Computer Science

Computer Science — Diploma Programme

International Baccalaureate · Ages 16-19

IB Diploma Computer Science at Standard or Higher Level combines theory with a substantial practical solution, and is well regarded for computing and engineering admission.

Content covers system fundamentals, computer organisation, networks, computational thinking and problem solving, and abstract data structures, with Higher Level adding resource management, control and further data structures including trees and recursion.

The internal assessment is a fully developed working solution for a real client, documented across design, development, testing and evaluation, and worth 20% at Higher Level. Choosing a client and scope early is the single biggest factor in how well it goes.

Key topics covered

• System Fundamentals — Systems in organisations, planning, and human interaction with systems.
• Computer Organisation — Architecture, memory, the fetch-execute cycle and operating systems.
• Networks — Topologies, protocols, transmission, wireless networking and security.
• Computational Thinking — Abstraction, decomposition, algorithm design and flowcharts.
• Programming — Object-oriented programming in Java or Python and structured development.
• Abstract Data Structures — Stacks, queues, linked lists, trees, recursion and complexity (HL).
• Internal Assessment — A working solution for a real client, documented and worth 20%.