International Baccalaureate IB Computer Science

- The architecture that allows graphics processing units (GPUs) to handle specific tasks and makes them suitable for complex computations
- Real‑world scenarios may include video games, artificial intelligence (AI), large simulations and other applications that require graphics rendering and machine learning.

Explain the differences between the CPU and the GPU. (HL only)
- Differences in their design philosophies, usage scenarios
- Differences in their core architecture, processing power, memory access, power efficiency
- CPUs and GPUs working together: task division, data sharing, coordinating execution.

Explain the purposes of different types of primary memory.
- Random‑access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), cache (L1, L2, L3), registers
- The interaction of the CPU with different types of memory to optimise performance
- The relevance of the terms “cache miss” and “cache hit”.

Describe the fetch, decode and execute cycle.
- The basic operations a CPU performs to execute a single instruction in machine language
- The interaction between memory and registers via the three buses: address, data, control.

Describe internal and external types of secondary memory storage.
- Internal hard drives: solid state drive (SSD), hard disk drive (HDD), embedded multimedia cards (eMMCs)
- External hard drives: SSD, HDD, optical drives, flash drives, memory cards, network attached storage (NAS)
- The scenarios in which the various types of drive are used.

- The fundamentals of binary encoding and the impact on data storage and retrieval
- The mechanisms by which data such as integers, strings, characters, images, audio and video are stored in binary form.

- The purpose and use of logic gates
- The functions and applications of logic gates in computer systems
- The role of logic gates in binary computing
- Boolean operators: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR, XNOR.

- Truth tables to predict the output of simple logic circuits
- Truth tables to determine outputs from inputs for a problem description
- Truth tables and their relationship to a Boolean expression, with inputs and outputs
- Truth tables derived from logic diagrams to aid the simplification of logical expressions
- Karnaugh maps and algebraic simplification to simplify output expressions.

- Logic diagrams to demonstrate how logic gates are connected and interact in a circuit
- Use of standard gate symbols for AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, XOR and XNOR gates
- Inputs processed diagrammatically to produce outputs
- Combinations of these gates to perform more complex logical operations
- Boolean algebra rules to simplify complex logic diagrams and expressions.

Operating systems abstract hardware complexities to manage system resources.

Describe the functions of an operating system.
- Maintaining system integrity while running operating systems’ background operations
- Memory management, file system, device management, scheduling, security, accounting, graphical user interface (GUI), virtualization, networking.

Evaluate the use of polling and interrupt handling.
- Event frequency, CPU processing overheads, power source (battery or mains), event predictability, controlled latency, security concerns
- Real‑world scenarios may include keyboard and mouse inputs, network communications, disk I/O operations, embedded systems, real‑time systems.

Explain the role of the operating system in managing multitasking and resource allocation. (HL only)
- The challenges of multitasking and resource allocation, including task scheduling, resource contention and deadlock.

Describe the use of the control system components. (HL only)
- The input, process, output, and feedback mechanism (open‑loop, closed‑loop)
- Controller, sensors, actuators, transducers and control algorithm.

Explain the use of control systems in a range of real‑world applications. (HL only)
- Examples may include autonomous vehicles, home thermostats, automatic elevator controllers, automatic washing machines, traffic signal control systems, irrigation control systems, home security systems, automatic doors.