IGCSE Computer Science (9–1) 0984 · Topic 5

The internet and its uses: past paper questions

29 real questionsasked in 7 of the last 10 exam series2020–2026usually: Complete, Give, State, Explain, Describe

Real questions on the internet and its uses

The newest 20 of 29 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.

0984/11 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[5]
(a) Complete the paragraph about locating and retrieving web pages. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used. You should only use a term once. certificate database domain name server (DNS) encryption hypertext markup language (HTML) internet protocol (IP) address low-level language pr...
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0984/11 · May/June 2026 · Q6b[2]
The transmission of data between the web browser on a device and a web server can be secured using the secure socket layer (SSL) protocol. Complete and annotate the diagram to show the process of sending the data using SSL. web browser web server
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0984/12 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[3]
Write down the three different parts of the URL shown by the labels a, b and c. https://www.cieclothes.com/index.html a a b b c c
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0984/12 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[3]
The web pages are stored on a web server. A proxy server is used to stop distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on the web server. Describe how the proxy server can stop a DDoS attack reaching a web server.
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0984/12 · October/November 2025 · Q6c[5]
Customers use the website to buy clothing from the company. Complete the table with the missing terms and descriptions about retrieving and displaying web pages. Term Description domain name server (DNS) It is a numerical address used to locate the web server. It is a secure protocol that can be used to transmit data s...
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0984/12 · October/November 2025 · Q6d[3]
The clothing company uses cookies to store customer details. Complete the statements about cookies. Use terms from the list. Not all terms need to be used. You should only use a term once. asymmetric static DNS symmetric dynamic user persistent utility software session web browser Cookies are stored and managed by the...
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0984/11 · May/June 2025 · Q9b(i)[2]
Describe how the hacker would perform the brute-force attack.
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0984/11 · May/June 2025 · Q9b(ii)[3]
Give three cyber security solutions that could be used to help prevent a brute-force attack from being successful.
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0984/11 · May/June 2025 · Q9c(i)[1]
State what is meant by a digital currency.
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0984/11 · May/June 2025 · Q9c(ii)[1]
The digital currency uses a process that involves a digital ledger. The ledger has time stamped transactions that cannot be altered. Give the name of this process.
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0984/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5c(i)[6]
The patient enters the uniform resource locator (URL) for the web page into their browser and the web page is requested and displayed. Complete and annotate the diagram to show how the web page is requested for the patient. Patient’s computer www.cihospital.com URL input into patient’s computer
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0984/12 · May/June 2025 · Q5c(ii)[6]
A patient is making a payment through a secure connection. The secure connection is created using the secure socket layer (SSL) protocol. Explain how a secure connection is created using the SSL protocol.
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0984/11 · May/June 2024 · Q9c(i)[5]
Explain how the firewall operates to help protect the network.
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0984/11 · May/June 2024 · Q9c(ii)[2]
Give two examples of malware that the firewall can help protect the network from.
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0984/12 · May/June 2023 · Q6a[6]
Complete the statements about cookies. Use the terms from the list. Some of the terms in the list will not be used. Some terms may be used more than once. compression executable hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) persistent hypertext markup language (HTML) image session uniform resource locater (URL) internet protocol...
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0984/12 · May/June 2023 · Q6b[3]
Give three functions of a cookie.
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0984/12 · May/June 2023 · Q7a[6]
Draw and annotate a diagram to represent the process of a DDoS.
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0984/12 · May/June 2023 · Q7b[2]
State two aims of carrying out a DDoS attack.
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0984/12 · May/June 2023 · Q7c[2]
Give two security solutions that can be used to help prevent a DDoS attack being successful.
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0984/12 · October/November 2022 · Q6a[2]
Give two ways that a user could check that a website uses the SSL protocol.
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What examiners said

Many candidates were able to describe how the hacker would perform the brute-force attack.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0984/11 Q9(b)(i) (Cambridge)

Some candidates were able to give all three correct cyber security solutions that could be used. Many candidates were able to give two correct examples.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0984/11 Q9(b)(ii) (Cambridge)

Many candidates were able to describe what is meant by a digital currency.
— Examiner report, May/June 2025, 0984/11 Q9(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.

