IB Computer Science 2027
Comprehensive Revision Notes
Syllabus Overview
Welcome to the IB Computer Science revision notes for the 2027 syllabus. These comprehensive eNotes are designed to help you revise for exams using Rosenshine’s teaching principles, with worked examples, practice questions, and clear explanations.
Theme A: Computer Systems
A1 Computer Fundamentals
Topics Covered:
- A1.1 CPU Components: Control Unit, ALU, Registers, Buses, Cores
- A1.2 Memory & Storage: RAM, ROM, Cache, Secondary Storage
- A1.3 Fetch-Decode-Execute: CPU Cycle, Little Man Computer
- A1.4 Storage & Compression: HDD, SSD, Optical, NAS, Lossless/Lossy, RLE
- A1.5 GPU & Cloud: Graphics Processing, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS
A2 Networks
Topics Covered:
- Network Types: LAN, WAN, MAN, PAN
- Network Topologies: Star, Bus, Ring, Mesh
- Protocols: TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, DNS
- Network Security: Firewalls, Encryption, VPN
Coming soon...
A3 Databases
Topics Covered:
- Database Models: Relational, Hierarchical, Network
- SQL Queries: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, JOIN
- Normalization: 1NF, 2NF, 3NF
- Database Security: Access control, Encryption
Coming soon...
A4 Machine Learning
Topics Covered:
- Types of ML: Supervised, Unsupervised, Reinforcement
- Algorithms: Decision Trees, Neural Networks, K-Means
- Applications: Image Recognition, NLP, Recommendation Systems
- Ethics: Bias, Privacy, Transparency
Coming soon...
Theme B: Computational Thinking and Programming
B1 Computational Thinking
Topics Covered:
- Problem Solving: Decomposition, Pattern Recognition
- Algorithms: Design, Analysis, Efficiency
- Abstraction: Data abstraction, Procedural abstraction
Coming soon...
B2 Programming
Topics Covered:
- Programming Constructs: Sequence, Selection, Iteration
- Data Types: Primitive, Composite, Collections
- Code Management: Version control, Documentation
Coming soon...
B3 Object Oriented Programming
Topics Covered:
- OOP Principles: Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism
- Classes and Objects: Constructors, Methods, Attributes
- Design Patterns: Singleton, Factory, Observer
Coming soon...
B4 Abstract Data Types
Topics Covered:
- Linear ADTs: Stack, Queue, Linked List
- Non-linear ADTs: Tree, Binary Search Tree, Graph
- Operations: Insertion, Deletion, Traversal, Search
Coming soon...
Case Study
Current Case Study Analysis
Detailed analysis and notes on the current IB Computer Science case study topic, including problem context, system analysis, and syllabus connections.
Coming soon...
How to Use These Notes
These revision notes follow Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction to maximize learning:
- Review regularly: Begin each session by reviewing previous topics
- Work through examples: Study the worked examples carefully
- Practice actively: Complete the practice questions with model answers
- Test yourself: Attempt the student practice questions without looking at answers
- Check understanding: Compare your answers to the model answers
- Ask for help: If concepts are unclear, seek additional explanations