IBDP CS 2025 – CS@CIS

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A1. Computer fundamentals

A1.1 Computer hardware and operation 9 Topics

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A1.1.1 Describe the functions and interactions of the main CPU components

A1.1.2 Describe the role of a GPU

A1.1.3 Explain the differences between the CPU and the GPU (HL only)

A1.1.4 Explain the purposes of different types of primary memory

A1.1.5 Describe the fetch, decode and execute cycle

A1.1.6 Describe the process of pipelining in multi-core architectures (HL only)

A1.1.7 Describe internal and external types of secondary memory storage

A1.1.8 Describe the concept of compression

A1.1.9 Describe the different types of services in cloud computing

A1.2 Data representation and computer logic 5 Topics

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A1.2.1 Describe the principal methods of representing data

A1.2.2 Explain how binary is used to store data

A1.2.3 Describe the purpose and use of logic gates

A1.2.4 Construct and analyse truth tables

A1.2.5 Construct logic diagrams

A1.3 Operating systems and control systems 7 Topics

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A1.3.1 Describe the role of operating systems

A1.3.2 Describe the functions of an operating system

A1.3.3 Compare different approaches to scheduling

A1.3.4 Evaluate the use of polling and interrupt handling

A1.3.5 Explain the role of the operating system in managing multitasking and resource allocation (HL only)

A1.3.6 Describe the use of the control system components (HL only)

A1.3.7 Explain the use of control systems in a range of real-world applications (HL only)

A1.4 Translation (HL only) 1 Topic

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A1.4.1 Evaluate the translation processes of interpreters and compilers

A2. Networks

A2.1 Network fundamentals 5 Topics

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A2.1.1 Describe the purpose and characteristics of networks

A2.1.2 Describe the purpose, benefits and limitations of modern digital infrastructures

A2.1.3 Describe the function of network devices

A2.1.4 Describe the network protocols used for transport and application

A2.1.5 Describe the function of the TCP/IP model (HL only)

A2.2 Network architecture 4 Topics

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A2.2.1 Describe the functions and practical applications of network topologies

A2.2.2 Describe the function of servers (HL only)

A2.2.3 Compare and contrast networking models

A2.2.4 Explain the concepts and applications of network segmentation

A2.3 Data Transmissions 4 Topics

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A2.3.1 Describe different types of IP addressing

A2.3.2 Compare types of media for data transmission

A2.3.3 Explain how packet switching is used to send data across a network

A2.3.4 Explain how static routing and dynamic routing move data across local area networks (HL only)

A2.4 Network security 4 Topics

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A2.4.1 Discuss the effectiveness of firewalls at protecting a network

A2.4.2 Describe common network vulnerabilities (HL only)

A2.4.3 Describe common network countermeasures (HL only)

A2.4.4 Describe the process of encryption and digital certificates

A3. Databases

A3.1 Database fundamentals 1 Topic

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A3.1.1 Explain the features, benefits and limitations of a relational database

A3.2 Database design 7 Topics

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A3.2.1 Describe database schemas

A3.2.2 Construct ERDs

A3.2.3 Outline the different data types used in relational databases

A3.2.4 Construct tables for relational databases

A3.2.5 Explain the difference between normal forms

A3.2.6 Construct a database normalized to 3NF for a range of real-world scenarios

A3.2.7 Evaluate the need for denormalizing databases

A3.3 Database programming 6 Topics

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A3.3.1 Outline the differences between data language types within SQL

A3.3.2 Construct queries between two tables in SQL

A3.3.3 Explain how SQL can be used to update data in a database

A3.3.4 Construct calculations within a database using SQL’s aggregate functions (HL only)

A3.3.5 Describe different database views (HL only)

A3.3.6 Describe how transactions maintain data integrity in a database (HL only)

A3.4 Alternative databases and data warehouses (HL only) 4 Topics

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A3.4.1 Outline the different types of databases as approaches to storing data

A3.4.2 Explain the primary objectives of data warehouses in data management and business intelligence

A3.4.3 Explain the role of online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining for business intelligence

A3.4.4 Describe the features of distributed databases

A4. Machine Learning

A4.1 Machine learning fundamentals 2 Topics

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A4.1.1 Describe the types of machine learning and their applications in the real world

A4.1.2 Describe the hardware requirements for various scenarios where machine learning is deployed

A4.2 Data preprocessing (HL only) 3 Topics

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A4.2.1 Describe the significance of data cleaning

A4.2.2 Describe the role of feature selection

A4.2.3 Describe the importance of dimensionality reduction

A4.3 Machine learning approaches (HL only) 10 Topics

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A4.3.1 Explain how linear regression is used to predict continuous outcomes

A4.3.2 Explain how classifications techniques in supervised learning are used to predict discrete categorical outcomes

A4.3.3 Explain the role of hyperparameter tuning when evaluating supervised learning algorithms

A4.3.4 Describe how clustering techniques in unsupervised learning are used to group data based on similarities in features

A4.3.5 Describe how learning techniques using the association rule are used to uncover relations between different attributes in large data sets

A4.3.6 Describe how an agent learns to make decisions by interacting with its environment in reinforcement learning

A4.3.7 Describe the application of genetic algorithms in various real-world situations

A4.3.8 Outline the structure and function of ANNs and how multi-layer networks are used to model complex patterns in data sets

A4.3.9 Describe how CNNs are designed to adaptively learn spatial hierarchies of features in images

A4.3.10 Explain the importance of model selection and comparison in machine learning

A4.4 Ethical considerations 2 Topics

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A4.4.1 Discuss the ethical implications of machine learning in real-world scenarios

A4.4.2 Discuss ethical aspects of the increasing integration of computer technologies into daily life

B1. Computational thinking

B1.1 Approaches to computational thinking 4 Topics

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B1.1.1 Construct a problem specification

B1.1.2 Describe the fundamental concepts of computational thinking

B1.1.3 Explain how applying computational thinking to fundamental concepts is used to approach and solve problems in computer science

B1.1.4 Trace flowcharts for a range of programming algorithms

B2. Programming

B2.1 Programming fundamentals 4 Topics

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B2.1.1 Construct and trace programs using a range of global and local variables of various data types

B2.1.2 Construct programs that can extract and manipulate substrings

B2.1.3 Describe how programs use common exception handling techniques

B2.1.4 Construct and use common debugging techniques

B2.2 Data structures 4 Topics

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B2.2.1 Compare static and dynamic data structures

B2.2.2 Construct programs that apply arrays and Lists

B2.2.3 Explain the concept of a stack as a “last in, first out” (LIFO) data structure

B2.2.4 Explain the concept of a queue as a “first in, first out” (FIFO) data structure

B2.3 Programming constructs 4 Topics

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B2.3.1 Construct programs that implement the correct sequence of code instructions to meet program objectives

B2.3.2 Construct programs utilizing appropriate selection structures

B2.3.3 Construct programs that utilize looping structures to perform repeated actions

B2.3.4 Construct functions and modularization

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