Here is our complete set of 110 IB Computer Science Extended Essay research questions, made by IB CS EE writing pros, structured according to IB EE criteria — each question is focused, researchable, analytical, and encourages the development or evaluation of computational solutions, algorithms, ethics, or theory.

These are organized into:

• ✅ 25 Simple but Interesting
• ✅ 25 Unique and Not Overused
• ✅ 25 Complex and Challenging
• ✅ 25 Current and Up-to-Date
• ✅ 10 Fun and Unusual

Each question may include programming, algorithm design, data analysis, simulation, or ethical inquiry, depending on the direction chosen by the student.

🟩 25 Simple but Interesting Computer Science Extended Essay Topics

(accessible, measurable, suitable for school-level investigation or software builds)

1. To what extent does sorting algorithm choice affect runtime efficiency on large datasets?
2. How does the performance of linear vs. binary search vary with dataset size?
3. To what extent does using recursion affect memory usage in simple algorithms?
4. How do different data structures impact the efficiency of a basic queueing system?
5. To what extent does image compression (JPEG vs. PNG) affect load time in web applications?
6. How does the choice of encryption algorithm (Caesar vs. AES) affect security and processing time?
7. How does using modular programming improve readability and maintainability in Python code?
8. To what extent does software caching reduce runtime in repeated computational tasks?
9. How do different sorting algorithms perform on nearly sorted vs. randomly ordered data?
10. How does the accuracy of a basic spell checker change with dictionary size?
11. To what extent does algorithmic complexity influence execution time in pathfinding algorithms (BFS vs. DFS)?
12. How does a basic game simulation (e.g., tic-tac-toe) demonstrate the concept of finite-state machines?
13. How does the choice of database indexing affect query performance in small-scale applications?
14. How does the use of pseudocode help non-programmers understand algorithm logic?
15. To what extent does multithreading improve file processing time in Java?
16. How do hash collisions affect performance in hash table lookups?
17. How does using functions vs. classes affect code reuse in beginner Python projects?
18. How does the response time of a web server change under simulated traffic using different backend architectures?
19. To what extent does code refactoring reduce bugs in student-developed applications?
20. How does the use of a compiler vs. an interpreter affect execution speed in beginner programming environments?
21. How does the efficiency of matrix multiplication vary between iterative and recursive approaches?
22. To what extent does using machine-level optimization improve program runtime?
23. How does text-to-speech accuracy vary across different open-source engines?
24. How does screen resolution affect the performance of a basic game developed in Unity?
25. How do coding standards impact team collaboration in student coding projects?

🟦 25 Unique and Not Overused Computer Science EE Questions

(fresh perspectives, uncommon applications, less explored in school contexts)

26. How does syntax highlighting impact code comprehension speed in novice programmers?
27. To what extent can blockchain technology be used to secure student academic records?
28. How does the use of AI-based autocompletion affect developer productivity in VS Code?
29. How do different password hashing algorithms (MD5, bcrypt, SHA-256) compare in terms of vulnerability to brute-force attacks?
30. How does using Pygame vs. Unity affect the development time of a simple platformer?
31. To what extent does algorithmic music generation using Markov chains mimic human-composed music?
32. How does the structure of a social network graph affect the spread of misinformation simulations?
33. To what extent can neural networks be used to recognize handwritten digits compared to traditional OCR?
34. How does the implementation of a chatbot using NLP affect user satisfaction in student services?
35. How do machine learning models compare in spam email detection accuracy?
36. To what extent does the efficiency of an elevator algorithm vary with passenger distribution?
37. How do different pathfinding algorithms handle real-time route changes in a simulated environment?
38. How does compression using Huffman encoding compare to Run-Length Encoding in text files?
39. How does screen reader software handle accessibility across various web development frameworks?
40. How does a grammar-checking algorithm compare to a basic spell-checker in processing natural language?
41. To what extent does device resource usage differ between native apps and progressive web apps?
42. How do machine learning algorithms perform in classifying sentiment in product reviews?
43. How do error-checking algorithms like CRC and checksums compare in transmission accuracy?
44. To what extent does gamification improve engagement in student learning apps?
45. How does simulating cellular automata (e.g., Conway’s Game of Life) reflect computational complexity?
46. To what extent can emotion recognition software reliably detect mood from webcam input?
47. How does the use of dynamic programming improve efficiency in solving optimization problems?
48. How does memory allocation vary in different sorting algorithm implementations in C++?
49. To what extent can AI-generated art be distinguished from human-created visuals using computer vision?
50. How does mobile app performance vary across Android versions using the same codebase?

