Pseudocode Guide for Teachers - Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 - Version 1 - Use for exams in 2027, 2028 and 2029

Oct 23, 2026

This teacher guide explains how pseudocode is presented in Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 assessed components for exams in 2027, 2028 and 2029. It specifies formatting rules including monospaced font, consistent font sizing, indentation, keyword casing, identifier naming conventions, and the use of meta-variables in angled brackets. It also covers line numbering practices, comment syntax, and structured topic coverage such as variables, data types, arrays, selection, iteration, procedures and functions, file handling, and object-oriented programming.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages31

Reading Time1 h 18 min

AccessFree to download

Pseudocode in examined components

Font style and size

Indentation

Case

Lines and line numbering

Comments

Variables, constants and data types

Data Types

Literals

Identifiers

Variable declarations

Constants

Assignments

Arrays

Declaring arrays

Using arrays

User-defined data types

Defining user-defined data types

Using user-defined data types

Common operations

Input and output

Arithmetic operations

Relational operations

Logic operators

String functions and operations

Numeric functions

Selection

IF statements

CASE statements

Iteration (repetition)

Count-controlled (FOR) loops

Post-condition (REPEAT) loops

Pre-condition (WHILE) loops

Procedures and functions

Defining and calling procedures

Defining and calling functions

Passing parameters by value or by reference

File handling

Handling text files

Handling random files

Object-oriented Programming

Methods and Properties

Constructors and Inheritance

Index of symbols and keywords

Pseudocode Guide for Teachers Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 Use this guide for exams in 2027, 2028 and 2029. Exams are available in the June and November series. Version 1 For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education. © Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2024 Cambridge International Education is the name of our awarding body and a part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which is a department of the University of Cambridge. Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre. Contents 1 Pseudocode in examined components ................................................................... 5 1.1 Font style and size 5 1.2 Indentation 5 1.3 Case 5 1.4 Lines and line numbering 6 1.5 Comments 6 2 Variables, constants and data types ......................................................................... 7 2.1 Data Types 7 2.2 Literals 7 2.3 Identifiers 7 2.4 Variable declarations 8 2.5 Constants 8 2.6 Assignments 9 3 Arrays ..........................................................................................................................10 3.1 Declaring arrays 10 3.2 Using arrays 10 4 User-defined data types ............................................................................................12 4.1 Defining user-defined data types 12 4.2 Using user-defined data types 14 5 Common operations ..................................................................................................15 5.1 Input and output 15 5.2 Arithmetic operations 15 5.3 Relational operations 16 5.4 Logic operators 16 5.5 String functions and operations 16 5.6 Numeric functions 17 6 Selection .....................................................................................................................18 6.1 IF statements 18 6.2 CASE statements 19 [www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel](www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel) 3 7 Iteration (repetition) .................................................................................................. 20 7.1 Count-controlled (FOR) loops 20 7.2 Post-condition (REPEAT) loops 20 7.3 Pre-condition (WHILE) loops 21 8 Procedures and functions ........................................................................................ 22 8.1 Defining and calling procedures 22 8.2 Defining and calling functions 23 8.3 Passing parameters by value or by reference 24 9 File handling .............................................................................................................. 25 9.1 Handling text files 25 9.2 Handling random files 26 10 Object-oriented Programming ............................................................................. 28 10.1 Methods and Properties 28 10.2 Constructors and Inheritance 28 Index of symbols and keywords .................................................................................. 30 [www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel](www.cambridgeinternational.org/alevel) 4 Cambridge International AS & A Level Computer Science 9618 Pseudocode Guide for Teachers for 2027, 2028 and 2029. 1 Pseudocode in examined components The following information sets out how pseudocode will appear within the examined components and is provided to allow you to give learners familiarity before the exam. 1.1 Font style and size Pseudocode is presented in a monospaced (fixed-width) font such as Courier New. The size of the font will be consistent throughout. 1.2 Indentation Lines are indented (usually by three spaces)

FAQs

How should keywords and identifiers be written in the pseudocode?

Keywords must be in upper-case (e.g., IF, REPEAT, PROCEDURE). Identifiers should use mixed case such as camelCase or Pascal case, with capital letters indicating new words (e.g., NumberOfPlayers).

What syntax is used for comments in the pseudocode?

Comments start with two forward slashes (//) and continue to the end of the line. For multi-line comments, each line begins with //.

How are meta-variables represented in the pseudocode guide?

Meta-variables are enclosed in angled brackets < > and should be substituted by other symbols, as used in Backus-Naur Form.

Oct 23, 2026

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