Cambridge International AS & A Level

COMPUTER SCIENCE 9618/42

Paper 4 Practical October/November 2022
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 75

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2022 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 24 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) 1 mark per point: 3

• (global) 2-D array Jobs with correct identifier (and Integer data type)
• … with 100 elements by 2 elements
• (global) NumberOfJobs declared as variable (as Integer)

Example program code:

Java
public static Integer[][] Jobs = new Integer[100][2];
public static Integer NumberOfJobs;

Python
Jobs # global integer, 100 by 2 elements
NumberOfJobs # global integer

VB.NET
Dim Jobs(99, 1) As Integer
Dim NumberOfJobs As Integer

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Question Answer Marks

1(b) 1 mark per point: 3

• procedure heading (and end where appropriate) and assigns 0 to

NumberOfJobs
• looping through both array element dimensions
• … assigns −1 to all elements

Example program code:

Java
public static void Initialise(){
for(Integer x = 0; x<100;x++){
for(Integer y = 0; y<2; y++){
Jobs[x][y] = -1;
}
}
NumberOfJobs = 0;
}

Python
def Initialise():
global Jobs
global NumberOfJobs
for x in range(0, 100):
Jobs.append([-1,-1])
NumberOfJobs = 0

VB.NET
Sub Initialise()
For X = 0 To 99
For Y = 0 To 1
Jobs(X, Y) = -1
Next
Next
NumberOfJobs = 0
End Sub

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Question Answer Marks

1(c) 1 mark per point (Max 5): 5

• Function header (and end where appropriate) with two (integer)

parameters
• Checks if array is full …
• … if full outputs "Not added"
• Storing parameters job number and priority to only the next available
array position
• Incrementing NumberOfJobs
• Outputting "Added" if successful

Example program code:

Java
public static void AddJob(Integer Description, Integer
Priority){
if(NumberOfJobs == 100){
System.out.println("Not added");
}else{
Jobs[NumberOfJobs][0] = Description;
Jobs[NumberOfJobs][1] = Priority;
NumberOfJobs = NumberOfJobs + 1;
System.out.println("Added");
}
}

Python
def AddJob(JobNumber, Priority):
global NumberOfJobs
global Jobs
if NumberOfJobs == 100:
print("Not added")
else:
Jobs[NumberOfJobs] = [JobNumber, Priority]
print("Added")
NumberOfJobs = NumberOfJobs + 1

VB.NET
Sub AddJob(JobNumber, Priority)
If NumberOfJobs = 100 Then
Console.WriteLine("Not added")
Else
Jobs(NumberOfJobs, 0) = JobNumber
Jobs(NumberOfJobs, 1) = Priority
NumberOfJobs = NumberOfJobs + 1
Console.WriteLine("Added")
End If
End Sub

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Question Answer Marks

1(d) 1 mark per point: 2

• Calls Initialise() (in the main program)

• 5 AddJob calls with correct values as parameters in correct order

Example program code:

Java
public static void main(String args[]){
Initialise();
AddJob(12, 10);
AddJob(526, 9);
AddJob(33,8);
AddJob(12,9);
AddJob(78,1);
}
Python
Initialise()
AddJob(12,10)
AddJob(526,9)
AddJob(33,8)
AddJob(12,9)
AddJob(78,1)

VB.NET
Sub Main()
Initialise()
AddJob(12, 10)
AddJob(526, 9)
AddJob(33, 8)
AddJob(12, 9)
AddJob(78, 1)
End Sub

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Question Answer Marks

1(e) 1 mark per point: 5

• Procedure header (and end where appropriate)

• Outer loop through all 5 elements / number of jobs …
• … inner loop through array elements …
• …and comparing priority (second index) …
• …moving the elements up and inserting correctly

Example program code:

Python
def InsertionSort():
global Jobs
global NumberOfJobs
for I in range(1, NumberOfJobs):
Current1 = Jobs[I][0]
Current2 = Jobs[I][1]
while I > 0 and Jobs[I-1][1] > Current2:
Jobs[I][0] = Jobs[I-1][0]
Jobs[I][1] = Jobs[I-1][1]
I = I - 1
Jobs[I][0] = Current1
Jobs[I][1] = Current2

Java
public static void InsertionSort(){
Integer Current1;
Integer Current2;
Integer Counter;
Integer Placed;
for(Integer i = 1; i < NumberOfJobs; i++){
Current1 = Jobs[i][0];
Current2 = Jobs[i][1];
while(i > 0 && Jobs[i-1][1] > Current2){
Jobs[i][0] = Jobs[i-1][0];
Jobs[i][1] = Jobs[i-1][1];
i = i - 1;

