A Level Computer Science 9618, topic 15.1
Processors, Parallel Processing and Virtual Machines: past paper questions
15 Cambridge A Level Computer Science 9618 questions on Processors, Parallel Processing and Virtual Machines (15.1) from 15 papers, 2023 to 2026. Open the paper or try a question free.
Practising builds a set from this topic, free with an account. One question opens straight away, with no account.
- Questions
- 15
- Papers
- 15
- Years
- 2023 to 2026
- Total marks
- 72
- Average per question
- 4.8 marks
- Largest question
- 8 marks
By type: Structured 13 · Essay 2
How hard the questions are
- Recall3
- Apply8
- 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
- outlineApply6 questions
set out the main points
- describeApply5 questions
state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- 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
- completeApply1 question
add information to an incomplete diagram or table
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20263
- 20246
- 20236
By session
- May/June9
- Oct/Nov6
By paper
- Paper 315
Questions on this topic
Showing 11 of 15, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 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.
- Try this questionQuestion 2Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured4 marks
Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC) is a type of processor. Identify four features of a RISC processor.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured4 marks
Describe the features of SISD and MIMD computer architectures.
- Try this questionQuestion 5May/June 2026, paper 32Essay4 marks
Explain what is meant by the term virtual machine.
- Try this questionQuestion 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 32Essay4 marks
Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) is a type of processor. Identify four features of a CISC processor.
- Try this questionQuestion 10Oct/Nov 2023, paper 32Structured4 marks
Describe the features of the SIMD and MISD computer architectures.
- Try this questionQuestion 4May/June 2026, paper 33Structured5 marks
Describe the characteristics of massively parallel computers.
- Try this questionQuestion 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.
- Try this questionQuestion 8May/June 2023, paper 31Structured3 marks
Outline the characteristics of massively parallel computers. Outline the characteristics of massively parallel computers.
- Try this questionQuestion 9May/June 2024, paper 32Structured7 marks
Outline two benefits and two limitations of a virtual machine. Benefit 1 ...................................................................................................................................
- Try this questionQuestion 8May/June 2023, paper 32Structured6 marks
Describe the use of pipelining in Reduced Instruction Set Computers (RISC).