WAEC Computer Studies Practical 2018 | Questions and Answers
Below are WAEC Practical Questions and Answers For Computer Studies
Question 1
Table 1
ICT Type Communication Sector
Satellite communication Radio
Broadcasting Internet
Data network GSM
Telecommunication Video conferencing
(b) List three computing devices that belong to each of:
(i) 19th;
(ii) 20th century periods.
The expected answers were:
1. (a) Table 1
ICT type Communication Sector
Satellite communication Video conferencing
Broadcasting Radio
Data network Internet
Telecommunication GSM [ 4 marks ]
(b)(i) Any three computing devices for the 19th century
Abacus; Slide Rule;
Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine; Napier’s bone;
Hollenrith Census Machine; Pascal’s calculator;
Leibnitz multiplier; Burrough’s Machine
Jacquad loom; Stones;
Sticks; Pebbles;
Fingers.
(ii) Any three computing devices for the 20th century
- ENIAC;
- EDVAC;
- UNIVAC 1;
- Calculator;
- Desktop personal computers;
- Laptop and notebook computers;
- Palmtop/Tablet PC.
The question was on Computer Devices I and II. Many of the candidates that attempted this question got part (a) well but failed in their responses to part (b). The candidates’ performance was reported good.
Question 2
(a) List: (i) Three application areas of a word processing program;
(ii) Three types of data item.
(b) Identify the four data types available in Table 2.
Table 2
Student I.D. Name Date of Birth Score in Computer studies Gender
A 00022 Odi, G.A. 13/10/97 38 M
C 00021 Zakari, M. 15/05/98 71 M
B 00023 Ngozi Tella 16/09/96 62 F
The expected answers were:
2. (a)(i) Any three application areas of a word processing program
Office; Publishing;
Journalism; Education;
Homes; Health Institution;
Financial Institution; Agricultural Institution;
Business Centres; Oil Sector;
Aviation; Judiciary;
Hotel/Tourism; Manufacturing Industries;
Laboratory Research Centre.
(ii) Numeric
Alphanumeric
Alphabetic
(b) Alphanumeric
Alphabetic/Text
Date
Numeric
The question was on Fundamental of Computing and Computer Software. The question was popular with the candidates. Many candidates could correctly state types of data item and identify data types except for some few that could not. The candidates’ performance was encouraging.
Question 3
(a) (i) Define Information and Communication Technology
(ii) State three uses of Information and Communication Technology in the banking sector.
(b) State the full meaning of the following:
(i) LAN;
(ii) GPS;
(iii) IP.
The expected answers were:
3.(a)(i) Information and Communication Technology is the convergence and use of digital and communication technologies for the purpose of manipulating, transmitting, storing, accessing and retrieving information.
(ii) Three uses of ICT in the banking sector
Online banking E-receipt
E-payment E-statement
ATM card Communication
Mobile banking Monitoring of daily activities
Data storage and retrieval Fund transfer
E-transact Sharing of resources
(b) LAN - Local Area Network
GPS - Global Positioning System
IP - Internet Protocol
The question was on Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It was popular with the candidates but greeted with some inability to define ICT and stating correctly the acronyms . The candidates’ performance was reported to be average.
Question 4
(a) List three criteria that are used in classifying file.
(b) State: (i) Two advantages and two disadvantages of computer files;
(ii) Three methods of file security.
The expected answers were:
4.(a) Three criteria used in file classification
Nature of file content;
Organizational method;
Storage devices/media;
(b)(i)
Advantage ( Any two) Disadvantage (Any two)
Faster and efficient in processing of information Expensive to set up
More secure Requires power supply
Fast to access Data are often duplicated
Uses lesser space Vulnerable to virus attacks
More accurate Can be corrupted
Can be updated Requires formal training to handle
Permits long time storage and retrieval (ii) Any three methods of file security
- Use of backup
- Use of antivirus/Use of firewalls
- Use of password
- Proper labeling of storage devices
- Restriction of access to computer installation/room
- File encryption
The question was on Managing Computer Files. It was unpopular with the candidates. It showed that many candidates that attempted it had little depth of knowledge of it. The performance of candidates was reported to be average.
Question 5
(a) Define programming language.
(b) Write the following mathematical expressions in BASIC notations:
(i) x(w + y)2;
(ii) 
;
;
(iii) p = 2 (l + b).
(c) Write a simple BASIC program to calculate the area (A) of a rectangle with length (l) and breadth (b).
(d) List two levels of programming language.
The expected answers were:
5.(a) Programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly the computer.
(b)(i) x * (w+y)^2 or x*(w+y)**2
(ii)
(iii) p = 2 *(l+b)
(c) BASIC PROGRAM TO CALCULATE AREA OF A RECTANGLE
10 REM “PROGRAM TO CALCULATE THE AREA OF A RECTANGLE”
20 INPUT “LENGTH” ; L
30 INPUT “BREADTH” ; B
40 LET A = L*B
50 PRINT “AREA =’’ ; A
60 END
OR
10 REM “PROGRAM TO CALCULATE THE AREA OF A RECTANGLE”
20 INPUT L
30 INPUT B
40 LET A = L*B
50 PRINT A
60 END
(9) Any two programming languages
Machine language;
Low-level language/ Assembly language;
High-level language.
The question was on Developing Problem-Solving Skills. The question was unpopular with the candidates. As reported, most candidates could not correctly answer this problem-solving skills question. It was majorly attributed to inadequate tutorship.
The performance was reported poor of it. The performance of candidates was reported to be average.