IB Computer Science SL · 2014 to 2025, and the 2027 specimen
1.1 Hardware and operation
57 past paper questions from 23 papers across 20 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
SL archive · 2014 to 2027
1.1 Hardware and operation
Latest exam session: Specimen 2027
- questions
- 57
- questions
- papers
- 23
- papers
- exam sessions
- 20
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 5
Micro-topics in 1.1 Hardware and operation
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.
1.1.1
15 questions · in 26% of papersAppears in 12 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (26%), at least once each.
Frequently testedlast Spec 27 P1
1.1.4
27 questions · in 22% of papersAppears in 10 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (22%), at least once each.
Risinglast Spec 27 P1
1.1.5
8 questions · in 11% of papersAppears in 5 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (11%), at least once each.
Fadinglast Nov 24 P1
1.1.7
1 question · in 2% of papersAppears in 1 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (2%), at least once each.
Less commonlast Nov 21 P1
1.1.8
6 questions · in 13% of papersAppears in 6 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (13%), at least once each.
Duelast May 23 P1 TZ2
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-topic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2CPU components, 2014: 2 questions | ·CPU components, 2015: 0 questions | 2CPU components, 2016: 2 questions | 2CPU components, 2017: 2 questions | 1CPU components, 2018: 1 question | 2CPU components, 2019: 2 questions | ·CPU components, 2020: 0 questions | ·CPU components, 2021: 0 questions | 1CPU components, 2022: 1 question | 1CPU components, 2023: 1 question | 2CPU components, 2024: 2 questions | ·CPU components, 2025: 0 questions | 2CPU components, 2027: 2 questions | |
| 1Primary memory, 2014: 1 question | 8Primary memory, 2015: 8 questions | ·Primary memory, 2016: 0 questions | ·Primary memory, 2017: 0 questions | 5Primary memory, 2018: 5 questions | 5Primary memory, 2019: 5 questions | ·Primary memory, 2020: 0 questions | ·Primary memory, 2021: 0 questions | ·Primary memory, 2022: 0 questions | 4Primary memory, 2023: 4 questions | 3Primary memory, 2024: 3 questions | ·Primary memory, 2025: 0 questions | 1Primary memory, 2027: 1 question | |
| ·Compression, 2014: 0 questions | 1Compression, 2015: 1 question | ·Compression, 2016: 0 questions | 1Compression, 2017: 1 question | ·Compression, 2018: 0 questions | ·Compression, 2019: 0 questions | ·Compression, 2020: 0 questions | 1Compression, 2021: 1 question | 1Compression, 2022: 1 question | 2Compression, 2023: 2 questions | ·Compression, 2024: 0 questions | ·Compression, 2025: 0 questions | ·Compression, 2027: 0 questions | |
| 1Fetch–decode–execute, 2014: 1 question | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2015: 0 questions | 2Fetch–decode–execute, 2016: 2 questions | 1Fetch–decode–execute, 2017: 1 question | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2018: 0 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2019: 0 questions | 3Fetch–decode–execute, 2020: 3 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2021: 0 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2022: 0 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2023: 0 questions | 1Fetch–decode–execute, 2024: 1 question | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2025: 0 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2027: 0 questions |
1 more micro-topics with a free account
- Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
- Fadingused to appear, but not seen for two years or more
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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.
Specimen 2027
1 question across 1 paper
November 2024
1 question across 1 paper
May 2024
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
1 question across 1 paper
May 2023
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2022
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2020
1 question across 1 paper
November 2019
1 question across 1 paper
May 2019
1 question across 1 paper
November 2018
1 question across 1 paper
May 2018
1 question across 1 paper
November 2017
1 question across 1 paper
May 2017
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2016
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2016
1 question across 1 paper
November 2015
1 question across 1 paper
May 2015
1 question across 1 paper
November 2014
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2014
1 question across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Computer Science SL exam sessions are covered for 1.1 Hardware and operation?
23 exam sessions from 2014 to 2027, the latest Specimen 2027. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 23 papers in this archive.
Which 1.1 Hardware and operation topic comes up most?
CPU components (1.1.1): in 26% of papers, last seen Spec 27 P1. Usually "outline", worth about 2.3 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.
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