WAEC Computer Science Past Questions And Answers (Objective and Theory)
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions
What is the purpose of an operating system?
A) Manage hardware resources
B) Create documents
C) Play games
D) Design graphics
Answer: A
Which data structure uses Last In, First Out (LIFO) order?
A) Queue
B) Stack
C) Linked list
D) Tree
Answer: B
What is the time complexity of binary search in a sorted array of size n?
A) O(log n)
B) O(n)
C) O(n log n)
D) O(1)
Answer: A
Which programming paradigm focuses on the “what to solve” rather than “how to solve” a problem?
A) Imperative
B) Object-Oriented
C) Declarative
D) Procedural
Answer: C
What does SQL stand for?
A) Simple Query Language
B) Structured Query Language
C) Scripted Query Language
D) Sequential Query Language
Answer: B
In networking, what does TCP stand for?
A) Transmission Control Protocol
B) Technical Control Process
C) Transfer Control Protocol
D) Text Control Process
Answer: A
What is the purpose of a constructor in object-oriented programming?
A) Create instances of a class
B) Manage memory allocation
C) Perform mathematical operations
D) Handle exceptions
Answer: A
Which sorting algorithm has the best average-case time complexity?
A) QuickSort
B) BubbleSort
C) InsertionSort
D) SelectionSort
Answer: A
What is the main advantage of using version control systems like Git?
A) Code obfuscation
B) Code documentation
C) Collaboration and version tracking
D) Code optimization
Answer: C
Which encryption algorithm is commonly used for securing internet communication (HTTPS)?
A) DES
B) AES
C) RSA
D) SHA
Answer: B
Section B: Theory Questions
Explain the concept of time complexity in algorithm analysis.
Answer: Time complexity measures the efficiency of an algorithm by analyzing the amount of time it takes to run in relation to the size of the input.
Define polymorphism in the context of object-oriented programming.
Answer: Polymorphism allows objects of different types to be treated as objects of a common base type, enabling code to work with objects in a generic way.
What is the purpose of normalization in database design?
Answer: Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity by eliminating data anomalies.
Explain the role of a compiler in the software development process.
Answer: A compiler translates high-level programming code into machine code, facilitating the execution of a program by the computer’s hardware.
What is the significance of the OSI model in computer networking?
Answer: The OSI model provides a conceptual framework to understand and standardize network communication, dividing it into seven layers to facilitate interoperability and communication between different systems.