Download 0984 papers

In the syllabus

1 0478.5.1.01 — Understand the difference between the internet • The internet is the infrastructure

Understand the difference between the internet • The internet is the infrastructure
• The world wide web is the collection of websites and web pages accessed using the internet
Understand what is meant by a uniform • A URL is a text-based address for a web page;
it can contain the protocol, the domain name and the web page/file name
Describe how web pages are located, retrieved • Including the role of:
– the web browser
– IP addresses – the domain name server (DNS) – the web server – HTML
Explain what is meant by cookies and how • Cookies are used for functions, including:
– saving personal details
– tracking user preferences – holding items in an online shopping cart – storing login details

2 0478.5.1.02 — • The world wide web is the collection of websites and web pages accessed using the internet

• The world wide web is the collection of websites and web pages accessed using the internet

3 0478.5.1.03 — Understand what is meant by a uniform • A URL is a text-based address for a web page;

Understand what is meant by a uniform • A URL is a text-based address for a web page;

4 0478.5.1.04 — it can contain the protocol, the domain name and the web page/file name

it can contain the protocol, the domain name and the web page/file name

5 0478.5.1.05 — Describe how web pages are located, retrieved • Including the role of:

Describe how web pages are located, retrieved • Including the role of:

6 0478.5.1.06 — – the web browser

– the web browser

7 0478.5.1.07 — – IP addresses – the domain name server (DNS) – the web server – HTML

– IP addresses – the domain name server (DNS) – the web server – HTML

8 0478.5.1.08 — Explain what is meant by cookies and how • Cookies are used for functions, including:

Explain what is meant by cookies and how • Cookies are used for functions, including:

9 0478.5.1.09 — – saving personal details

– saving personal details

10 0478.5.1.10 — – tracking user preferences – holding items in an online shopping cart – storing login details

– tracking user preferences – holding items in an online shopping cart – storing login details

11 0478.5.2.01 — Understand the concept of a digital currency • A digital currency is one that only exists

Understand the concept of a digital currency • A digital currency is one that only exists
electronically
Understand the process of blockchain and how • Blockchain, in its basic form, is a digital ledger,
that is a time-stamped series of records that cannot be altered

12 0478.5.2.02 — electronically

electronically

13 0478.5.2.03 — Understand the process of blockchain and how • Blockchain, in its basic form, is a digital ledger,

Understand the process of blockchain and how • Blockchain, in its basic form, is a digital ledger,

14 0478.5.2.04 — that is a time-stamped series of records that cannot be altered

that is a time-stamped series of records that cannot be altered

15 0478.5.3.01 — Describe the processes involved in, and the • Including:

Describe the processes involved in, and the • Including:
– brute-force attack
– data interception – distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack – hacking – malware (virus, worm, Trojan horse, spyware, adware, ransomware) – pharming – phishing – social engineering
Explain how a range of solutions are used to • Including:
– access levels – anti-malware, including anti-virus and anti-spyware – authentication (username and password, biometrics, two-step verification) – automating software updates – checking the spelling and tone of communications – checking the URL attached to a link – firewalls – privacy settings – proxy-servers – secure socket layer (SSL) security protocol

16 0478.5.3.02 — – brute-force attack

– brute-force attack

17 0478.5.3.03 — – data interception – distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack – hacking – malware (virus, worm, Trojan horse, spyware, adware, ransomwar

– data interception – distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack – hacking – malware (virus, worm, Trojan horse, spyware, adware, ransomware) – pharming – phishing – social engineering

18 0478.5.3.04 — Explain how a range of solutions are used to • Including:

Explain how a range of solutions are used to • Including:

19 0478.5.3.05 — – access levels – anti-malware, including anti-virus and anti-spyware – authentication (username and password, biometrics, two-step verifica

– access levels – anti-malware, including anti-virus and anti-spyware – authentication (username and password, biometrics, two-step verification) – automating software updates – checking the spelling and tone of communications – checking the URL attached to a link – firewalls – privacy settings – proxy-servers – secure socket layer (SSL) security protocol

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