A Level Computer Science 9618, topic 16.1
Purposes of an Operating System (OS): past paper questions
12 Cambridge A Level Computer Science 9618 questions on Purposes of an Operating System (OS) (16.1) from 12 papers, 2023 to 2025. 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
- 12
- Papers
- 12
- Years
- 2023 to 2025
- Total marks
- 68
- Average per question
- 5.7 marks
- Largest question
- 7 marks
By type: Structured 12
How hard the questions are
- Recall0
- Apply6
- Analyse6
- 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
- describeApply8 questions
state the points of a topic / give characteristics and main features
- explainAnalyse6 questions
set out purposes or reasons / make the relationships between things clear / say why and/or how and support with relevant evidence
- outlineApply4 questions
set out the main points
- stateRecall4 questions
express in clear terms
- identifyRecall2 questions
name/select/recognise
- completeApply1 question
add information to an incomplete diagram or table
Where the questions come from
By year
- 20256
- 20243
- 20233
By session
- May/June3
- Oct/Nov9
By paper
- Paper 312
Questions on this topic
Showing 10 of 12, spread across the years. Open one to write your answer and have it marked.
- Try this questionQuestion 4Oct/Nov 2025, paper 31Structured6 marks
A scheduling routine determines how processes are managed by the operating system. Identify two scheduling routines.
- Try this questionQuestion 8Oct/Nov 2024, paper 31Structured7 marks
Describe the process of segmentation for memory management.
- Try this questionQuestion 7Oct/Nov 2023, paper 31Structured5 marks
A student buys a new computer. State one benefit to the student of a user interface and give an example.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 32Structured5 marks
Describe how interrupt handling is used in low-level scheduling.
- Try this questionQuestion 9Oct/Nov 2024, paper 32Structured5 marks
The kernel is the central component of an Operating System (OS). Outline how the kernel of an OS acts as an interrupt handler.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2023, paper 32Structured5 marks
Outline the reasons why an operating system may need to use virtual memory.
- Try this questionQuestion 5Oct/Nov 2025, paper 33Structured4 marks
State the purpose of multi-tasking.
- Try this questionQuestion 8May/June 2025, paper 31Structured6 marks
Describe what is meant by multi-tasking and how it benefits process management.
- Try this questionQuestion 5May/June 2025, paper 32Structured7 marks
The management and scheduling of processes are tasks carried out by an operating system. Identify three process states.
- Try this questionQuestion 6May/June 2025, paper 33Structured6 marks
The management and scheduling of processes are tasks carried out by an operating system. Describe one reason why scheduling is necessary in process management.