IB Computer Science past papers: which ones still count for 2027?
Old IB Computer Science past papers are still useful for programming, algorithms, networks and parts of databases, but they were written for a different course. They have no machine learning, the old options and Paper 3 are gone, and the case study now sits in Paper 1. Use old papers for the topics that carried over, and new-syllabus practice for the rest.
Topic by topic
| Topic in the 2027 course | Do old papers help? |
|---|---|
| A1 Computer fundamentals | Mostly yes |
| A2 Networks | Mostly yes |
| A3 Databases | Partly: it was an option, now it is core |
| A4 Machine learning | No: new topic |
| B1 and B2 Thinking and programming | Yes for the logic, but old papers used IB pseudocode, not Java or Python |
| B3 Object-oriented programming | Partly: it was an option, now it is core |
| B4 Abstract data types (HL) | Partly |
| Case study (Paper 1 Section B) | No: new format and a new study |
Where to get papers legally
Official past papers and the specimen papers for the new course are sold by the IB and given to schools. Ask your teacher first: most schools have them. Free sites that host IB papers usually do it without permission, and some of the copies are wrong or incomplete.
Practice for the new course
Everything here is written for the 2027 syllabus, and none of it copies IB papers. Python coding questions run your code against tests.
- Free 2027 practice papers
Timed Paper 1 and Paper 2 sets at SL and HL, with mark schemes.
- IB CS 2027 questionbank
- 2027 case study practice questions
- The full 2027 syllabus
Questions students ask
- Are there past papers for the new IB Computer Science syllabus?
- Not yet. The first exams on the new course are in May 2027. Until then there are only the IB's specimen papers, which your school can get, and practice written by teachers and revision sites.
- Should I still do old IB Computer Science past papers?
- Yes, for the topics that carried over: programming logic, algorithms, networks and computer fundamentals. Skip the old options and Paper 3, and use new-syllabus practice for machine learning and the case study.