}
Jobs[i][0] = Current1;
Jobs[i][1] = Current2;
}
}

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Question Answer Marks

1(e) VB.NET
Sub InsertionSort()
Dim Tempa As Integer
Dim Tempb As Integer
Dim Counter As Integer
Dim Placed As Boolean
For i = 1 To NumberOfJobs - 1
Tempa = Jobs(i, 0)
Tempb = Jobs(i, 1)
Counter = i
Placed = False
While (Counter > 0 And Not Placed)
If (Jobs(Counter - 1, 1) > Tempb) Then
Jobs(Counter, 0) = Jobs(Counter - 1, 0)
Jobs(Counter, 1) = Jobs(Counter - 1, 1)
Counter = Counter - 1
Else
Placed = True
End If
End While
Jobs(Counter, 0) = Tempa
Jobs(Counter, 1) = Tempb
Next i
End Sub

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Question Answer Marks

1(f) 1 mark per point: 3

• procedure heading (and end where appropriate) and outputting all job
numbers and priorities
• Outputting the job and priority for each element on the same line, with a
line break between each job …
• … with 'priority' between job number and priority

Example program code:

Java
public static void PrintArray(){
for(Integer x = 0; x < NumberOfJobs; x++){
System.out.println(Jobs[x][0] + " priority " +
Jobs[x][1]);
}
}

Python
def PrintArray():
global Jobs
global NumberOfJobs
for X in range(0, NumberOfJobs):
print(str(Jobs[X][0]), " priority ", str(Jobs[X][1]))

VB.NET
Sub PrintArray()
For X = 0 To NumberOfJobs - 1
Console.WriteLine(Jobs(X, 0) & " priority " & Jobs(X,
1))
Next
End Sub

1(g)(i) • calling both subroutines in the main program in the correct order 1

Example program code:

Java
InsertionSort();
PrintArray();

Python
InsertionSort()
PrintArray()

VB.NET
InsertionSort()
PrintArray()

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Question Answer Marks

1(g)(ii) 1 mark for added 5 times and jobs in order. 1

526 and 12 can be reversed

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Question Answer Marks

2(a) 1 mark per point: 4

• Class declaration (and end where appropriate) for Character

• Declaring the 3 private attributes with appropriate data types; Name as
string, xCoordinate as integer, yCoordinate as integer
• Constructor method (and end where appropriate) taking 3 parameters …
• …assigning parameters to all 3 attributes

Example program code:

Java
class Character{
private String Name;
private Integer XCoordinate;
private Integer YCoordinate;
public Character(String Namep, Integer XCoord,
Integer YCoord){
Name = Namep;
XCoordinate = XCoord;
YCoordinate = YCoord; }}

Python
class Character:
#private Name as string
#private XCoordinate as integer
#private YCoordinate as integer
def __init__(self, Namep, Xcoord, Ycoord):
self.__Name = Namep
self.__XCoordiante = Xcoord
self.__YCoordinate = Ycoord

VB.NET
Class Character
Private Name As String
Private XCoordinate As Integer
Private YCoordinate As Integer
Sub New(Namep, Xcoord, Ycoord)
Name = Namep
XCoordinate = Xcoord
YCoordinate = Ycoord
End Sub
End Class

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Question Answer Marks

2(b) 1 mark per point: 3

• 1 get method header (and end where appropriate) with no parameters…

• …returning correct value
• 2nd and 3rd correct get methods

Example program code:

Java
public String GetName(){
return Name;}
public Integer GetX(){
return XCoordinate;}
public Integer GetY(){
return YCoordinate;}

Python
def GetName(self):
return self.__Name
def GetX(self):
return self.__XCoordinate
def GetY(self):
return self.__YCoordinate

VB.NET
Function GetName()
Return Name
End Function
Function GetX()
Return XCoordinate
End Function
Function GetY()
Return YCoordinate
End Function

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Question Answer Marks

2(c) 1 mark per point: 2

• method header (and end where appropriate) taking 2 (integer)

parameters
• adding both parameters to existing x and y coordinate values

Example program code:

Java
public void ChangePosition(Integer XChange, Integer
YChange){
XCoordinate = XCoordinate + XChange;
YCoordinate = YCoordinate + YChange;
}
Python
def ChangePosition(self, XChange, YChange):
self.__XCoordinate = self.__XCoordinate + XChange
self.__YCoordinate = self.__YCoordinate + YChange

VB.NET
Sub changePosition(XChange, YChange)
XCoordinate = XCoordinate + XChange
YCoordinate = YCoordinate + YChange
End Sub

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Question Answer Marks

2(d) 1 mark per point (Max 7): 7

• declaration of 1D array, 10 elements of type Character
• opening text file Characters.txt to read
• looping until EOF/10 times…
• … reading in each 3-set of values from file …
• … instantiate a Character with correct parameters read in from file…
• … store in next element/append in declared array
• closing the text file (in appropriate place)
• Exception handling for opening and reading data from file…
• … with appropriate catch and output

