WAEC Computer Science 2023
Questions & Answers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) primarily aims to mimic human cognitive functions such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving to enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, facilitating automated decision-making in various applications.

Smart sensors and devices are essential in the IoT ecosystem as they collect real-time data from the environment, enabling connectivity and interaction among physical objects over the internet for automation and monitoring.

Blockchain serves as a distributed ledger technology that ensures secure, transparent, and tamper-resistant data storage across a network of computers, eliminating the need for a central authority.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) organizes code around objects that encapsulate data and behavior, promoting reusability and modularity through concepts like inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation.

A VPN creates a secure, encrypted tunnel for internet traffic, protecting user data from interception and ensuring privacy on public networks by masking the IP address.

Quantum computing uses qubits that can exist in superposition, allowing multiple states to be processed simultaneously for exponential parallelism in solving complex problems.

Edge computing processes data closer to the source (e.g., devices), minimizing transmission delays and reducing latency compared to sending data to distant cloud servers.

Python is a high-level scripting language used for automation, data analysis, and rapid prototyping due to its simplicity and extensive libraries, unlike compiled languages like C++ or Java.

A digital signature uses cryptographic techniques to confirm the sender's identity and ensure the integrity of the message, preventing tampering in electronic transactions.

The Presentation layer (Layer 6) handles data translation, encryption, and compression to ensure compatibility and security between different systems.

Neural networks are computational models inspired by the human brain, consisting of interconnected nodes (neurons) that learn patterns from data for tasks like classification and prediction.

SSDs use flash memory for non-volatile storage, providing faster read/write speeds, lower latency, and greater durability than traditional HDDs with magnetic platters.

A hash function transforms variable-length input into a fixed-size output (hash value) for quick data verification, used in passwords, digital signatures, and integrity checks.

AR overlays digital information on the real world, creating immersive, interactive simulations that enhance engagement and understanding in educational settings.

A proxy server forwards requests from clients to the internet, providing anonymity, caching for speed, and content filtering for security.

Ransomware encrypts files or locks systems, demanding payment (ransom) for decryption keys, disrupting access to critical data.

A debugger allows developers to step through code, inspect variables, and set breakpoints to detect and correct bugs systematically.

Distributed databases store data across multiple sites or nodes, improving scalability, availability, and fault tolerance through replication and partitioning.

Biometrics uses unique physiological (e.g., fingerprints) or behavioral (e.g., voice) traits for secure, convenient identity verification without passwords.

MongoDB is a document-oriented NoSQL database that stores data in flexible, JSON-like documents, ideal for unstructured or semi-structured data.

A load balancer evenly distributes incoming traffic among multiple servers to optimize resource use, ensure availability, and prevent overload.

RESTful APIs use stateless HTTP methods (GET, POST, etc.), where each request contains all necessary information, simplifying scalability and caching.

Firmware updates patch security vulnerabilities, add features, and correct operational bugs in device hardware-software interfaces.

Version control (e.g., Git) records code changes, enabling collaboration, rollback, and history tracking in software projects.

A checksum calculates a value from data to detect errors or corruption during transmission or storage.

Hybrid cloud integrates on-premises (private) infrastructure with public cloud services for flexibility, cost-efficiency, and data control.

Threads are lightweight processes sharing resources, allowing concurrent execution within a program for efficient multitasking.

SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) uses mathematical paths for resolution-independent, scalable images, unlike raster formats like JPEG or PNG.

A sandbox isolates untrusted code or applications, preventing potential harm to the host system during testing or execution.

P2P allows direct device-to-device file transfer without intermediaries, decentralizing distribution and reducing server load.

Cache coherence protocols (e.g., MESI) maintain consistent data views across multiple caches in multi-core systems, preventing stale data issues.

DevOps integrates development and operations for continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD), accelerating releases and improving collaboration.

Tokens (e.g., JWT) serve as secure, temporary credentials for user authentication and authorization in networks and APIs.

Thin clients are lightweight devices that depend on central servers for processing and storage, reducing local hardware demands.

Middleware acts as a bridge, enabling seamless integration and data exchange between disparate applications and systems.

VxWorks is an RTOS designed for embedded systems requiring deterministic response times, used in aerospace and medical devices.

A data warehouse centralizes structured data from multiple sources for querying, reporting, and OLAP analysis to support business intelligence.

A VM uses hypervisor software to emulate hardware, running multiple isolated OS instances on a single physical machine.

The bus arbiter resolves conflicts for shared bus access among components like CPU and peripherals, ensuring orderly data transfer.

5G offers up to 10 Gbps speeds, ultra-low latency (<1 ms), and massive device connectivity, revolutionizing mobile broadband and IoT applications.