When this course is over, what are you going to be able to understand and do? Aims provide a bulleted list of core ideas and skills. It would be great idea if you became curious about the aims on this list.

The following course aims are used with gratitude from the IB DP computer science subject guide:

Diploma Programme computer science students should become aware of how computer scientists work and communicate with each other and with other stakeholders in the successful development and implementation of IT solutions.

While the methodology used to solve problems in computer sciencemay take a wide variety of forms, the group 4 computer science course emphasizes the need for both a theoretical and practical approach.

It is in this context that the Diploma Programme computer science course should aim to:

1. Provide opportunities for study and creativity within a global context that will stimulate and challenge students developing the skills necessary for independent and lifelong learning
2. Provide a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize computer science
3. Enable students to apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize computer science
4. Demonstrate initiative in applying thinking skills critically to identify and resolve complex problems
5. Engender an awareness of the need for, and the value of, effective collaboration and communication in resolving complex problems
6. Develop logical and critical thinking as well as experimental, investigative and problem-solving skills
7. Develop and apply the students' information and communication technology skills in the study of computer science to communicate information confidently and effectively
8. Raise awareness of the moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of using science and technology
9. Develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations associated with continued developments in IT systems and computer science
10. Encourage an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and the overarching nature of the scientific method.

Everything you do in our course is evidence of learning. Beware of looking for a pure mathematical path to the best grade; students often fail to deeply understand or appreciate our topic, and thus cannot transfer learning to a new situation or scenario. Assessment of learning and assessment for learning are observed and recorded.

In addition to IB assessment, the course has substantial amounts of summative and formative assessment. Everything you do "counts". 

Paper 1

2 hour 10 minutes is allocated for an examination paper consisting of two compulsory sections:

• Section A (30 minutes approximately) consists of several compulsory short answer questions. The maximum mark for this section is 25.

• Section B (100 minutes approximately) consists of three compulsory structured questions. The maximum mark for this section is 75.

You can earn a maximum of 100 marks for paper 1. It is weighted for 40% of your final grade.

Paper 2

1 hour 20 minutes is allocated for paper 2 which is an examination paper linked to the option studied (which is web science).

• The paper consists of between three and seven compulsory questions.

• The SL/HL core questions are common and worth 45 marks. The HL extension is worth 20 marks.

You can earn a maximum of 65 marks for paper 2. It is weighted for 20% of your final grade.

Paper 3

Paper 3 is an examination paper of 1 hour consisting of four compulsory questions based on a pre-seen case study.

• You can earn a maximum of 30 marks for paper 3. It is weighted for 20% of your grade

Internal Assessment

• Internal assessment is an highly challenging, authentic solution to a problem.

• You can earn a maximum of 34 marks. It is weighted for 20% of your final grade. 

Having followed the computer science standard level course, students will be expected to:

Know and understand:

• Relevant facts and concepts
• appropriate methods and techniques
• computer science terminology
• methods of presenting information.

Apply and use:

• Relevant facts and concepts
• relevant design methods and techniques
• terminology to communicate effectively
• appropriate communication methods to present information.

Construct, analyse, evaluate and formulate:

• success criteria, solution specifications including task outlines, designs and test plans
• appropriate techniques within a specified solution.

Demonstrate the personal skills of cooperation and perseverance as well as appropriate technical skills for effective problem-solving in developing a specified product.

Topics are big ideas, essential questions, and important skills in our course. All topics are assessed, formatively and summatively. Clicking the links below will bring you to a page which details the topic, and offers resources to help you understand them. Many courses share the same topics, but especially in the IB courses, the rigor and depth of the topics are more pronounced.

1. Networking
2. System fundamentals
3. Resource management
4. Course orientation
5. Computer organization
6. Computational thinking
7. Abstract data structures
8. Control
9. Web science
10. Programming
11. Development
12. IA
13. Case study
14. Revision