IB Course Guide 2025

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Computer Science

IB Computer Science is suitable for anyone who wants to learn how computers work, how to control what computers do, and how they have shaped the modern world and will continue to do so in the future. One of the main aims is to develop your computational thinking skills: taking a complex problem, breaking it down into steps, and explaining those steps in a way which can’t be misunderstood is the essence of programming. More than that, though, you will develop an understanding of what is going on inside a computer when it runs software, and at a higher level explore how computers fit into modern day business and society. The course is available for both Standard and Higher level. You do not need to have studied Computer Science previously to study it at IB though some proficiency in Python programming, especially at Higher Level would be advised. Please speak to Mr Hooper for advice here. The study of Computer Science at IB is organised into two key themes: A: Concepts of computer science (focusing on how computational systems work) B: Computational thinking and problem solving (how you can use computational systems to solve real-world problems) The course is future-facing and includes a topic on machine learning. There also is a case study so that emerging technologies can be considered during the lifetime of the course. Finally, the course has a practical programme that consists of the development of a computational solution and a collaborative science project.

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