AS & A Level Information Technology 9626 · Topic 8

Spreadsheets: past paper questions

80 real questionsasked in 9 of the last 10 exam series2019–2025usually: Describe, Explain, Write, Identify, Discuss

Real questions on spreadsheets

The newest 20 of 80 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

9626/12 · October/November 2025 · Q8a[1]
Describe what is meant by Lossy compression.
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9626/12 · October/November 2025 · Q8b[1]
Describe what is meant by Lossless compression.
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9626/32 · October/November 2025 · Q2a[3]
grids
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9626/32 · October/November 2025 · Q2b[3]
guidelines
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9626/32 · October/November 2025 · Q10a[4]
Describe how the JavaScript in this HTML code changes the display of text on the web page when a mouse button is clicked. The line numbers are included for reference only. 1 2 3 4 5 <html> <body> <h2>Cambridge International JS Code: HTML Event</h2> <h2 onclick="changeText(this)">Click on this line to see the name of th...
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9626/32 · October/November 2025 · Q10b[2]
Describe two other HTML events that can be used to trigger the execution of JavaScript code.
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9626/33 · October/November 2025 · Q4a[1]
Describe a data source that could be analysed using pivot tables.
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9626/33 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[4]
Describe the benefits of using pivot tables to analyse data.
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9626/12 · May/June 2025 · Q2a[5]
The formula in cell F12 is =E12-(VLOOKUP(D12,$D$5:$E$8,2,FALSE)*E12) Describe how this formula works. The formula in cell F12 is replicated to cells F13 to F19.
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9626/12 · May/June 2025 · Q2b[4]
In the formula, absolute cell referencing and relative cell referencing have both been used. Explain why both types of cell referencing are needed.
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9626/12 · May/June 2025 · Q9[6]
Eric has made a spreadsheet that he has shared with a number of friends. Some of his friends cannot open the spreadsheet. Identify three possible reasons the spreadsheet will not open once received. For each reason, suggest a way Eric could have prevented the problem. Reason Way Reason Reason Way Way
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9626/13 · May/June 2025 · Q5[6]
A student created a spreadsheet that requires users to enter numerical data. This data must be within a set range. Identify and justify three types of test data that can be used to test this numerical data.
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9626/13 · May/June 2025 · Q11[8]
Evaluate the use of spreadsheets for financial modelling.
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9626/31 · May/June 2025 · Q5a[3]
Explain why the animator has drawn ‘on threes’.
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9626/31 · May/June 2025 · Q5b[2]
Explain why most animations are drawn ‘on twos’.
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9626/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe the process of 3D printing an object.
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9626/32 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[4]
Describe how 3D printing is used to improve healthcare.
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9626/12 · February/March 2025 · Q7[4]
Test scores can be used to track a student’s progress over time. Describe two ways this can be done using a spreadsheet. Way Way
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9626/13 · October/November 2024 · Q6[3]
In a spreadsheet, a user has entered the following formula into a cell: =IF(NOT(OR(B6<5,B6>8)),"4th Quarter","") Describe how the spreadsheet will calculate the result to be displayed.
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9626/13 · May/June 2024 · Q4[4]
Describe the terms absolute and relative cell replication, giving an example of each. Absolute 4 Relative ,
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What examiners said

This question focussed on the use of spreadsheets to track students’ progress over time. The question did not ask for discrete features that are unique to spreadsheets and so answers to do with storing data were acceptable. For example, storing data in a table, with dates as a heading, could be used to store scores which could then simply be looked at. Other possible answers included using the so...
— Examiner report, February/March 2025, 9626/12 Q7 (Cambridge)

Manipulating the shapes in vector images is in Topic 18.2 and it is expected that candidates be able to understand and use, e.g. node (anchor or control points) and path editing techniques. The question was specifically about the shapes within a vector image but a significant number of candidates gave responses that focussed on the whole image. While some credit was given for these answers, they w...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9626/33 Q3 (Cambridge)

This question again requested an adequate level of technical understanding by candidates. Few candidates were able to give a working definition of sampling resolution and to describe how it was used.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 9626/11 Q10 (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 spreadsheets

In the syllabus

8.1 Creating a spreadsheet

Creating page/screen structures to meet the requirements of an audience and/or task specification/ house style, including: – page orientation – page size – fit to page – margins – header and footer
Creating/editing spreadsheet structures, including: – insert rows and columns – delete rows and columns – hide rows and columns – resize rows and columns – merge cells
Controlling data input using validation techniques, for example, drop-down menu
Protecting cells and their content, including: – cells – rows – columns – worksheets – workbooks
Freezing and unfreezing panes and windows
Creating and using formulas that include/contain: – addition – subtraction – multiplication – division – indices
Using absolute, relative and mixed referencing to replicate formulas, including: – named cells (across several worksheets or workbooks) – named ranges (across several worksheets or workbooks)
Understanding why absolute, relative and mixed referencing are used
Using functions that: – perform calculations, for example: SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX, MAXA, INT, ROUND, SUBTOTAL – count the number of cells that meet a criterion, for example: COUNT, COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, COUNTA, COUNTBLANK – look up data, for example: LOOKUP, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH – make decisions based on certain criteria, for example: IF, IFS, nested IF, AND, OR – insert, extract and calculate with date and time, for example: DATE, TIME, WEEKDAY, DAY, MONTH, YEAR
Using appropriate input and error messages
Formatting cells, including: – date and time – text – numeric – currency – percentage – fractions – text orientation – alignment
Formatting cell emphasis, including: – size – style – colour – shading – merge – borders – comments – conditional formatting

8.2 Testing a spreadsheet

Testing a spreadsheet structure – creating and applying a test plan to test spreadsheet elements, including: ○ functions ○ validation rules ○ conditional formatting
Testing data – the need to choose appropriate test data – select appropriate test data to use in the test plan, including using: ○ normal data ○ extreme data ○ abnormal data

8.3 Using a spreadsheet

Extracting data, including searching using: – text – numeric – date and time – Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) – >, <, =, >=, <= – contains – starts with, ends with
Sorting data, including: – ascending and descending – applied to single or multiple columns
Summarising and displaying data using: – pivot tables – pivot charts – subtotals – groups
Importing and exporting data, including: – csv – txt – pdf – graphs and charts

8.4 Graphs and charts

Creating a graph or chart appropriate to a specific purpose, including: – appropriate data series – from contiguous data – from non-contiguous data – specified range(s) – bar chart – pie chart – line graph – comparative bar chart – comparative line graph – combination chart
Apply chart formatting, including: – title – legend – segment labels – segment values – percentages – category axis labels – series labels – field selection buttons – value axis labels – scales – axis scale (maximum and minimum) – data intervals – add secondary axis – extract pie chart sector

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