Sciences
Cambridge AS & A Level Computer Science
Syllabus topics
69 topics and subtopics in the 2027-2029 syllabus, examined from 1 Jan 2027.
ASAS Level subject content
Topics 1-12: studied by all candidates; Paper 1 examines topics 1-8, Paper 2 topics 9-12, and all of it is assumed knowledge for Papers 3 and 4.
AA Level subject content
Topics 13-20: A Level only; Paper 3 examines topics 13-20 and Paper 4 practically examines topics 19-20 (except low-level and declarative programming), with…
PSPractical skills
Not a content section of the syllabus: our grouping of the practical assessment (Paper 4).
- P4
Practical programming (Paper 4)
Written in console-mode Java, Visual Basic or Python; this product uses Python. Candidates submit program code and evidence of testing from a computer without…
About this syllabus
Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science (9618) is a two-stage course. The AS Level content (topics 1-12) covers information representation (number systems, character sets, graphics, sound and compression), networks and the internet, hardware and logic gates, processor fundamentals (the CPU, fetch-execute cycle, assembly language and bit manipulation), system software, security, privacy and data integrity, ethics and ownership, databases and SQL, and problem solving and programming in pseudocode with data types, arrays, files, abstract data types and software development. The A Level content (topics 13-20) adds user-defined types, file organisation, floating-point numbers, protocols and switching, parallel processors and virtual machines, Boolean algebra, process scheduling and memory management, compilation, encryption, artificial intelligence, algorithms with abstract data types and recursion, and programming paradigms with file processing and exception handling.
How you are assessed
AS Level candidates take Paper 1 Theory Fundamentals (1 hour 30 minutes, 75 marks) and Paper 2 Fundamental Problem-solving and Programming Skills (2 hours, 75 marks). A Level candidates also take Paper 3 Advanced Theory (1 hour 30 minutes, 75 marks) and Paper 4 Practical (2 hours 30 minutes, 75 marks), either in the same series or a later one, carrying forward their AS result.
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