AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 · Topic 8

Databases: past paper questions

155 real questionsasked in 9 of the last 9 exam series2021–2025usually: Write, Complete, Describe, Explain, Identify

Real questions on databases

The newest 20 of 155 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

9618/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[2]
Complete the entity-relationship (E-R) diagram for the database WORKEXPERIENCE. PLACEMENT COMPANY STUDENT
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9618/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[2]
Explain why the database WORKEXPERIENCE is in Third Normal Form (3NF).
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9618/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2c(i)[2]
Write a Structured Query Language (SQL) script to delete all placements that have been completed.
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9618/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2c(ii)[4]
Write an SQL script to return the total number of placements completed by the student with ID LDEA01 at the company with ID NEAM. The total should be given an appropriate name.
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9618/11 · October/November 2025 · Q2d[3]
The database tables are repeated here: STUDENT(StudentID, FirstName, TelephoneNumber, UniversityName) PLACEMENT( PlacementID, StudentID, CompanyID, StartDate, EndDate, Complete) COMPANY(CompanyID, CompanyName, MaxStudentsPerPlacement) Explain what is meant by referential integrity, and how it applies to this database.
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9618/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[2]
Describe the relationship between the two tables. Refer to the primary and foreign keys in your answer.
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9618/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[2]
Write a Structured Query Language (SQL) script to add one field to the table CONTAINER to store the date of last inspection of the container, for example 08/07/2019. (b) The table CONTAINER needs an additional field to store the data for the last inspection date.
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9618/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4c[4]
Write an SQL script to return the number of containers stored in the database for the ship with the name Caledonia.
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9618/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4d[2]
Describe the purpose of a developer interface in a Database Management System (DBMS).
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9618/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5a[3]
Complete the entity‑relationship (E‑R) diagram for the database REVIEWS. CUSTOMER PRODUCT COMPLAINT STAFF
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9618/13 · October/November 2025 · Q5d[4]
A Database Management System (DBMS) is used to maintain and manage the database. Describe two ways in which the DBMS can be used to ensure the security of the customer data. Question 6 starts on the next page.
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9618/22 · October/November 2025 · Q8c[2]
When a book is returned, the loan record will have its OnLoan data set to FALSE A new procedure Archive() will mark these records as unused after first saving them for future reference. Explain how these records can be saved for future reference.
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9618/11 · May/June 2025 · Q5a[3]
Complete the entity‑relationship (E‑R) diagram for the database. CUSTOMER CUSTOMER_CARD_DATA ORDER ORDER_ITEM
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9618/11 · May/June 2025 · Q5b[1]
Identify one attribute in the table CUSTOMER_CARD_DATA that could be a candidate key.
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9618/11 · May/June 2025 · Q5c[2]
Identify two tables in the database that contain one or more foreign keys. Give one attribute that is a foreign key in each table. Table Foreign key 1 2
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9618/11 · May/June 2025 · Q5d[3]
Explain the reasons why the data in the table ORDER_ITEM cannot be stored in the table ORDER
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9618/11 · May/June 2025 · Q5e[4]
Write an Structured Query Language (SQL) script to output the customer ID, the customer’s name and the total cost of the customer’s orders that have not been paid. The output of the total cost must have an appropriate title.
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9618/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5a[2]
Explain the purpose of the table CHARACTER_ITEM in the database.
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9618/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5b[2]
Underline the attribute, or attributes, that form the primary key in each of the tables. USER(Username, Password, DateOfBirth) CHARACTER(CharacterName, CharacterID, Username, Level, Money) ITEM(ItemName, MinimumLevel, Cost)
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9618/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5d(i)[3]
Write a Structured Query Language (SQL) script to count the number of items purchased by the user with the username "KAT123".
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What examiners said

This question was generally answered well. Some candidates need to use a recognised convention for indicating the relationships.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9618/11 Q3(a) (Cambridge)

This question was generally answered well. Most candidates were able to correctly identify three advantages of a relational database.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9618/11 Q3(b) (Cambridge)

There were many correct answers to this question. The most frequent incorrect answer given was to use the CREATE TABLE statement instead of the CREATE DATABASE statement.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9618/11 Q3(c)(i) (Cambridge)

Practise this topic

Answer these questions online and get each one marked against the official mark scheme, with what you missed and how to fix it.

Practise databases

In the syllabus

8.1 Database Concepts

Including entity, table, record, field, tuple, attribute,
primary key, candidate key, secondary key, foreign key, relationship (one-to-many, one-to-one, many- to-many), referential integrity, indexing
First Normal Form (1NF), Second Normal Form (2NF) and Third Normal Form (3NF)

8.2 Database Management Systems (DBMS)

Including:
• data management, including maintaining a data
dictionary • data modelling • logical schema • data integrity • data security, including backup procedures and the use of access rights to individuals / groups of users
Including the use and purpose of:
• developer interface • query processor

8.3 Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manipulation Language (DML)

Understand a given SQL statement
Create a database (CREATE DATABASE)
Create a table definition (CREATE TABLE), including
the creation of attributes with appropriate data types: • CHARACTER • VARCHAR(n) • BOOLEAN • INTEGER • REAL • DATE • TIME change a table definition (ALTER TABLE) add a primary key to a table (PRIMARY KEY (field)) add a foreign key to a table (FOREIGN KEY (field) REFERENCES Table (Field))
Queries including SELECT... FROM, WHERE,
ORDER BY, GROUP BY, INNER JOIN, SUM, COUNT, AVG
Data maintenance including
INSERT INTO, DELETE FROM, UPDATE

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