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CIE · IGCSE · Information and Communication Technology

Free CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology
Practice Paper

8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real CIE IGCSE papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.

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What the real CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology paper looks like

Paper 1 (Multiple Choice)
40 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 45 minutes. Tests breadth of knowledge.
Paper 2 (Core) / Paper 4 (Extended)
Structured written paper. 1 hour 30 minutes (Core) or 1 hour 45 minutes (Extended). Tests depth of understanding and application.
Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)
Written paper assessing practical skills for candidates without lab access. 1 hour. Worth ~20% of the total.
Total exam time: ~3 hours, depending on tier (Core vs Extended).
Grading: Grades: A* (highest) to G (lowest), with U (ungraded). Most universities require C or above.

Mini practice paper: 8 questions

Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Information and Communication Technology syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.

Q1 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the main function of a router in a computer network?

  1. To convert digital signals to analogue signals
  2. To provide wireless connectivity to mobile devices
  3. To connect devices within a single local area network
  4. To direct data packets between different networks
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — To direct data packets between different networks
Award 1 mark for identifying the routing function between networks. C is incorrect — this describes a switch or hub within a LAN. A is incorrect — this describes a modem. B is incorrect — this describes a wireless access point, not the primary function of a router.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

Which statement correctly describes how data is stored on a magnetic hard disk drive?

  1. Data is stored by trapping electrons in floating gate transistors
  2. Data is stored by magnetising areas of the disk surface to represent binary 1s and 0s
  3. Data is stored using laser light to change the reflective properties of the surface
  4. Data is stored by burning pits into the surface of the disk
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Data is stored by magnetising areas of the disk surface to represent binary 1s and 0s
Award 1 mark for identifying magnetisation of disk surface areas. D is incorrect — burning pits describes optical storage (CD/DVD). A is incorrect — floating gate transistors are used in flash memory/solid-state storage. C is incorrect — laser technology is used in optical storage media.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

Which of the following correctly describes the function of RAM in a computer system?

  1. It temporarily stores data and instructions currently being processed
  2. It controls the flow of data between the CPU and peripherals
  3. It converts analogue signals to digital signals
  4. It permanently stores the operating system files
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — It temporarily stores data and instructions currently being processed
Award 1 mark for identifying that RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile memory that temporarily holds data and instructions the CPU needs while processing. D is incorrect — permanent storage is provided by secondary storage devices such as hard drives. B is incorrect — this describes the function of a bus or controller. C is incorrect — this describes the function of an analogue-to-digital converter.
Q4 · Difficulty 2/3

A student is creating a presentation about renewable energy sources for a school assembly. The presentation will be projected onto a large screen in a hall with bright ambient lighting. Which design choice would ensure maximum readability?

  1. Red text on a green background
  2. Light yellow text on a white background
  3. Dark blue text on a light cream background
  4. Grey text on a dark grey background
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Dark blue text on a light cream background
Award 1 mark for identifying high contrast as essential for readability in bright conditions. B is incorrect — low contrast between yellow and white makes text difficult to read. D is incorrect — insufficient contrast between similar grey tones reduces readability. A is incorrect — red and green create visual strain and are problematic for colour-blind viewers.
Q5 · Difficulty 2/3

A wildlife researcher in Kenya records animal sighting data in a spreadsheet. The data needs to be filtered to show only sightings of elephants recorded after 1st January 2024. Which type of filter should be applied?

  1. A complex filter using OR logic on two columns
  2. A sort operation on the date column
  3. A single criteria filter on the animal column
  4. A complex filter using AND logic on two columns
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — A complex filter using AND logic on two columns
Award 1 mark for identifying that two conditions must BOTH be met (animal = elephant AND date > 01/01/2024), requiring AND logic. C is incorrect because it only filters on one criterion. A is incorrect because OR logic would show records matching either condition, not both. B is incorrect because sorting arranges data but does not filter out unwanted records.
Q6 · Difficulty 2/3

A multinational company in Singapore uses a private network to securely connect its headquarters to branch offices in Tokyo and Sydney over the internet. Which type of network technology is being described?

  1. VPN (Virtual Private Network)
  2. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)
  3. LAN (Local Area Network)
  4. PAN (Personal Area Network)
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — VPN (Virtual Private Network)
Award 1 mark for identifying VPN as a secure private connection over the public internet. C is incorrect — a LAN covers a small geographical area like a building. D is incorrect — a PAN is for personal devices within a few metres. B is incorrect — a MAN covers a city, not international connections.
Q7 · Difficulty 2/3

A hospital in Singapore is implementing a patient identification system. Nurses need to scan patient wristbands to access medical records. Which input device combination would be most appropriate for this application?

  1. MICR reader and touch screen
  2. OCR scanner and concept keyboard
  3. Barcode reader and keyboard
  4. Fingerprint scanner and mouse
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Barcode reader and keyboard
Award 1 mark for identifying barcode reader for scanning wristbands and keyboard for additional data entry. D is incorrect — fingerprint scanners would require direct patient contact which is impractical for unconscious patients. A is incorrect — MICR is designed for reading magnetic ink on cheques, not wristbands. B is incorrect — OCR is slower and less reliable than barcode reading for quick identification.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

Which of the following is an example of an embedded computer system?

  1. A laptop used for word processing
  2. A microprocessor controlling a washing machine
  3. A desktop computer running a database
  4. A smartphone used for browsing the internet
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — A microprocessor controlling a washing machine
Award 1 mark for identifying that an embedded computer is a dedicated system built into a larger device to perform a specific function. A is incorrect — a laptop is a general-purpose computer. C is incorrect — a desktop is a general-purpose computer. D is incorrect — a smartphone is a general-purpose mobile device capable of running multiple applications.
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CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology FAQ

What does the CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology exam look like?
The CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1 (Multiple Choice): 40 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 45 minutes. Tests breadth of knowledge. Paper 2 (Core) / Paper 4 (Extended): Structured written paper. 1 hour 30 minutes (Core) or 1 hour 45 minutes (Extended). Tests depth of understanding and application. Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical): Written paper assessing practical skills for candidates without lab access. 1 hour. Worth ~20% of the total. Total exam time: ~3 hours, depending on tier (Core vs Extended).
Can I download a free CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology past paper?
Real CIE past papers are published directly by CIE on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is CIE IGCSE Information and Communication Technology graded?
Grades: A* (highest) to G (lowest), with U (ungraded). Most universities require C or above. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.