IB Computer Science SL · 2014 to 2025, and the 2027 specimen
1.1 Hardware and operation
69 past paper questions from 27 papers across 22 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
Starter set across the most-tested skills, with AI marking and model answers.
SL archive · 2014 to 2027
1.1 Hardware and operation
Latest exam session: Specimen 2027
- questions
- questions
- papers
- papers
- exam sessions
- exam sessions
Micro-topics in 1.1 Hardware and operation
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 1 of them has no matching questions in this archive.
- Frequently tested
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- No matches in this archiveRevise it
- Frequently tested
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- Rising
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- Rising
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- Fading
last May 25 P1 TZ3
- Less common
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 6 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 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2CPU components, 2014: 2 questions | 5CPU components, 2015: 5 questions | 1CPU components, 2016: 1 question | 1CPU components, 2017: 1 question | 1CPU components, 2018: 1 question | 1CPU components, 2019: 1 question | 2CPU components, 2020: 2 questions | ·CPU components, 2021: 0 questions | ·CPU components, 2022: 0 questions | 1CPU components, 2023: 1 question | 7CPU components, 2024: 7 questions | ·CPU components, 2025: 0 questions | 3CPU components, 2026: 3 questions | 2CPU components, 2027: 2 questions | |
| 1Primary memory, 2014: 1 question | ·Primary memory, 2015: 0 questions | 2Primary memory, 2016: 2 questions | 1Primary memory, 2017: 1 question | 1Primary memory, 2018: 1 question | 2Primary memory, 2019: 2 questions | ·Primary memory, 2020: 0 questions | ·Primary memory, 2021: 0 questions | 1Primary memory, 2022: 1 question | 4Primary memory, 2023: 4 questions | 2Primary memory, 2024: 2 questions | ·Primary memory, 2025: 0 questions | 3Primary memory, 2026: 3 questions | 1Primary memory, 2027: 1 question | |
| ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2014: 0 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2015: 0 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2016: 0 questions | 1Fetch–decode–execute, 2017: 1 question | 1Fetch–decode–execute, 2018: 1 question | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2019: 0 questions | 1Fetch–decode–execute, 2020: 1 question | ·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 | 3Fetch–decode–execute, 2026: 3 questions | ·Fetch–decode–execute, 2027: 0 questions | |
| ·Secondary storage, 2014: 0 questions | 1Secondary storage, 2015: 1 question | ·Secondary storage, 2016: 0 questions | ·Secondary storage, 2017: 0 questions | ·Secondary storage, 2018: 0 questions | 1Secondary storage, 2019: 1 question | ·Secondary storage, 2020: 0 questions | 1Secondary storage, 2021: 1 question | ·Secondary storage, 2022: 0 questions | ·Secondary storage, 2023: 0 questions | ·Secondary storage, 2024: 0 questions | ·Secondary storage, 2025: 0 questions | 3Secondary storage, 2026: 3 questions | ·Secondary storage, 2027: 0 questions |
2 more micro-topics with a free account
- FadingCompression· last May 25 P1 TZ3
- 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
- Fadingused to appear, but not seen for two years or more
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 SL 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.
- 1Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic
- 2Generate whole exam questions from the archive
- 3Practise the same skills with AI marking
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
May 2026
4 questions across 3 papers
May 2025
2 questions across 2 papers
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
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2017
1 question across 1 paper
May 2017
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2016
1 question 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
1 question across 1 paper
May 2014
2 questions across 1 paper
Every 1.1 Hardware and operation question, unlocked
Generate all 69 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
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 SL exam sessions are covered for 1.1 Hardware and operation?
24 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 27 papers in this archive.
Which 1.1 Hardware and operation topic comes up most?
CPU components (1.1.1): in 29% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ3. Usually "Outline", worth about 2.8 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 SL exam preparation
Every question, by paper
What each Computer Science SL paper tests across all its sittings: the marks by unit and the micro-topics it keeps coming back to.
Open the paper analysis
All IB past papers
Every subject we have classified by topic, with the same exam-pattern analysis.
Browse subjects
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.