all day
Computer Science
IB Diploma Program Computer Science is regarded as an experimental science, alongside biology, chemistry, design technology, physics and environmental systems and societies – and sits in the Group 4 list of subjects. The course is available at both standard level and higher level. Candidates at both levels will gain a strong foundation in computational thinking and programming. Higher level students will take their learning further by studying more advanced topics and a yearly case study to keep current with advances and changes in the computer science and technology industry.
The course is a rigorous and practical problem-solving discipline. Computational thinking lies at the heart of the course and is integrated with other topics. This will be supported by practical programming activities. Candidates will learn programming skills as a critical element of developing higher-level skills applicable to virtually all fields of study. Both standard level and higher level students will complete a culminating internal assessment project allowing them to apply all of the theory and techniques learned to create a practical, problem-solving solution to a real-world problem from within their community.
All candidates will study four topics from the core syllabus for Paper 1:
Topic 1: System Fundamentals
Topic 2: Computer Organization
Topic 3: Networks
Topic 4: Computational Thinking, Problem-solving, and Programming
HL candidates will study three additional topics for Paper 1:
Topic 5: Abstract Data Structures
Topic 6: Resource Management
Topic 7: Control
All candidates will complete an Internal Assessment Solution.
Candidates will also study one more advanced topic for Paper 2:
SL/HL - Option D (core): Object-oriented Programming
HL only - Option D (extension): Object-oriented Programming
HL candidates will also study additional subject content introduced by the annually issued Case Study for Paper 3.