Example program code:

Java
public static void main(String[] args){
Character[] Characters = new Character[10];
String TextFile = "Characters.txt";
String Name = "";
Integer Xcoord = 0;
Integer Ycoord = 0;
try{
FileReader f = new FileReader(TextFile);
BufferedReader Reader = new BufferedReader(f);
for(Integer X = 0; X < 10; X++){
Name = Reader.readLine();
Xcoord = Integer.parseInt(Reader.readLine());
Ycoord = Integer.parseInt(Reader.readLine());
}
Reader.close();
}catch(FileNotFoundException ex){
System.out.println("No file found");
}
catch(IOException ex){
System.out.println("No file found");
}
}

Python
Characters = []
TextFile = "Characters.txt"
try:
File = open(TextFile, 'r')
for X in range(0, 10):
Name = File.readline().strip()
XCoord = File.readline().strip()
YCoord = File.readline().strip()
TempC = Character(Name, int(XCoord), int(YCoord))
Characters.append(TempC)
File.close()
except:
print("File not found")

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Question Answer Marks

2(d) VB.NET
Sub Main()
Dim Characters(0 To 9) As Character
Dim TextFile As String = "Characters.txt"
Try
Dim FileReader As New
System.IO.StreamReader(TextFile)
For X = 0 To 10
Name = FileReader.ReadLine()
Xcoord = FileReader.ReadLine()
Ycoord = FileReader.ReadLine()
Characters(X) = New Character(Name, Xcoord, Ycoord)
Next
FileReader.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
Console.WriteLine("File not found")
End Try
end sub

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Question Answer Marks

2(e) 1 mark per point (Max 5): 5

• Taking name as input …

• …converting/checking case e.g. all to lower

• Looping through array of characters comparing each character name to

input …
• …continuously taking repeat input if not found in array
• …storing the index when found

• Accessing the name of character in the array using GetName()

Example program code:

Python
Position = -1
CharacterName = ""
while(Position == -1):
CharacterInput = input("Enter the Character to
move").rstrip('\n').lower()
for Count in range(0, 10):
Temp = str(Characters[Count].GetName().strip())
if(Temp == CharacterInput):
Position = Count

VB.NET
Dim Position As Integer = -1
Dim CharacterName As String = ""
While Position = -1
Console.WriteLine("Enter the Character to move")
CharacterName = Console.ReadLine
For Count = 0 To 9
If(Characters(Count).GetName).tolower =
CharacterName.ToLower Then
Position = Count
End If
Next
End While

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Question Answer Marks

2(e) Java
Integer Position = -1;
String CharacterName = "";
Scanner scanner = new Scanner(System.in);
String Temp = "";

while(Position == -1){
System.out.println("Enter the Character to move");
CharacterName = scanner.nextLine();
for(Integer Count = 0; Count < 10; Count++){
Temp = Characters[Count].GetName();
Temp = Temp.toLowerCase();

if(Temp.equals(CharacterName.toLowerCase())){
Position = Count;
} }}

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Question Answer Marks

2(f) 1 mark per point (Max 7): 7

• Taking move as input…

• …looping until valid
• Calling ChangePosition()with object
• If A is input parameters are −1, 0
• If D is input parameters are 1, 0
• If W is input parameters are 0, 1
• If S is input parameters are 0, −1

Example program code:

Java
Boolean IsValid = false;
String Move = "";
while(IsValid != true){
System.out.println("Enter A for left, W for up, S or
down or D for right");
Move = scanner.nextLine();
if(Move.toUpperCase().equals("A")){
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(-1,0);
IsValid = true;
} else if(Move.toUpperCase().equals("W")){
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(0,1);
IsValid = true;
} else if(Move.toUpperCase().equals("S")){
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(0,-1);
IsValid = true;
} else if(Move.toUpperCase().equals("D")){
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(1,0);
IsValid = true;
} }

Python
IsValid = False
while(IsValid != True):
Move = input("Enter A for left, W for up, S for down,
or D for right")
if(Move.upper() == "A"):
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(-1,0)
IsValid = True
elif (Move.upper() == "W"):
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(0,1)
IsValid = True
elif (Move.upper() == "S"):
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(0,-1)
IsValid = True
elif(Move.upper() == "D"):
Characters[Position].ChangePosition(1,0)
IsValid = True

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Question Answer Marks

2(f) VB.NET
Dim IsValid As Boolean = False
Dim Move As String
While IsValid <> True
Console.WriteLine("Enter A for left, W for up, S for
down or D for right")
Move = Console.ReadLine()
If Move.ToUpper = "A" Then
Characters(Position).ChangePosition(-1, 0)
IsValid = True
ElseIf Move.ToUpper = "W" Then
Characters(Position).ChangePosition(0, 1)
IsValid = True
ElseIf Move.ToUpper = "S" Then
Characters(Position).ChangePosition(0, -1)
IsValid = True
ElseIf Move.ToUpper = "D" Then
Characters(Position).ChangePosition(1, 0)
IsValid = True
End If
End While

