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IGCSE Computer Science 0478 Paper 13, May/June 2026

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0478/13 · May/June 2026

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1

A computer has primary and secondary storage.

a

Tick (✓) one box to show which is an example of primary storage. A cloud storage B firmware C read only memory (ROM) D solid-state drive (SSD)

[1]
b(i)

Solid-state is a type of storage. An SSD is one example of solid-state storage. Identify two other examples of solid-state storage. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 2 ........................................................................................................................................

[2]
b(ii)

Give two other types of storage. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 2 ........................................................................................................................................

[2]
c(i)

The computer uses the ASCII character set for a text file. One word from the text file is ‘cat’. The ASCII denary value for the character ‘c’ is 99. Give the ASCII denary values for ‘a’ and ‘t’. a ........................................................................... t ...........................................................................

[2]
c(ii)

Identify one other character set that the computer could use.

[1]
c(iii)

The text file needs to be compressed. Identify the most appropriate type of compression for the text file. Justify your choice. compression type .............................................................................................................. justification ........................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................

[4]
2

Data is transmitted across a network.

a

The bits of data are divided into sections that are each transmitted independently across the network to their destination. Identify the name given to these sections of data.

[1]
b

A network component is used to control the path taken across the network for each section of data. Identify the name of this network component.

[1]
c

Data is transmitted across the network using the serial full-duplex data transmission method. Explain three benefits of transmitting the data using the serial full-duplex data transmission method. 1 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... 2 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... 3 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................

[6]
d

A checksum is used to check for errors in the data. A checksum value is calculated from the data before it is transmitted. Describe how this checksum value is used to check for errors in the data after transmission.

[3]
e(i)

All data that is transmitted across the network is encrypted before transmission. Give two types of encryption that could be used. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 2 ........................................................................................................................................

[2]
e(ii)

Describe what is meant by an encryption key.

[2]
3

A student is playing her piano. She uses her tablet computer to record the sound produced by the piano.

a(i)

The tablet computer has built-in input and output devices. Give the name of the input device built into the tablet computer that is used to record the sound produced by the piano.

[1]
a(ii)

Identify one other input device that can be built into the tablet computer.

[1]
a(iii)

The tablet computer has a display screen to output data for the student. Give one other output device that can be built into the tablet computer.

[1]
b

Explain how the analogue sound waves produced by the piano are represented as digital data.

[4]
c(i)

The tablet computer has a 1.8GHz quad-core processor. Instructions are fetched from random access memory (RAM) into the processor. The control unit uses a list to decode the instructions into commands that can be processed. Give the name of the list that is used for this purpose.

[1]
c(ii)

The student wants a new tablet computer that has a 2.4GHz dual-core processor. Explain whether the processor of the new tablet computer would have a better performance than the processor of her current tablet computer.

[4]
d

The tablet computer has a built-in biometric device. Explain the purpose of the biometric device.

[2]
4

A computer has a central processing unit (CPU). Identify three components that are built into a CPU from the given list. accumulator (ACC) binary counter (BC) binary register (BR) binary unit (BU) current instruction register (CIR) instruction unit (IU) program counter (PC) read only memory (ROM) 1 ............................................................... 2 ............................................................... 3 ...............................................................

[3]
5

A student develops a program for their computer science project using a high-level language.

a

Identify two translators that the student could use when developing the program. 1 ................................................................................................................................................ 2 ................................................................................................................................................

[2]
b

Explain two differences between a high-level language and a low-level language. 1 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... 2 ................................................................................................................................................ ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................

[4]
c(i)

The student uses a web browser to upload their program to a web page. They bookmark the web page where they have uploaded their program, to make it easier to find the web page again. Give one other function of a web browser that the student could use to find the web page again.

[1]
c(ii)

The web page has a uniform resource locator (URL). Identify two parts of a URL. 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 2 ........................................................................................................................................

[2]
6

A computer game uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create extra characters (players) in the game.

a

One characteristic of the AI is that it can adapt and learn. Give one other characteristic of the AI.

[1]
b

The AI uses machine learning. State what is meant by machine learning.

