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Exam Preparation · IB Diploma

IB Computer Science

The IB Diploma course at Standard and Higher Level, for first exams in May 2027. Choose your level and every page shows only what you need for it.

Your level

HL: everything below, including the parts marked HL.

SL: HL-only sections and points are hidden.

A1

Computer fundamentals

  1. A1.1

    Computer hardware and operation

    CPU, GPU, memory, the fetch–decode–execute cycle, storage, compression and cloud services.

    HL A1.1.3, A1.1.6

  2. A1.2

    Data representation and computer logic

    Number bases, how binary stores data, logic gates, truth tables and logic diagrams.

  3. A1.3

    Operating systems and control systems

    What an OS does, scheduling, interrupts and polling, multitasking and control systems.

    HL A1.3.5, A1.3.6, A1.3.7

  4. A1.4

    Translation

    How interpreters and compilers translate code, and when to use each.

A2

Networks

  1. A2.1

    Network fundamentals

    Network types, digital infrastructure, devices, protocols and the TCP/IP model.

    HL A2.1.5

  2. A2.2

    Network architecture

    Topologies, servers, networking models and network segmentation.

    HL A2.2.2

  3. A2.3

    Data transmissions

    IP addressing, transmission media, packet switching and routing.

    HL A2.3.4

  4. A2.4

    Network security

    Firewalls, common vulnerabilities and countermeasures, encryption and digital certificates.

    HL A2.4.2, A2.4.3

A3

Databases

  1. A3.1

    Database fundamentals

    Features, benefits and limitations of relational databases.

  2. A3.2

    Database design

    Schemas, ER diagrams, data types, tables, normal forms up to 3NF and denormalizing.

  3. A3.3

    Database programming

    SQL for querying and updating, aggregate functions, views and transactions.

    HL A3.3.4, A3.3.5, A3.3.6

  4. A3.4

    Alternative databases and data warehouses HL only

    Database types, data warehouses, OLAP and data mining, distributed databases.

A4

Machine learning

  1. A4.1

    Machine learning fundamentals

    Types of machine learning, where they are used and the hardware they need.

  2. A4.2

    Data preprocessing HL only

    Data cleaning, feature selection and dimensionality reduction.

  3. A4.3

    Machine learning approaches HL only

    Regression, classification, clustering, reinforcement learning, genetic algorithms, ANNs and CNNs.

  4. A4.4

    Ethical considerations

    The ethics of machine learning as it becomes part of daily life.

B1

Computational thinking

  1. B1.1

    Approaches to computational thinking

    Problem specifications, the core concepts of computational thinking and tracing flowcharts.

B2

Programming

  1. B2.1a

    Programming fundamentals, part 1

    Variables, data types and substrings.

  2. B2.3

    Programming constructs

    Sequence, selection, loops, functions and modularization.

  3. B2.1b

    Programming fundamentals, part 2

    Exception handling and debugging.

  4. B2.2

    Data structures

    Static and dynamic structures, arrays and lists, stacks and queues.

  5. B2.4

    Programming algorithms

    Big O, searching, sorting and recursion.

    HL B2.4.4, B2.4.5

  6. B2.5

    File processing

    Reading from and writing to files in code.

B3

Object-oriented programming

  1. B3.1

    OOP for a single class

    Classes, objects, encapsulation, and static and non-static members.

  2. B3.2

    OOP for multiple classes HL only

    Inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction, composition and design patterns.

B4

Abstract data types

  1. B4.1

    Fundamentals of abstract data types HL only

    Linked lists, binary search trees and sets as abstract data types.

IB

Assessment

  1. CS

    Case study

    How to research the annual case study for Section B of Paper 1.

  2. IA

    Internal assessment

    Choosing a problem and building a software solution, criterion by criterion.

How the two levels differ

SLHL
Paper 1 total50 marks80 marks
Case study in Paper 112 marks (24%)24 marks (30%)
Case study essay6 marks12 marks
Case study teaching time15 hours30 hours
Internal assessment30% of the grade20% of the grade

You can answer programming questions in Python or Java. Lessons here use Python first.

28 of 28 pages built · 26 syllabus sections plus the two assessment guides.