The case study is released about a year before the examination, allowing students time to develop a thorough understanding of the relevant concepts, challenges, and technologies. This involves carefully reading the case study, highlighting critical details, and identifying the computer science principles and real-world applications to which it relates.

Each case study typically presents four or five key challenges that should form the primary focus of preparation. However, it is essential to explore the additional terminology provided. A solid understanding of these foundational terms is crucial, as it underpins the ability to answer the extended response question in depth. This twelve-mark question requires an evaluative approach, which involves providing a detailed review of the key technologies. Students should focus on explaining how these technologies work, their practical applications, and their relevance to the challenges outlined in the case study.

Developing this depth of understanding will ensure that responses are well-informed, analytical, and directly address the question.

Schools should encourage students to pay close attention to the wording of the questions and, in particular, the command terms, which are clearly defined in the IB syllabus guide. These terms specify the type of response required, such as "describe," "discuss," or "evaluate," and understanding their meaning is essential for crafting accurate and relevant answers. Simply listing everything a student knows is not an effective strategy.

Students who engage with journal articles and video courses on the case study topic develop a broader and more nuanced understanding of the concepts. This additional learning enables students to incorporate references to real-world examples or research into their extended response answers, enhancing the depth and quality of their evaluations. However, caution is necessary, as several unofficial online forums have been found to offer inaccurate or misleading information. Teachers should guide students to research widely, emphasising the importance of verifying sources and cross-checking the information they encounter to ensure reliability.

The quality of students' handwriting in this session showed improvement compared to the previous one, making their responses easier to read and evaluate. To maintain this standard, it is recommended that students practise writing legibly under timed conditions during class.