Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 Past Papers 2026
Download free Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 past papers, mark schemes, examiner reports & grade thresholds. 30 exam sessions from 2017–2026.
2026 March
Latest Session
30
Sessions
2017–2026
130
Question Papers
130
Mark Schemes
100% coverage
27
Examiner Reports
90% of sessions
28
Grade Thresholds
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute shows how fast you have to work — the higher the number, the tighter the time pressure in that paper.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Theory of Computer Science | 75 | 1h 15m | 1.00 | Very high |
| Paper 2 | Problem-solving and Programming | 75 | 1h 45m | 0.71 | Moderate |
Component structure extracted from 3 official Cambridge documents (2023–2025). Timings and mark totals are taken from the papers themselves.
Yearly Exam Sessions
Topical Past Papers
Questions organized by syllabus topic — perfect for targeted revision. 1 topics available.
How is Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science 0478 examined?
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science is examined through 2 paper components. Understanding each component helps you allocate revision time effectively.
Paper 1
75 marksTheory of Computer Science
Duration: 1h 15m
Paper 2
75 marksProblem-solving and Programming
Duration: 1h 45m
What Cambridge examiners say about Computer Science
Verbatim quotes from 3 official Cambridge examiner reports (2023–2025). Every quote is attributable to a specific paper and session — these are the things Cambridge markers flag year after year.
Not using the context given in the question
Candidates gave generic answers rather than relating their response to the specific scenario described in the question.
Repeating information already given in the question stem
A number of candidates restated what the question had already told them rather than adding new information or explanation.
Describing encryption as making data 'unreadable'…
Candidates described encrypted data as 'unreadable' which is incorrect — the data can still be read, but it appears meaningless without the decryption key.
Most Common Mistakes — Computer Science (0478)
Based on analysis of 3 official Cambridge examiner reports (2023, 2025). Avoid these errors to maximise your marks.
Not using the context given in the question
Paper 1, Paper 2 · Flagged across both papers in 2023 and 2025 reports
Repeating information already given in the question stem
Paper 1 · Both sessions, Paper 1
Describing encryption as making data 'unreadable' instead of 'meaningless'
Paper 1 · Both sessions, Paper 1
Giving robot advantages to the wrong stakeholder
Paper 1 · Both sessions, Paper 1
Confusing verification with validation
Paper 1 · Both sessions, Paper 1
Topics Students Struggle With Most
Virtual memory — purpose and how it works
Candidates often described virtual memory as 'extra RAM' rather than explaining that sections of the hard drive are used as an extension of RAM when physical memory is full, using paging to swap data in and out.
Paper 1
Expert systems — inference engine and rule base
Few candidates could explain the role of the inference engine (applies rules to facts to draw conclusions) or the rule base (IF-THEN rules). Most confused expert systems with databases or AI in general.
Paper 1
Firmware — definition and examples
Many candidates confused firmware with software or hardware. Could not explain that firmware is software permanently stored in ROM/flash memory that controls hardware devices (e.g., BIOS, printer firmware).
Paper 1
Interrupt handling process
Candidates could state that interrupts pause the CPU but could not describe the sequence: check interrupt register, save current state to stack, handle interrupt via ISR, restore state, resume processing.
Paper 1
SSL/HTTPS — the secure connection process
Most candidates knew HTTPS was 'secure' but could not describe the process: browser requests certificate, server sends public key and certificate, browser verifies certificate, session key is encrypted and exchanged.
Paper 1
Machine learning — practical applications and how it differs from traditional programming
Candidates described machine learning vaguely as 'computers that learn'. Few could explain that ML uses training data to build a model that makes predictions, and could not give a specific application with detail.
Paper 1
Functions with parameters and return values
Many candidates could write procedures but not functions. Common errors: using OUTPUT instead of RETURN, not passing arguments when calling the function, and confusing function calls with definitions.
Paper 2
DIV and MOD operations — integer division and remainder
Candidates frequently mixed up DIV (integer quotient) and MOD (remainder). For example, 17 DIV 5 = 3 and 17 MOD 5 = 2. Many reversed these or could not apply them in algorithms such as digit extraction.
Paper 2
Computer Science (0478) — Cambridge IGCSE Full Archive 2017–2026
This page contains all 349 available papers for Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (0478) — 30 exam sessions from 2017 to 2026. Each session includes question papers, mark schemes, and where available, examiner reports and grade threshold documents. All files are free to download as PDF — no account required.
Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (0478) is examined through multiple paper components. Question papers are available in two or three variants per session (v1, v2, v3) — each variant is sat in a different time zone but covers the same syllabus content and is equivalent in difficulty. The paper number in the filename indicates which component: for example, 0478_qp_12 is Paper 1, Variant 2.
Mark schemes for 0478 show the exact marking points accepted by Cambridge examiners. Many questions have multiple acceptable phrasings — look for 'accept', 'allow', and 'credit' in the mark scheme to understand the full range of valid responses. Examiner reports (where available) reveal the most common errors made by the cohort and what top-band answers looked like, making them essential reading before the actual exam.
The most effective way to use this archive is to attempt past papers under timed exam conditions, then analyse your mark scheme results by component. Track which paper components and question types you score lowest on — this tells you exactly where to focus revision. Grade threshold documents show the minimum mark needed for each grade in that specific session, which helps calibrate how your practice scores translate to actual grades.
Computer Science 0478 at other levels
Questions, answered.
You can download all Cambridge Computer Science 0478 past papers right here on PapersDaddy. We have 30 exam sessions from 2017–2026 — including question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, and grade thresholds for 0478. Click any session below to view and download PDFs.
Yes! Every Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (0478) exam session includes the corresponding mark scheme alongside the question paper. Mark schemes show exactly how marks are allocated, helping you understand what examiners look for in top-scoring answers.
Start with recent 0478 papers (2025–2023) to understand current trends. Practice under timed conditions, then mark yourself using the mark scheme. Read examiner reports to learn common mistakes. For targeted revision, use Computer Science 0478 topical past papers to focus on specific topics.
We have Cambridge IGCSE Computer Science (0478) papers from May/June, October/November, and March sessions (where applicable), covering 2017–2026. That's 30 exam sessions in total.