Data Representation: past paper questions
Real questions on data representation
The newest 20 of 161 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9618/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(i)[4]
Write pseudocode to declare the record structure for type RentalRecord
See it on the paper → - 9618/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3a(ii)[2]
A 1D array Rental containing 500 elements is used to store the data for all rental records. Write pseudocode to declare the Rental array.
See it on the paper → - 9618/21 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[3]
State three benefits of using an array of records to store the data for all rentals.
See it on the paper → - 9618/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(i)[2]
Give two benefits of using a text file instead of an array.
See it on the paper → - 9618/21 · October/November 2025 · Q4b(ii)[1]
State any change that will need to be made before each value is written to the file.
See it on the paper → - 9618/21 · October/November 2025 · Q8c[2]
It is decided to introduce a system of fines for books that have been borrowed for too long. Two new requirements are defined: 1. 2. Each loan has a maximum length, represented as a number of days. Each book in the library will be assigned one of three categories. Each category has a different maximum loan length. Reco...
See it on the paper → - 9618/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[1]
The character '\' has been chosen as a separator. Explain why this is a suitable character.
See it on the paper → - 9618/22 · October/November 2025 · Q8d[2]
It is decided to extend the program so that a new module Reminder() will send an email to the student three days before the book is due to be returned. Outline the changes that will need to be made to the data stored and how this data will be used to generate the reminder email. Use Data
See it on the paper → - 9618/23 · October/November 2025 · Q8c(ii)[1]
There is a problem that will need to be overcome before the data items can be written to a text file. As a reminder, the data items are: Data item Data type Comment the unique ID of the student who has borrowed the book StudentID STRING BookID STRING the unique ID of the book being borrowed OnLoan BOOLEAN TRUE if the b...
See it on the paper → - 9618/31 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[1]
Write the normalised floating‑point representation of the following positive binary number using this system. 0.00000001110101101 Mantissa Exponent
See it on the paper → - 9618/31 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[1]
Calculate the normalised binary floating‑point representation of – 76.1875 in this system. Show your working. Mantissa Exponent Working
See it on the paper → - 9618/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
Write the pseudocode statement to set up a variable for one record of the composite data type, Car.
See it on the paper → - 9618/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Write the pseudocode statements to assign the following values to the variable set up in part (a)(i): • • "Blue" to Colour 21/10/2025 to IntoStock
See it on the paper → - 9618/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(i)[2]
Write the pseudocode statement for the type declaration of Body to hold the names of the available choices: Convertible, Hatchback, Saloon, SUV
See it on the paper → - 9618/32 · October/November 2025 · Q1b(ii)[1]
Write the new pseudocode statement required to update the declaration of BodyStyle in the definition of Car.
See it on the paper → - 9618/33 · October/November 2025 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Identify two characteristics of the list of values given in an enumerated data type declaration.
See it on the paper → - 9618/33 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[4]
Write pseudocode statements to declare ColourData to hold the following fields: Field Example data ColourCode XYZ12345 Colour Red Wavelength 650 Frequency 4.62 PrimaryColour Yes Use the most appropriate data type in each case, including the enumerated data type Spectrum from part a(i). (b) ColourData is a composite dat...
See it on the paper → - 9618/33 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[3]
Outline the effect of changing the number of bits used to store the mantissa to 10 bits, in this system.
See it on the paper → - 9618/33 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[3]
Describe one example of a situation that could cause an overflow to occur and the consequences of such an overflow.
See it on the paper → - 9618/23 · May/June 2025 · Q7b(ii)[4]
A date is stored in LastVisitDateString in the format: DDMMYYYY DD is a 2-digit string MM is a 2-digit string YYYY is a 4-digit string. An algorithm is needed to convert the string stored in LastVisitDateString to data type DATE which is then stored in the variable LastVisitDate. Complete the pseudocode for this algori...
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most of the candidates gaining all four marks available for this question. One of the most frequent errors was the use of a less than meaningful variable name. A typical example of this was simply using name for the name of the customer.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9618/22 Q1(a) (Cambridge)
A more demanding question compared to 1(c) and 1(b) with fewer candidates gaining all three marks for this question. The majority of candidates seemed to recognise the need for a Record for the first mark, generally followed by a reference to ‘store many datatypes’ for a second. Reference to an array of records was not quite as common but still seen fairly frequently. Common mistakes included ‘d...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9618/22 Q1(c) (Cambridge)
Generally well answered with candidates demonstrating the correct syntax for the definition a record data type with identifier MyType.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9618/23 Q7(b)(i) (Cambridge)
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