IB Computer Science SL · 2014 to 2025, and the 2027 specimen

3.2 Database design

76 past paper questions from 20 papers across 19 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

Generate a custom set

SL archive · 2014 to 2027

3.2 Database design

Latest exam session: Specimen 2027

questions
76
questions
papers
20
papers
exam sessions
19
exam sessions
micro-topics
6

Micro-topics in 3.2 Database design

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.

  • 22

    3.2.1

    Database schemas

    24 questions · in 22% of papersAppears in 10 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (22%), at least once each.

    Fading

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 11

    3.2.2

    ERDs

    10 questions · in 11% of papersAppears in 5 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (11%), at least once each.

    Fading

    last May 24 P2

  • 15

    3.2.3

    Data types

    14 questions · in 15% of papersAppears in 7 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (15%), at least once each.

    Fading

    last May 25 P2 TZ2

  • 30

    3.2.5

    Normal forms

    25 questions · in 30% of papersAppears in 14 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (30%), at least once each.

    Fading

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 2

    3.2.6

    Normalising to 3NF

    1 question · in 2% of papersAppears in 1 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (2%), at least once each.

    Less common

    last Spec 27 P1

  • 2

    3.2.7

    Denormalisation

    2 questions · in 2% of papersAppears in 1 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (2%), at least once each.

    Less common

    last May 17 P2

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-topic2014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252027
3.2.6Normalising to 3NFLess common
·Normalising to 3NF, 2014: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2015: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2016: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2017: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2018: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2019: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2020: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2021: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2022: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2023: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2024: 0 questions·Normalising to 3NF, 2025: 0 questions1Normalising to 3NF, 2027: 1 question
3.2.5Normal formsFading · last May 25 P2 TZ3
1Normal forms, 2014: 1 question8Normal forms, 2015: 8 questions2Normal forms, 2016: 2 questions·Normal forms, 2017: 0 questions2Normal forms, 2018: 2 questions4Normal forms, 2019: 4 questions2Normal forms, 2020: 2 questions·Normal forms, 2021: 0 questions·Normal forms, 2022: 0 questions3Normal forms, 2023: 3 questions1Normal forms, 2024: 1 question2Normal forms, 2025: 2 questions·Normal forms, 2027: 0 questions
3.2.1Database schemasFading · last May 25 P2 TZ3
1Database schemas, 2014: 1 question4Database schemas, 2015: 4 questions5Database schemas, 2016: 5 questions1Database schemas, 2017: 1 question2Database schemas, 2018: 2 questions1Database schemas, 2019: 1 question·Database schemas, 2020: 0 questions·Database schemas, 2021: 0 questions·Database schemas, 2022: 0 questions·Database schemas, 2023: 0 questions·Database schemas, 2024: 0 questions10Database schemas, 2025: 10 questions·Database schemas, 2027: 0 questions
3.2.3Data typesFading · last May 25 P2 TZ2
4Data types, 2014: 4 questions·Data types, 2015: 0 questions1Data types, 2016: 1 question1Data types, 2017: 1 question2Data types, 2018: 2 questions·Data types, 2019: 0 questions·Data types, 2020: 0 questions·Data types, 2021: 0 questions·Data types, 2022: 0 questions1Data types, 2023: 1 question4Data types, 2024: 4 questions1Data types, 2025: 1 question·Data types, 2027: 0 questions

2 more micro-topics with a free account

  • FadingERDs· last May 24 P2
  • Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen
  • 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.

Create a free accountSign in

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.

  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 3.2 Database design, by exam session

Which papers asked about 3.2 Database design, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

  • Specimen 2027

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2025

    5 questions across 2 papers

  • November 2024

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2024

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2023

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2023

    3 questions across 1 paper

  • November 2020

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • November 2019

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2019

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • November 2018

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2018

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2017

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2017

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2016

    3 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2016

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • November 2015

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2015

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • November 2014

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2014

    1 question across 1 paper

Past Paper Generator · Pro

Every 3.2 Database design question, unlocked

Generate all 76 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 €6/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 3.2 Database design?

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 20 papers in this archive.

Which 3.2 Database design topic comes up most?

Normalising to 3NF (3.2.6): in 2% of papers, last seen Spec 27 P1. Usually "construct", worth about 5 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