IB Computer Science HL · 2027 specimen

1.1 Hardware and operation

15 past paper questions from 4 papers across 2 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

Original Exam Vault questions with AI markscheme feedback for this topic.

Generate a custom set

HL archive · 2026 to 2027

1.1 Hardware and operation

Latest exam session: Specimen 2027

questions
questions
papers
papers
exam sessions
exam sessions
By year5micro-topics

Micro-topics in 1.1 Hardware and operation

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 4 of them have no matching questions in this archive.

  • 18

    1.1.1

    CPU components

    4 questions · in 18% of papers

    Regular

    last May 26 P1 TZ3

  • 0

    1.1.2

    The GPU

    No question tagged to this topic in the 22 Computer Science HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 0

    1.1.3

    CPU vs GPU

    No question tagged to this topic in the 22 Computer Science HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 14

    1.1.4

    Primary memory

    3 questions · in 14% of papers

    Occasional

    last May 26 P1 TZ3

  • 14

    1.1.5

    Fetch–decode–execute

    3 questions · in 14% of papers

    Occasional

    last May 26 P1 TZ3

  • 0

    1.1.6

    Pipelining

    No question tagged to this topic in the 22 Computer Science HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 14

    1.1.7

    Secondary storage

    3 questions · in 14% of papers

    Occasional

    last May 26 P1 TZ3

  • 0

    1.1.8

    Compression

    No question tagged to this topic in the 22 Computer Science HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 9

    1.1.9

    Cloud services

    2 questions · in 9% of papers

    Occasional

    last May 26 P1 TZ1

Exam pattern

How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.

Does it repeat?

Top 4 of 5 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.

fewermore

Micro-topic20142015201620172019202020232024202520262027
1.1.1CPU componentsRegular
·CPU components, 2014: 0 questions·CPU components, 2015: 0 questions·CPU components, 2016: 0 questions·CPU components, 2017: 0 questions·CPU components, 2019: 0 questions·CPU components, 2020: 0 questions·CPU components, 2023: 0 questions·CPU components, 2024: 0 questions·CPU components, 2025: 0 questions3CPU components, 2026: 3 questions1CPU components, 2027: 1 question
1.1.7Secondary storageOccasional
·Secondary storage, 2014: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2015: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2016: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2017: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2019: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2020: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2023: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2024: 0 questions·Secondary storage, 2025: 0 questions3Secondary storage, 2026: 3 questions·Secondary storage, 2027: 0 questions
1.1.4Primary memoryOccasional
·Primary memory, 2014: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2015: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2016: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2017: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2019: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2020: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2023: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2024: 0 questions·Primary memory, 2025: 0 questions3Primary memory, 2026: 3 questions·Primary memory, 2027: 0 questions
·Fetch–decode–execute, 2014: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2015: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2016: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2017: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2019: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2020: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2023: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2024: 0 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2025: 0 questions3Fetch–decode–execute, 2026: 3 questions·Fetch–decode–execute, 2027: 0 questions

1 more micro-topics with a free account

  • Regularin roughly one paper in six or more
  • Occasionalin about one paper in ten

Free account · no card needed

See the full exam pattern

Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.

You come straight back to this page with your set built.

  • With a free account
  • 3 generated sets of 10 past-paper questions, any scope
  • One AI-marked practice set with step-by-step feedback
  • The full exam pattern: every micro-topic and the watch list

Past paper generator

Generate Computer Science HL past paper questions

Choose what to revise and build a set in one click. Every question stays whole, so multi-part questions come as they appeared in the exam.

  1. 1Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic
  2. 2Generate whole exam questions from the archive
  3. 3Practise the same skills with AI marking
Loading the generator

Questions on 1.1 Hardware and operation, by exam session

Which papers asked about 1.1 Hardware and operation, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

Past Paper Generator · Pro

Every 1.1 Hardware and operation question, unlocked

Generate all 15 questions in this topic at once, practise every one with AI marking, and see how each mark is awarded.

  • Every past-paper question in any unit, topic or micro-topic
  • Generate sets of 20 or all questions, as often as you like
  • Unlimited practice with AI marking and worked answers
  • See how every mark is awarded for each question
  • Predicted papers and crash courses built from the same data
Unlock all Computer Science HL past paper questions

Used by IB students preparing for Nov 2026, May 2027 and May 2028

From €8.29/mo. 14-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which Computer Science HL exam sessions are covered for 1.1 Hardware and operation?

14 exam sessions from 2026 to 2027, the latest Specimen 2027. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 4 papers in this archive.

Which 1.1 Hardware and operation topic comes up most?

CPU components (1.1.1): in 18% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ3. Usually "State", worth about 1.3 marks in a paper that includes it.

Can I see the original question and mark scheme?

No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.

What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?

Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.

What is free and what needs Pro?

Reading this page and the exam pattern is free. A free account generates three sets of ten questions and launches one practice set. Pro opens every question in any scope, sets of twenty or all, and unlimited practice.

Keep going

More Computer Science HL exam preparation

Practise 1.1 Hardware and operation the way it is examined.

Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic, see what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.