Practice B2 Programming 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.
Define what is meant by a "linked list" data structure.
Compare linked lists with arrays in terms of memory allocation and insertion/deletion operations.
Describe the components that would be required in each node of a simple linked list and explain how these components work together to form the list structure.
The question assesses knowledge of Abstract Data Types (ADTs), the concept of encapsulation in programming, and the fundamental operations of a Stack data structure.
State what is meant by "abstract data types" (ADTs).
Explain the concept of encapsulation in relation to abstract data types and describe why it is beneficial.
List three operations that would typically be available for a ADT and briefly describe what each operation does.
State what is meant by "file buffering" in computer systems.
Explain how file buffering improves performance and describe the trade-offs involved in different buffer sizes.
A data logging application writes sensor readings to a file every few seconds continuously for days. Analyse how buffering strategies would affect both performance and data integrity for this application.
Define what is meant by an "algorithm" in computer science.
Describe the five essential characteristics that define a well-formed algorithm.
A teacher wants to create an algorithm to calculate class averages. Explain why having a finite number of steps and producing a definite output are crucial characteristics for this algorithm.
State what is meant by "file compression" in data storage.
Distinguish between lossless and lossy compression techniques, providing examples of when each would be appropriate.
A medical imaging system stores thousands of X-ray images that must maintain perfect quality for diagnostic purposes but also needs to manage storage costs. Analyse which compression approach would be most suitable and justify your reasoning.
Define what is meant by "syntax" in programming.
Distinguish between syntax errors and logic errors, providing an example of each.
Distributed systems often require data to be shared and updated across multiple locations. One mechanism used to manage this is file synchronization.
Define what is meant by "file synchronization" in distributed systems.
Explain the challenges involved in keeping files synchronized across multiple locations and describe potential solutions.
A collaborative document editing system allows multiple users to work on the same file simultaneously from different locations. Analyse the file synchronization challenges this creates and explain how conflicts might be resolved.
The concept of identifiers and naming conventions within programming environments.
Define the term "identifier" in programming.
List four rules that typically apply when naming identifiers in most programming languages.
Evaluate the following identifier names and explain whether each is valid or invalid:
student_name2ndPlacefinal-gradeMAX_VALUEIdentify two benefits of using NoSQL databases over relational databases.
Identify two benefits of using NoSQL databases over relational databases.
Using the Scanner class, create a class that asks the user to enter the radius of a circle and calculates the area. The radius should be a float.
Practice B2 Programming 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.
Define what is meant by a "linked list" data structure.
Compare linked lists with arrays in terms of memory allocation and insertion/deletion operations.
Describe the components that would be required in each node of a simple linked list and explain how these components work together to form the list structure.
The question assesses knowledge of Abstract Data Types (ADTs), the concept of encapsulation in programming, and the fundamental operations of a Stack data structure.
State what is meant by "abstract data types" (ADTs).
Explain the concept of encapsulation in relation to abstract data types and describe why it is beneficial.
List three operations that would typically be available for a ADT and briefly describe what each operation does.
State what is meant by "file buffering" in computer systems.
Explain how file buffering improves performance and describe the trade-offs involved in different buffer sizes.
A data logging application writes sensor readings to a file every few seconds continuously for days. Analyse how buffering strategies would affect both performance and data integrity for this application.
Define what is meant by an "algorithm" in computer science.
Describe the five essential characteristics that define a well-formed algorithm.
A teacher wants to create an algorithm to calculate class averages. Explain why having a finite number of steps and producing a definite output are crucial characteristics for this algorithm.
State what is meant by "file compression" in data storage.
Distinguish between lossless and lossy compression techniques, providing examples of when each would be appropriate.
A medical imaging system stores thousands of X-ray images that must maintain perfect quality for diagnostic purposes but also needs to manage storage costs. Analyse which compression approach would be most suitable and justify your reasoning.
Define what is meant by "syntax" in programming.
Distinguish between syntax errors and logic errors, providing an example of each.
Distributed systems often require data to be shared and updated across multiple locations. One mechanism used to manage this is file synchronization.
Define what is meant by "file synchronization" in distributed systems.
Explain the challenges involved in keeping files synchronized across multiple locations and describe potential solutions.
A collaborative document editing system allows multiple users to work on the same file simultaneously from different locations. Analyse the file synchronization challenges this creates and explain how conflicts might be resolved.
The concept of identifiers and naming conventions within programming environments.
Define the term "identifier" in programming.
List four rules that typically apply when naming identifiers in most programming languages.
Evaluate the following identifier names and explain whether each is valid or invalid:
student_name2ndPlacefinal-gradeMAX_VALUEIdentify two benefits of using NoSQL databases over relational databases.
Identify two benefits of using NoSQL databases over relational databases.
Using the Scanner class, create a class that asks the user to enter the radius of a circle and calculates the area. The radius should be a float.