so the engineer keeps up to date [1]; membership / recognised qualifications improve career prospects [1].

2. (a) Patients could be given the wrong dose and be harmed or killed, so public health and safety are not being put first [1]. Releasing software that is known to be faulty is dishonest towards the hospitals that buy it [1]. Saira would be failing in her professional responsibility / competence by approving work she knows is not fit for purpose [1]. (b) She should refuse to release the software / report the fault formally (in writing) to her manager and keep a record [1]; if the manager still insists, she should raise it with someone more senior or the relevant authority (and can seek guidance from her professional body) [1]. (c) Any two: legal action and compensation claims if patients are harmed [1]; loss of reputation and future contracts with hospitals [1]; the cost of recalling and fixing the pumps later is higher [1]; regulators may stop the company selling the product [1].

3. Any two principles, each named [1] and applied [1]:

• Public interest / privacy: users’ personal data is used without their knowledge or consent, which harms their privacy [1+1].
• Honesty and integrity: the users are being deceived, as they are not told what is collected [1+1].
• Respect for the law: selling personal data without consent is likely to break data protection law [1+1].

4. Copyright gives the creator legal ownership of their work, so others cannot copy, distribute or adapt it without permission [1]. This lets developers earn income from their software, so they are willing to invest time and money creating it [1]. It gives the owner a legal remedy against piracy, such as suing people who sell illegal copies [1].

5. The code is the original work of the game’s creators and is protected by copyright automatically [1]. Copying it and selling it without the owner’s permission (and outside the licence terms) is unauthorised copying and distribution [1].

6. (a) Shareware [1]: users can try the full or limited program free for the trial period, and must pay to continue using it, which is what the company wants [1]. (b) A Free Software Foundation licence (e.g. GPL) [1]: the source code is available so researchers can study and change it, and the licence requires any modified version to be released with the same freedoms [1]. (c) Commercial software [1]: the bank pays for a licence that includes support and regular updates from the supplier, and the supplier is responsible for the software [1].

7. Any two: free software’s source code is available, commercial software’s is not [1]; users of free software can modify and redistribute it, commercial software cannot be changed or copied [1]; free software may be free of charge, commercial software must be paid for [1].

8. Any two, each with a short description [1 each]: medical diagnosis, where AI analyses scans to detect disease; autonomous vehicles that sense their surroundings and decide how to drive; voice assistants that recognise speech and answer questions; fraud detection that spots unusual card transactions; recommendation systems that suggest products or videos based on past behaviour.

9. Level-style marking: up to 2 marks for each of social, economic and environmental impact, with a point for and a point against in each area. Indicative content:

• Social: fewer accidents if driverless buses react faster than people, and better transport for people who cannot drive [1]; but passengers may not trust driverless buses, and it is unclear who is responsible if an AI system causes an accident [1].
• Economic: lower running costs and less time lost in traffic jams [1]; but bus drivers may lose their jobs, and the system is expensive to develop, install and maintain [1].
• Environmental: smoother traffic flow means less stopping and starting, so lower fuel use and pollution [1]; but the AI systems use electricity in data centres, and replacing vehicles and hardware creates electronic waste [1].

Tip: “discuss” needs both sides. Six social points earn at most 2 marks here.

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Where marks are usually lost

• Saying something is “illegal” when the question asks why it is unethical.
• Choosing open source or free software when the scenario needs guaranteed supplier support, or choosing commercial when it asks for others to change the code.
• Treating “free” as meaning “no cost”.
• Giving general points about AI that are not about the city, hospital or company in the question.
• Repeating the scenario as if it were a point.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a “discuss” answer on AI be? About one or two sentences per mark, covering each area named and both sides of each.

Can a Free Software Foundation licence program be sold? Yes. “Free” refers to the user’s freedom to run, study, change and share it, not to price.

Which ethical bodies does the 9618 syllabus name? The BCS (British Computer Society) and the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers).

Official syllabus

Questions are written against Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618, syllabus for 2026 and syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029, Topic 7 Ethics and Ownership. Examiner comments by series are on the 9618 past papers page.