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

6.1 Programming fundamentals

22 past paper questions from 12 papers across 11 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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SL archive · 2014 to 2027

6.1 Programming fundamentals

Latest exam session: Specimen 2027

questions
questions
papers
papers
exam sessions
exam sessions
By year3micro-topics

Micro-topics in 6.1 Programming fundamentals

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 1 of them has no matching questions in this archive.

  • 19

    6.1.1

    Variables and data types

    20 questions · in 19% of papers

    Fading

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 2

    6.1.2

    Substrings

    1 question · in 2% of papers

    Less common

    last Spec 27 P2

  • 0

    6.1.3

    Exception handling

    No question tagged to this topic in the 52 Computer Science SL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 2

    6.1.4

    Debugging

    1 question · in 2% of papers

    Less common

    last May 26 P1 TZ3

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, including those with no matches in this archive.

fewermore

Micro-topic20142015201620172018201920202021202220232024202520262027
6.1.1Variables and data typesFading · last May 25 P2 TZ3
4Variables and data types, 2014: 4 questions·Variables and data types, 2015: 0 questions·Variables and data types, 2016: 0 questions·Variables and data types, 2017: 0 questions·Variables and data types, 2018: 0 questions1Variables and data types, 2019: 1 question·Variables and data types, 2020: 0 questions1Variables and data types, 2021: 1 question5Variables and data types, 2022: 5 questions4Variables and data types, 2023: 4 questions·Variables and data types, 2024: 0 questions5Variables and data types, 2025: 5 questions·Variables and data types, 2026: 0 questions·Variables and data types, 2027: 0 questions
6.1.2SubstringsLess common
·Substrings, 2014: 0 questions·Substrings, 2015: 0 questions·Substrings, 2016: 0 questions·Substrings, 2017: 0 questions·Substrings, 2018: 0 questions·Substrings, 2019: 0 questions·Substrings, 2020: 0 questions·Substrings, 2021: 0 questions·Substrings, 2022: 0 questions·Substrings, 2023: 0 questions·Substrings, 2024: 0 questions·Substrings, 2025: 0 questions·Substrings, 2026: 0 questions1Substrings, 2027: 1 question
6.1.4DebuggingLess common
·Debugging, 2014: 0 questions·Debugging, 2015: 0 questions·Debugging, 2016: 0 questions·Debugging, 2017: 0 questions·Debugging, 2018: 0 questions·Debugging, 2019: 0 questions·Debugging, 2020: 0 questions·Debugging, 2021: 0 questions·Debugging, 2022: 0 questions·Debugging, 2023: 0 questions·Debugging, 2024: 0 questions·Debugging, 2025: 0 questions1Debugging, 2026: 1 question·Debugging, 2027: 0 questions
6.1.3Exception handlingNo matches in this archive
·Exception handling, 2014: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2015: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2016: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2017: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2018: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2019: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2020: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2021: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2022: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2023: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2024: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2025: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2026: 0 questions·Exception handling, 2027: 0 questions
  • Fadingused to appear, but not seen for two years or more
  • Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen
  • No matches in this archiveon the syllabus, but has no question tagged to it in this archive. This does not mean it has never been examined

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Questions on 6.1 Programming fundamentals, by exam session

Which papers asked about 6.1 Programming fundamentals, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

  • Specimen 2027

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2026

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2025

    2 questions across 2 papers

  • November 2023

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2023

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2022

    2 questions across 1 paper

  • May 2022

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2021

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2019

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2014

    1 question across 1 paper

  • 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 6.1 Programming fundamentals?

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 12 papers in this archive.

Which 6.1 Programming fundamentals topic comes up most?

Variables and data types (6.1.1): in 19% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ3. Usually "State", 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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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.

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