2(g)(i) 1 mark per point: 2

• Outputting given message including name, x and y position

• …all using appropriate get methods

Example program code:

Java
System.out.println(CharacterName + " has changed
coordinates to X = " + Characters[Position].GetX() + " Y
= " + Characters[Position].GetY());

Python
print(CharacterName, " has changed coordinate to X = ",
str(Characters[Position].GetX()), " Y = ",
str(Characters[Position].GetY()))

VB.NET
Console.WriteLine(CharacterName & " has changed
coordinates to X = " & Characters(Position).GetX & " Y =
" & Characters(Position).GetY())

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Question Answer Marks

2(g)(ii) 1 mark for correct result, for example: 1

Question Answer Marks

3(a) 1 mark per point: 3

• 1D array with 100 (Integer) spaces

• head pointer declared initialised to appropriate value e.g. −1
• tail pointer declared initialised to 0

Example program code:

Java
public Integer[] queue = new Integer[100];
public Integer HeadPointer = -1;
public Integer TailPointer = 0;

Python
Queue = [-1 for I in range(100)] #Integer
HeadPointer = -1
TailPointer = 0

VB.NET
Dim Queue(0 To 99) As Integer
Dim HeadPointer As Integer = -1
Dim TailPointer As Integer = 0

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Question Answer Marks

3(b) 1 mark per point: 6

• Function header (and close where appropriate) with integer parameter

• Checking if queue full and returning false
• If not full adding parameter to queue at tail pointer …
• … incrementing tail pointer (after adding to queue)
• … and returning true
• Changing head pointer to 0 if this is the first element in array

Example program code:

Java

public Boolean Enqueue(Integer Data){

if(TailPointer < 100){
if(HeadPointer == -1){
HeadPointer = 0;
}
Queue[TailPointer] = Data;
TailPointer = TailPointer + 1;
return true;
}
return false;
}
Python
def Enqueue(Data):
global Queue
global TailPointer
if(TailPointer < 100):
if HeadPointer == -1:
HeadPointer = 0
Queue[TailPointer] = Data
TailPointer = TailPointer + 1
return True
return False

VB.NET
Function Enqueue(Data)
If TailPointer < 100 Then
If HeadPointer = -1 Then
HeadPointer = 0
End If
Queue(TailPointer) = data
TailPointer = TailPointer + 1
Return True
End If
Return False
End Function

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Question Answer Marks

3(c) 1 mark per point: 4

• Looping 20 times
• … using Enqueue() with each number 1 to 20 in ascending numerical
order…
• … and storing/using the return value
• … based on return value, outputting "Successful" and "Unsuccessful" if
all numbers are added

Example program code:

Java
public static void main(String[] args){
Boolean success = false;
for(Integer count = 1; count <= 20; count++){
success = enqueue(count);
}
if(success == false){
System.Out.Println("Unsuccessful ")
else{
System.Out.Println("Successful ")
}
}
Python
Success = False
for Count in range(1, 21):
Success = Enqueue(Count)
if(Success == False):
print("Unsuccessful")
else:
print("Successful")

VB.NET
Dim Success As Boolean
For Count = 1 To 20
Success = Enqueue(Count)
Next
If Success = False THEN
Console.WriteLine("Unsuccessful")
ELSE
Console.WriteLine("Successful")
ENDIF

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Question Answer Marks

3(d) 1 mark per point: 6

• function call (and end where appropriate) taking a parameter

• checking if at start of queue//20 …
• …returning the last value in the queue
• (otherwise) adding return value to a total // adding value in queue before
recursive call and using this in the recursive call …
• recursive call with Start/pointer −1
• returning the final total

Example program code:

Java
public static Integer RecursiveOutput(Integer Start){
if(Start == 0){
return Queue[Start];
}else{
return Queue[Start] + RecursiveOutput(Start -1);
}}

Python
def RecursiveOutput(Start):
if(Start == 0):
return Queue[Start]
else:
return Queue[Start] + RecursiveOutput(Start - 1)

VB.NET
Function RecursiveOutput(ByVal Start)
If (Start = 0) Then
Return Queue(Start)
Else
Return Queue(Start) + RecursiveOutput(Start - 1)
End If
End Function

3(e)(i) 1 mark for calling function and outputting return value. 1

Example program code:

Java
System.out.println(RecursiveOutput(TailPointer-1));

Python
print(str(RecursiveOutput(TailPointer - 1)))

VB.NET
Console.WriteLine(RecursiveOutput(TailPointer - 1))

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Question Answer Marks

3(e)(ii) 1 mark for screenshot showing 210, for example: 1

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