🟥 25 Complex and Challenging Questions for IB CS EE

(theory-heavy, performance-based, advanced models or multi-layer investigations)

51. How do neural network architectures influence accuracy in image classification tasks?
52. To what extent does quantum computing challenge classical notions of algorithm complexity?
53. How do different concurrency control methods affect transaction consistency in distributed databases?
54. How does adversarial training improve robustness in image classification models?
55. How do compiler optimization levels affect execution time and binary size in C++?
56. How can evolutionary algorithms be applied to optimize traffic light coordination in simulated cities?
57. How does the use of reinforcement learning improve decision-making in autonomous agents?
58. To what extent does graph theory help in detecting community clusters in social networks?
59. How do memory hierarchies affect cache hit/miss rates in matrix-intensive algorithms?
60. To what extent does garbage collection algorithm choice affect performance in Java virtual machines?
61. How do recursive-descent parsers compare with LL and LR parsers in compiler construction?
62. To what extent can simulated annealing be used to solve the traveling salesman problem effectively?
63. How do different hyperparameter tuning strategies affect machine learning model accuracy?
64. How does edge computing performance compare to cloud computing in IoT scenarios?
65. How does data normalization affect the performance of different machine learning models?
66. To what extent does the selection of distance metric affect the performance of k-NN classification?
67. How do different hashing methods impact load factor and collision handling in hash maps?
68. To what extent do decision trees overfit noisy data compared to support vector machines?
69. How does symbolic AI compare to deep learning in solving logical deduction problems?
70. How do advanced image segmentation algorithms compare in biomedical image analysis?
71. How does model explainability impact trust in AI-driven decisions in health applications?
72. How do GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks) generate realistic synthetic images?
73. How do parallel programming strategies affect performance in GPU vs. CPU implementations of the same algorithm?
74. To what extent does blockchain scalability depend on consensus protocol choice?
75. How do different operating systems manage thread scheduling in high-concurrency environments?

🟨 25 IB CS EE Current and Up-to-Date Questions

(focused on AI, ethics, data privacy, cybersecurity, tech trends)

76. To what extent can ChatGPT be used to automate customer service without reducing user satisfaction?
77. How does facial recognition accuracy vary across different demographic groups using AI models?
78. To what extent is TikTok’s recommendation algorithm based on user profiling and behavioral analysis?
79. How does AI bias arise in resume screening algorithms and what solutions can mitigate it?
80. How effective are smartphone apps in monitoring and promoting mental health through AI analytics?
81. To what extent does federated learning improve data privacy in health applications?
82. How does two-factor authentication compare to biometric authentication in preventing account breaches?
83. How does the use of synthetic media (deepfakes) threaten digital information credibility?
84. To what extent is AI-generated code using tools like GitHub Copilot comparable to human-written code?
85. How do different AI chatbots handle ethical dilemma scenarios?
86. How has the rise of blockchain affected digital identity verification in decentralized apps?
87. To what extent does Apple’s privacy policy limit third-party tracking in iOS apps?
88. How does algorithmic trading influence market volatility in modern financial systems?
89. How accurate are large language models at identifying fake news compared to human fact-checkers?
90. How does CAPTCHA performance vary across generations of machine learning models?
91. To what extent can AI models replicate human creative writing styles?
92. How does YouTube’s content moderation algorithm influence creator visibility?
93. To what extent are autonomous vehicles safe in detecting pedestrians in low-light conditions?
94. How do smart contracts reduce fraud risk in digital transactions?
95. To what extent does data anonymization protect user identity in public health datasets?
96. How do automated hiring platforms manage fairness across candidates of different socioeconomic backgrounds?
97. To what extent are AI voice assistants (like Siri or Alexa) vulnerable to adversarial voice attacks?
98. How does cryptocurrency mining impact energy consumption across global regions?
99. How does machine learning support personalized learning in educational platforms?
100. To what extent do algorithm-driven dating apps influence user matching outcomes?

🟪 10 Fun and Unusual Questions for Your Computer Science Extended Essay

(playful, quirky, but still academically sound)

101. Can AI reliably generate Shakespearean sonnets indistinguishable from human-authored ones?
102. How do robots programmed with humor algorithms affect social interactions?
103. How do AI Dungeon games reflect emergent narrative structures through GPT-style models?
104. To what extent can a computer simulate human handwriting realistically in real time?
105. Can a machine learning model write an original meme that people find funny?
106. How does AI-generated music compare in rhythm complexity and harmony to human compositions?
107. How do emoji prediction algorithms handle cultural context across languages?
108. Can a chatbot convincingly impersonate a historical figure in real-time debate simulations?
109. How accurately can a smartphone sensor-based app detect when someone is dancing?
110. How does a custom-built “lie detector” using voice tone analysis perform in detecting falsehoods?