Practice 1.1 What is digital society with authentic IB Digital Society (DS) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 structure, covering key topics like systems and structures, human behavior and interaction, and digital technologies in society. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Paper
Level
Question 1
SL & HLPaper 1
1.[1]
Define digital revolution
Question 2
SLPaper 1
E-voting
A number of countries, such as India, have introduced e-voting systems. Citizens can vote by going to a specified location, such as a school, or they can vote from home using a computer. Each voter is provided with a unique identifier, such as IND55454, that they must enter into the system when they vote.
These e-voting systems usually consist of a user interface (see Figure 1), linked to a relational database (see Figure 2).
Figure 1: An example of an e-voting interface
Figure 2: An example of a relational database
1.[8]
Some states are planning to return to a paper-based voting system, where voters put a cross (X) in the column next to the party of their choice.
Discuss whether these states should retain e-voting or return to a paper-based voting system.
2.[4]
Describe two features of the user interface in Figure 1 that make it intuitive.
3.[2]
Outline one advantage of using a relational database to store this data.
4.[6]
A number of individuals and groups were consulted during the design of the e-voting system to enable designers to create an intuitive interface for it.
Analyse questionnaires and interviews as methods of data collection to gather this information from these individuals and groups.
Question 3
SL & HLPaper 1
1.[4]
Distinguish between digitization and digitalization
Question 4
SLPaper 1
BYOD at Xingu Academy
Some students at Xingu Academy have been allowed to “bring your own device (BYOD)” into school so they can use assistive technologies, such as speech-to-text, to support their learning (see Figure 3). Mayu Jimenez, the Head of Learning and Teaching, has seen the benefits for these students. A number of other teachers believe there will be benefits if the school becomes a BYOD school. However, before a decision can be made, Alejandro Gandolla, the Head of IT, has been asked to investigate whether the school would be able to cope with the demands of the increased number of devices.
Figure 3: Assistive technologies
1.[2]
Identify two pieces of information that would be used to identify a device on the IT network.
2.[4]
Identify the steps used by speech-to-text software.
3.[6]
Digital citizenship is included in Xingu Academy’s IT acceptable use policy.
Explain why it is important that students at Xingu Academy are both competent users of digital technologies and good digital citizens.
4.[8]
Discuss whether Xingu Academy should become a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) school.
Question 5
SL & HLPaper 1
Digital society refers to the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of daily life, affecting communication, work, education, and social interactions. This question assesses your understanding of the core concepts and impacts of living in a digital society.
1.[5]
Define the term 'digital society' and explain its key characteristics.
2.[5]
Discuss the impact of digital society on communication and social interactions.
3.[5]
Evaluate the implications of digital society on privacy and security. Use the diagram below to support your answer.
4.[5]
Analyze the concept of the 'digital divide' within the context of a digital society.
5.[5]
Propose strategies to promote digital inclusion and bridge the digital divide.
Question 6
SL & HLPaper 1
1.[2]
Outline the purpose of digital archives
Question 7
SL & HLPaper 1
1.[2]
State 3 other names of digital society
Question 8
HLPaper 1
1.[12]
A cashless society
In the near future, it is possible that cash will not be accepted as a means of payment in Sweden. People are already using alternative ways of paying, such as mobile payment, card payment and internet payment. Currently, over 95% of citizens in Sweden have internet access.
Many people in Sweden claim there are advantages of using an app developed by Swish. The Swish app allows friends to share a restaurant bill, pay where credit or debit cards are not accepted, for babysitting or parking tickets, or make a donation at church.
However, other people in Sweden claim that making the Swish app the only means of payment may increase inequalities within the country.
Discuss whether countries should pass legislation making apps such as Swish the only means of payment.
Question 9
SL & HLPaper 1
Digital society refers to the ways digital technologies shape contemporary life. Rather than a single shared experience, digital society can be understood as multiple societies, shaped by different levels of access to digital systems and infrastructure. While some individuals participate fully through constant connectivity and digital services, others face barriers that limit their engagement.
The development of digital society has been driven by key technological milestones such as the personal computer, the internet, and mobile and cloud computing. These technologies have transformed analogue processes into digital forms, changing how data is stored, shared, and preserved. However, uneven access to devices, internet connectivity, and digital skills has created digital divides that affect participation in education, employment, and social life.
1.[2]
Identify two characteristics of digital society shown in the source.
2.[4]
Describe two examples from the source that show how access to digital systems is uneven.
3.[6]
Explain how two technological milestones have contributed to the development of digital society.
4.[8]
To what extent does digitalization improve participation in society for all individuals?
Question 10
SLPaper 1
Cell phone farmers
Many farmers in Cameroon are not able to use the internet due to the very limited communication infrastructure in the country. In addition, accessing the internet is expensive for most farmers.
As many farmers have cell/mobile phones, they could make better use of technologies such as text messaging (SMS*) to access information that would assist them in their farming.
However, recent research has suggested that a lack of internet access is not the main factor limiting the development of farming in Cameroon: the main factor is farmers’ lack of IT knowledge.
Some farmers in Cameroon are trialling a system called Agritexte, which uses text messages to provide information on the market prices of produce, such as cassava leaves and cocoa (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: An example of a text message
* SMS: short message service
1.[2]
Identify two items that contribute to the cost of accessing the internet.
2.[6]
Analyse the effectiveness of using face-to-face (F2F) training compared to distance learning to train farmers to use Agritexte.
3.[2]
Outline the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web.
4.[2]
Identify two advantages of using text messaging to communicate.
5.[8]
The government of Cameroon is watching the results of the Agritexte initiative. It is considering two options:
- extending the functionality of Agritexte into a web-based information system
- investing in education and training on the use of the existing Agritexte SMS system.
Evaluate these two options.