IB Computer Science SL · 2014 to 2025, and the 2027 specimen
6.4 Programming algorithms
12 past paper questions from 8 papers across 7 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
SL archive · 2015 to 2027
6.4 Programming algorithms
Latest exam session: Specimen 2027
- questions
- 12
- questions
- papers
- 8
- papers
- exam sessions
- 7
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 2
Micro-topics in 6.4 Programming algorithms
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.
6.4.1
1 question · in 2% of papersAppears in 1 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (2%), at least once each.
Less commonlast Spec 27 P2
6.4.3
11 questions · in 15% of papersAppears in 7 of the 46 Computer Science SL papers analysed (15%), at least once each.
Duelast May 24 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?
Questions per year for each micro-topic.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ·Big O notation, 2014: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2015: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2016: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2017: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2018: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2019: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2020: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2021: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2022: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2023: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2024: 0 questions | ·Big O notation, 2025: 0 questions | 1Big O notation, 2027: 1 question | |
| ·Bubble and selection sort, 2014: 0 questions | 1Bubble and selection sort, 2015: 1 question | ·Bubble and selection sort, 2016: 0 questions | 1Bubble and selection sort, 2017: 1 question | ·Bubble and selection sort, 2018: 0 questions | 4Bubble and selection sort, 2019: 4 questions | 1Bubble and selection sort, 2020: 1 question | 2Bubble and selection sort, 2021: 2 questions | ·Bubble and selection sort, 2022: 0 questions | ·Bubble and selection sort, 2023: 0 questions | 2Bubble and selection sort, 2024: 2 questions | ·Bubble and selection sort, 2025: 0 questions | ·Bubble and selection sort, 2027: 0 questions |
- Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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 6.4 Programming algorithms, by exam session
Which papers asked about 6.4 Programming algorithms, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
Every 6.4 Programming algorithms question, unlocked
Generate all 12 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 6.4 Programming algorithms?
23 exam sessions from 2015 to 2027, the latest Specimen 2027. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 8 papers in this archive.
Which 6.4 Programming algorithms topic comes up most?
Big O notation (6.4.1): in 2% of papers, last seen Spec 27 P2. Usually "write down / state", worth about 1 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