[1]
c

Explain one example of how the AI could use machine learning to create extra characters.

[2]
d

The computer game has an expert system that can be used to find a solution to any problems with the game. The expert system uses an inference engine. Explain the role of the inference engine in finding a solution to a problem with the game.

[3]
7

Cyber security threats are a concern for any company that stores data using a network. Complete the statements about cyber security threats. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used. You should only use a term once. adware bandwidth components data decrypting encrypting keylogger pharming phishing sharing spyware trojan horse virus worm A ........................................................................... is used to disguise malware. Once it is downloaded onto a computer, it releases the malware that it contains. A ........................................................................... replicates itself to corrupt the data stored on a user’s hard disk drive or use up the available memory. A ........................................................................... also replicates itself but the aim is to use up all the ........................................................................... of a network. Ransomware is downloaded onto a computer with the aim of ........................................................................... data to stop the user gaining access to it. There is often a demand for payment before the user is given access to the data again.

[5]
8

A building has a security keypad that requires the input of a 3-digit denary number. The denary number input is then converted to an 8-bit binary number.

a

The denary numbers 071 and 200 are input. Convert these denary numbers to 8-bit binary numbers. 071 ............................................................................................................................................ 200 ............................................................................................................................................ working space ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................

[2]
b

Two binary numbers are 00101001 and 10110100. Give the denary numbers that were input for these binary numbers. 00101001 .................................................................................................................................. 10110100 .................................................................................................................................. working space ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................................................................

[2]
c

A microprocessor is used to find out whether a user has input the correct 3-digit denary number. Explain the role of the microprocessor in this process.

[3]
d(i)

A display screen next to the keypad displays the current temperature inside the building. The current temperature is stored as a two’s complement binary integer and is displayed as a denary number. Give the denary number that would be displayed for each of the two’s complement binary integers. 00100011 ........................................................................................................................... 11101010 ...........................................................................................................................

[2]
d(ii)

Give the two’s complement binary integer that would be stored when the denary number 14 is displayed. ..................................................................................................................................... working space ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................

[1]

Mark scheme

0478/13 · May/June 2026

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1a · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    C

1b(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    SD card

  • 1 mark

    USB drive

  • 1 mark

    SIM card

  • 1 mark

    RAM

1b(ii) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    magnetic

  • 1 mark

    optical

1c(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    97

  • 1 mark

    116

1c(ii) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    Unicode

1c(iii) · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    Lossless // by example e.g. RLE

  • 1 mark

    No data is permanently removed // It can be restored to the original (when decompressed)

  • 1 mark

    A text file normally does not have any unnecessary data // A text file would need all the data

  • 1 mark

    If any text was removed the file would not make sense

  • 1 mark

    Lossy would corrupt the file // The file would no longer open if lossy was used

  • 1 mark

    The text file may already be quite small (so doesn’t need a lot of compression)

2a · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    packets

2b · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    router

2c · 6 marks

  • 1 mark

    Data is sent one bit at a time

  • 1 mark

    … so bits are less likely to be skewed

  • 1 mark

    … so it can be safely sent across a longer distance

  • 1 mark

    Data is sent along a single wire

  • 1 mark

    … so less chance of interference/crosstalk

  • 1 mark

    … so bits are less likely to be lost

  • 1 mark

    Data is sent in both directions at the same time

  • 1 mark

    … so there is no delay between computers sending and receiving data // the exchange of data between computers will happen faster

2d · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    The checksum value is sent with the data

  • 1 mark

    The receiving device uses the same algorithm to calculate the checksum value // The checksum value is recalculated by the receiver

  • 1 mark

    The checksum values are compared

  • 1 mark

    If the checksum values are the same no error has occurred // If the checksum values are different an error has occurred

2e(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    Symmetric // synchronous

  • 1 mark

    Asymmetric // asynchronous

2e(ii) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    A string of characters/numbers used to encrypt data …

  • 1 mark

    Used by an algorithm/cipher (to encrypt/decrypt the data)

