Practice B.1 The basic model with authentic IB Computer Science (CS) 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.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SL & HLPaper 2
A city council is using a model to predict electricity demand in different neighborhoods during peak summer months. The model currently uses temperature and population size as primary variables.
1.[4]
Identify two additional variables that could be added to the model to improve prediction accuracy, and explain how each variable would help.
2.[3]
Describe one limitation of using this model to predict electricity demand over the next five years, and suggest an improvement to address this limitation.
Question 2
SL & HLPaper 2
A city planner develops a model to predict energy usage.
1.[3]
Identify three essential variables for this energy usage model.
2.[3]
Explain how grouping usage by time of day could improve the model’s insights.
Question 3
HLPaper 3
The following diagram illustrates the stages of a fractal algorithm (such as the Diamond-Square algorithm) used to generate digital terrain.
1.[6]
With the aid of the diagram, explain how fractal algorithms are able to generate terrain that looks realistic, starting from a simple rectangle.
Question 4
SL & HLPaper 2
A healthcare organization creates a model to manage staffing requirements.
1.[3]
Outline three variables that would be essential in this model.
2.[3]
Explain why validating the model with real patient data is essential before implementation.
Question 5
SLPaper 2
A town planner is using a computer model to predict the population of a rapidly growing town over the next decade. The current population is , and the town experienced a growth rate of last year. The planner wants to use this model to anticipate future population sizes and to plan necessary infrastructure and resources.
1.[1]
State how a basic simulation could be set up to predict the town’s population over the next years using only the current rate of growth.
2.[3]
Identify three additional factors that could affect population growth in the town over the next decade.
3.[3]
Outline how incorporating these three factors could improve the accuracy of the model’s predictions.
4.[4]
Discuss the limitations of using this type of simulation to predict population growth.
5.[4]
Identify two potential consequences of an inaccurate population growth prediction for town planning, and explain how each could impact the town.
Question 6
SLPaper 2
A specific type of fish lives and breeds in a lake. It is important that the fish population in the lake has stability and does not decrease too much. Each year people who want to fish from the lake are issued licences under the following conditions:
- The estimated number of fish in the lake has not fallen by more than 5% over the last five years.
- The estimated average length of fish is greater than 20 cm.
These estimates are based on samples taken throughout the year from random sections of the lake.
1.[4]
Outline the steps involved in combining and recording the results from five separate samples taken from the lake in one year.
2.[2]
Identify the variables needed to create a model that can be used to decide whether or not licences should be issued.
3.[3]
Explain how the model from Part 2 could be constructed and used. You should make reference to specific software with which you are familiar.
4.[6]
Discuss how the model may be tested and corrected if necessary.
Question 7
HLPaper 3
1.[2]
Define the term rendering equation.
2.[2]
Outline the use of cels in the construction of a 2D scene.
Question 8
SLPaper 2
The electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle is an on-board computer that is constantly monitoring the performance of several components of a vehicle. For example, the ECU:
- controls the functioning of the lights, the brakes, the airbag, and the fuel-level signal
- permits the scale being changed in some digital displays, such as switching the speedometer from miles/hour to km/hour.
The software embedded in an ECU receives input data from a variety of sources when it runs auto-diagnostic tests.
1.[4]
Vehicles are tested for their exhaust gas emissions using simulation software at specialist garages. During a period of 5 minutes, a vehicle with the engine switched on is monitored for emissions of carbon dioxide () and fine particulates. The software uses 3D visualization techniques to display these parameters on a screen for the whole duration of the test.
Explain how emissions of and fine particulates could be represented in 3D by the software.
2.[2]
With relation to the activities that the software of an ECU has to perform, suggest one reason why the auto-diagnostic program in the ECU depends upon the make and model of the vehicle.
3.[2]
With relation to the activities that the software of an ECU has to perform, identify two of the sources that provide input data to the ECU.
Question 9
SLPaper 2
An educational institution models student performance to improve curriculum design.
1.[2]
Define the term data grouping.
2.[2]
Provide two examples of data groupings that would be effective in this model.
Question 10
SL & HLPaper 2
A city council is using a computer model to predict water usage across different regions during the summer. The model includes several variables that influence water demand, such as temperature, population, and average household size.
1.[4]
Describe the role of variables in this computer model and explain how they influence the model’s outcomes.
2.[4]
Identify two limitations of using this model to predict water usage and discuss how these limitations might affect the accuracy of the predictions.
3.[2]
The city council wants to improve the accuracy of its predictions. Suggest two additional variables that could be included in the model to better predict water usage during the summer.
4.[3]
Discuss how the accuracy of each variable’s data impacts the reliability of the model’s predictions. Provide one example to illustrate your answer.