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A Level Computer Science 9618, topic 15

Hardware and Virtual Machines: past paper questions

36 Cambridge A Level Computer Science 9618 questions on Hardware and Virtual Machines (15) from 21 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.

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Questions
36
Papers
21
Years
2023 to 2026
Total marks
247
Average per question
6.9 marks
Largest question
10 marks

By type: Structured 34 · Essay 2

How hard the questions are

  • Recall3
  • Apply29
  • Analyse4
  • Not banded0

Derived from the command word Cambridge prints in each question, banded by a fixed table beside the syllabus's own definitions. A question printing no command word is unbanded: unknown, not middling.

Command words

  • completeApply20 questions

    add information to an incomplete diagram or table

  • writeRecall18 questions

    write an answer in a specific way

  • drawApply17 questions

    draw a line to match a term with a description

  • describeApply6 questions

    state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features

  • outlineApply6 questions

    set out the main points

  • showApply6 questions
  • useApply6 questions
  • explainAnalyse4 questions

    set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence

  • identifyRecall3 questions

    name/select/recognise

  • stateRecall3 questions

    express in clear terms

Where the questions come from

By year

  • 20266
  • 20256
  • 202412
  • 202312

By session

  • May/June21
  • Oct/Nov15

By paper

  • Paper 336

Questions on this topic

Showing 19 of 36, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.

  • Question 5May/June 2026, paper 31Structured4 marks

    A virtual machine may be used to emulate computer hardware using software. Outline two benefits and two limitations of using a virtual machine.

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  • Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured9 marksHas a diagram

    The diagram shows a logic circuit. Complete the truth table for the given logic circuit.

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  • Question 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured4 marks

    Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC) is a type of processor. Identify four features of a RISC processor.

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  • Question 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured4 marks

    Describe the features of SISD and MIMD computer architectures.

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  • Question 7Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured10 marks

    The truth table for a logic circuit is shown. Write the Boolean logic expression that corresponds to the given truth table as the sum-of-products.

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  • Question 6Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured6 marksHas a diagram

    This diagram represents a logic circuit. Complete the truth table for the given logic circuit.

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  • Question 5May/June 2026, paper 32Essay4 marks

    Explain what is meant by the term virtual machine.

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  • Question 6Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured8 marks

    The Karnaugh map (K-map) represents a logic circuit with four inputs. Draw loop(s) around appropriate group(s) in the K-map to produce an optimal sum-of-products.

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  • Question 6Oct/Nov 2024, paper 32Structured9 marksHas a diagram

    The truth table for a logic circuit is shown.

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  • Question 7May/June 2026, paper 32Structured8 marksHas a diagram

    This truth table represents a logic circuit.

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  • Question 5May/June 2025, paper 31Structured8 marksHas a diagram

    This truth table represents a logic circuit. Write the Boolean logic expression that corresponds to the given truth table as the sum-of-products.

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  • Question 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 32Essay4 marks

    Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) is a type of processor. Identify four features of a CISC processor.

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  • Question 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 32Structured4 marks

    Describe the features of the SIMD and MISD computer architectures.

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  • Question 4May/June 2026, paper 33Structured5 marks

    Describe the characteristics of massively parallel computers.

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  • Question 7May/June 2023, paper 31Structured7 marksHas a diagram

    Complete the Karnaugh map (K-map) for the following Boolean expression.

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  • Question 11May/June 2024, paper 31Structured8 marks

    Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC) and Complex Instruction Set Computers (CISC) are two types of processor. State two features of RISC processors.

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  • Question 8May/June 2023, paper 31Structured3 marks

    Outline the characteristics of massively parallel computers. Outline the characteristics of massively parallel computers.

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  • Question 8May/June 2023, paper 32Structured6 marks

    Describe the use of pipelining in Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC).

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  • Question 9May/June 2024, paper 32Structured7 marks

    Outline two benefits and two limitations of a virtual machine. Benefit 1 ...................................................................................................................................

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