3a(i) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    microphone

3a(ii) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    button

  • 1 mark

    touchscreen

  • 1 mark

    sensor

  • 1 mark

    touch pad

  • 1 mark

    camera

3a(iii) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    speaker

  • 1 mark

    LED // light

  • 1 mark

    actuator

3b · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    The analogue sound is sampled

  • 1 mark

    … by measuring the amplitude/height (of each sound wave)

  • 1 mark

    … at a set sample rate // by description

  • 1 mark

    … at a set sample resolution // by description

  • 1 mark

    The sample value is converted to binary

  • 1 mark

    The binary for each sample is stored in sequence

3c(i) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    instruction set

3c(ii) · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    It has a faster clock speed …

  • 1 mark

    It may process more instructions/FDE cycle/FE cycles per second …

  • 1 mark

    … which may mean its performance better

  • 1 mark

    It has fewer cores …

  • 1 mark

    It cannot process as many instructions/FDE cycle/FE cycles simultaneously …

  • 1 mark

    … which may mean its performance is worse

  • 1 mark

    Communication between the cores is not as complex …

  • 1 mark

    … which may mean it has a better performance

3d · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    For authentication // authenticate the user

  • 1 mark

    To help keep the device secure

  • 1 mark

    To use as a login method for the device/accounts

  • 1 mark

    To allow the user to use a biological password

4 · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    accumulator // ACC

  • 1 mark

    current instruction register // CIR

  • 1 mark

    program counter // PC

5a · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    compiler

  • 1 mark

    interpreter

5b · 4 marks

  • 1 mark

    A high-level language cannot directly manipulate the hardware …

  • 1 mark

    … but a low-level language can directly manipulate hardware

  • 1 mark

    A high-level language program is portable/machine independent …

  • 1 mark

    … but a low-level language program is not portable/machine independent

  • 1 mark

    A high-level language is easier for humans to read/write/understand/debug …

  • 1 mark

    … but a low-level language is harder for humans to read/write/understand/debug

  • 1 mark

    A high-level language may be slower to execute (as it has to be transmitted to low-level language) …

  • 1 mark

    … but a low-level language is faster to execute (as it closer to the language used by the computer)

  • 1 mark

    A high-level language can have several instructions in one line/statement …

  • 1 mark

    … but a low-level language normally has one instruction per line

  • 1 mark

    A high-level language uses English-like statements …

  • 1 mark

    … but a low-level language uses language like mnemonics

  • 1 mark

    High-level language programs take up more storage space …

  • 1 mark

    … compared to an equivalent low-level language program that would take up less storage space

  • 1 mark

    High-level language is less memory efficient …

  • 1 mark

    … whereas low-level language is more memory efficient

5c(i) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    history

  • 1 mark

    address bar

5c(ii) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    protocol

  • 1 mark

    domain name

  • 1 mark

    web page/file name // path

6a · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    It collects data

  • 1 mark

    It applies rules to the data

  • 1 mark

    It has the ability to reason

6b · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    A program that has the ability to automatically adapt its own data and processes

6c · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    It could analyse the input actions from the player

  • 1 mark

    It could analyse past extra characters that performed well

  • 1 mark

    Create/adapt the actions of an extra character based on past characters/gameplay

6d · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    It takes/uses the data input by the user about the problem

  • 1 mark

    … search for similar knowledge in the knowledge base

  • 1 mark

    … applies it to the rule base (to find the solution)

  • 1 mark

    … decide which question to ask next (if needed)

7 · 5 marks

  • 1 mark

    trojan horse

  • 1 mark

    virus

  • 1 mark

    worm

  • 1 mark

    bandwidth

  • 1 mark

    encrypting

8a · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    0100 0111

  • 1 mark

    1100 1000

8b · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    41

  • 1 mark

    180

8c · 3 marks

  • 1 mark

    The microprocessor compares the denary number received to the stored value/preset code

  • 1 mark

    if the denary numbers match a correct code has been entered

  • 1 mark

    If the denary numbers do not match the code is not correct

8d(i) · 2 marks

  • 1 mark

    35

  • 1 mark

    −22

8d(ii) · 1 mark

  • 1 mark

    0000 1110

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