Practice A1.1 Computer hardware and operation with authentic IB Computer Science (First Exam 2027) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like programming concepts, algorithms, and data structures. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
A manufacturing company is upgrading their computer systems for controlling robotic assembly lines.
Compare the suitability of RISC and CISC processors for this application.
State the primary function of an interrupt in a computer system.
Describe how the fetch-decode-execute cycle processes an instruction.
A school is setting up a computer lab with different types of storage devices.
Compare SSD and HDD storage in terms of access speed and durability.
State one advantage and one disadvantage of cloud storage for the school.
Outline the role of the motherboard in a computer system.
An automotive company is designing an Engine Control Unit (ECU) that must process sensor data continuously.
Analyze the following interrupt priority table and explain how the system would handle multiple simultaneous interrupts:
| Interrupt Source | Priority Level | Response Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Temperature | 1 (Highest) | < 5 milliseconds |
| Fuel Injection | 2 | < 10 milliseconds |
| Speed Sensor | 3 | < 20 milliseconds |
| Dashboard Display | 4 (Lowest) | < 100 milliseconds |
Describe how the interrupt handling mechanism ensures critical engine functions are not delayed by lower-priority tasks.
A computer system uses various components to process data and instructions.
Outline the function of the Control Unit (CU) in a CPU.
State two differences between volatile and non-volatile memory.
Explain why cache memory improves system performance.
A data processing company needs to choose between different CPU architectures for their server farm.
Compare the characteristics of RISC and CISC architectures using the table below:
Evaluate which architecture would be more suitable for high-performance computing applications. [4]
Quantum computing represents a paradigm shift in computational approaches.
Compare the fundamental differences between classical bits and quantum bits (qubits).
Explain the concept of quantum superposition and its significance for computation.
State two current limitations of quantum computing technology.
A research laboratory is implementing a distributed computing cluster with 100 nodes.
Design a system architecture table showing the specifications for different types of nodes in the cluster:
| Node Type | CPU Cores | RAM | Storage | Network | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master Node | 4–16 | 16–64 GB | 100–500 GB SSD | High-speed | Cluster management, job scheduling |
| Compute Node | 8–64 | 32–256 GB | 100–500 GB SSD | High-speed | Processing workloads and tasks |
| Storage Node | 4–16 | 16–64 GB | Multiple TB HDD/SSD | High-speed | Data storage and retrieval |
| Gateway Node | 2–8 | 8–32 GB | 100–250 GB SSD | Moderate-speed | External access and data transfer |
Analyze how load balancing across multiple nodes improves computational efficiency and system reliability.
A computer manufacturer is comparing different memory technologies for their new laptop series.
Complete the following table comparing different types of computer memory:
| Memory Type | Access Speed | Volatility | Typical Capacity | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SRAM | Fast | Volatile | Small (KB–MB) | CPU Cache |
| DRAM | Medium | Volatile | 8–32 GB | Main Memory (RAM) |
| Flash | Slow | Non-volatile | GB–TB | Storage |
Explain why the memory hierarchy exists and how it improves performance.
A graphics workstation requires high-performance storage solutions for video editing applications.
Complete the storage comparison table and justify which would be most suitable for video editing:
| Storage Type | Sequential Read Speed | Random Access Time | Durability | Cost per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDD 7200 RPM | ~100–150 MB/s | 8–12 ms | Low | Low |
| SATA SSD | ~550 MB/s | ~0.1 ms | High | Medium |
| NVMe SSD | >3000 MB/s | <0.1 ms | High | Higher |
Explain why RAID configurations might be beneficial for professional video editing workstations.