Computer Science K to 12

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Computer Science K to 12 subject area test consists of approximately 80 multiple-choice questions. You will have two and one-half hours to complete the test.

Each question will contain four response options, and you will indicate your answer by selecting A, B, C, or D.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question	Sample Question
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence.	Question 1
Scenario Examine a situation, problem, or case study. Then answer a question, make a diagnosis, or recommend a course of action by selecting the best response option.	Question 2
Command Select the best response option.	Question 4
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 6

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

Question 1

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Using string methods would be an appropriate part of a solution strategy for

Choose an answer

reversing the letters in a word.
creating a multidimensional array.
printing a line of text to the screen.
constructing an instance of a class.

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Question 2

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A programmer would like to determine the most efficient algorithm for ordering a large, finite list of integers from largest to smallest. The programmer has the following information on several sorting algorithms.

Algorithm Average complexity

selection sort n²

merge sort n log n

bogosort n n !

shell sort n (log n)²

Algorithm	Average complexity
selection sort	n²
merge sort	n log n
bogosort	n n !
shell sort	n (log n)²

Which algorithm is likely to be most appropriate for this task?

Choose an answer

selection sort
merge sort
bogosort
shell sort

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 3

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The pseudocode below prompts the user to enter data from the keyboard one number at a time. Given the keyboard inputs 2, 5, 4, 5, and 4 in that order, what is the correct output of the following algorithm?

    sum = 0
    i = 0
    while (i < 5) do {
        print "Input a number, n"
        input n
        if (n mod 2 is equal to 0) then sum = sum + n
        i = i + 1
    } endwhile
    avg_total = sum / i
    output avg_total

Choose an answer

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Question 4

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Given the following program segment, select the minimum set of data required to test all cases.

    print "What was your score on the test?" 
    input score
    if (score ≥ 90)
        then print "Excellent!"
    else if (score ≥ 75)
        then print "Not too bad."
    else
        print "Study harder next time!"

Choose an answer

90, 70, 65
90, 80, 70
95, 70, 60
95, 90, 75

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 5

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which variable in the following pseudocode program segment would be considered global?

    function1(int w) {
        int x = 12
        /* some code */
    }
    int y = 5
    mainProgram( ) {
        int z = 7
        function1(z)
        /* some more code */
    }

Choose an answer

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 6

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A variable of type Boolean would be most appropriate to store the result of which of the following types of tasks?

Choose an answer

object creation
concatenation
arithmetic calculation
comparison

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: D.

Question 7

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following base ten numbers is equal to the hexadecimal number 3A9C?

Choose an answer

3 × 6³ + 10 × 6² + 9 × 6¹ + 12 × 6⁰
12 × 6³ + 9 × 6² + 10 × 6¹ + 3 × 6⁰
3 × 16³ + 10 × 16² + 9 × 16¹ + 12 × 16⁰
12 × 16³ + 9 × 16² + 10 × 16¹ + 3 × 16⁰

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 8

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following data structures would be most appropriate for a computer program to keep track of and choose from a list of applicants for available season football tickets?

Choose an answer

stack
queue
hash table
binary tree

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 9

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the pseudocode below, which line of the code constructs an instance of a class?

    1)      import from library Rectangle;

    2)      class TestRectangle{
    3)              mainProgram() {
    4)              int xcorner, ycorner, width, height
    5)              xcorner = 50
    6)              ycorner = 30
    7)              width = 5
    8)              height = 10

    9)              Rectangle rect = new Rectangle(
                            xcorner, ycorner, width, height)
    10)             print ("The x-coordinate of the rectangle is " 
                            + rect.getX())
    11)             }
    12)     }

Choose an answer

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 10

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the code segment below, which method can only be accessed from within the class Rectangle?

    public class Rectangle {
        private int mywidth
        private int myheight
        private int myarea
        private int myperim

        /* some code */

        private findArea( ) {
            myarea = mywidth* myheight
        }

        public findPerimeter( ) {
            myperim = mywidth + myheight
        }

        public setHeight(int height) {
            myheight = height
        }

        public setWidth(int width) {
            mywidth = width
        }

    }

Choose an answer

```
findArea()
```
```
findPerimeter()
```
```
setHeight()
```
```
setWidth()
```

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Question 11

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The pseudocode below, used to determine if the user input is in the requested range, contains an error.

    print "Type a number from 1 to 100, inclusive"
    input number
    if (number > 1) or (number < 100)
        then print "The number is in the correct range"

Which code segment corrects the error?

Choose an answer

```
if (number ≥ 1) and (number ≤ 100)
```
```
if (number ≥ 1) or (number ≤ 100)
```
```
if (number > 1) and (number < 100)
```
```
if (number < 1) or (number > 100)
```

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Question 12

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following best describes the primary reason for producing internal program documentation?

Choose an answer

increasing program reliability by reporting and storing error codes
reducing execution time by improving memory allocation and usage
providing explanations of code segments for maintenance and updates
tracing the execution by printing output at critical branching points

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 13

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

In an object-oriented programming language, encapsulation is most likely to be implemented through the use of

Choose an answer

private data and methods.
recursion in place of iteration.
subroutines in a modular structure.
functions containing nested loops.

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Question 14

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

When n = 5, which of the following loops will generate the output values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6?

Choose an answer

count = 1
while (count ≤ n) do {
    print count
    count = count + 1
} endwhile

count = 1
while (count < n) do {
    count = count + 1
    print count
} endwhile

count = 0
while (count < n) do {
    print count
    count = count + 1
} endwhile

count = 0
while (count ≤ n) do {
    count = count + 1
    print count
} endwhile

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: D.

Question 15

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A student has a horizontal list of numbered cards and sorts them manually by moving the cards in the sequence below.

Find the smallest card in the list and exchange it with the first card in the list.
Find the next smallest card in the list and exchange it with the second card in the list.
Repeat these instructions until the original list is sorted.

Which of the following algorithms is described above?

Choose an answer

bubble sort
selection sort
insertion sort
merge sort

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 16

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The following pseudocode is used to determine admission prices.

    if ((not age > 55) and (not age < 22) and (haveCoupon = False)) {
        admission = 15.00
    }
    else {
        admission = 10.00
    }

Which of the following segments of pseudocode is equivalent?

Choose an answer

if ((age > 55) or (age < 22) or (haveCoupon = True))
    then admission = 10.00
else admission = 15.00

if ((age > 55) and (age < 22) or (haveCoupon = True))
    then admission = 15.00
else admission = 10.00

if ((age > 55) and (age < 22) and (haveCoupon = True))
    then admission = 10.00
else admission = 15.00

if ((age > 55) or (age < 22) and (haveCoupon = True))
    then admission = 15.00
else admission = 10.00

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Question 17

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A student creating a program using the Scratch™ programming environment from the MIT Media Library would most likely be engaged in which of the following activities?

Choose an answer

writing computer code to move a turtle around the computer screen
snapping program blocks together to manipulate the properties of a sprite
controlling a robot in an environment involving intersecting streets
dragging and dropping graphic tiles to manipulate three-dimensional figures

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 18

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What will be the output when the following section of Java registered trademark symbol code runs?

    int x = 5;
    int y = 10;
    int z;
    z = x;
    x = y;
    y = z;
    System.out.println(x + " " + y);

Choose an answer

5 5
10 10
10 5
5 10

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 19

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A Java registered trademark symbol class is defined as follows.

    public class TestingFunctions
    {
        public void fun1(int a)
        {
                a++;
                System.out.println(a);
        }
        public void fun2(int b)
        {
                b--;
                this.fun1(b);
        }
    }

In addition, the following lines of code are executed from the instance of another class that has access to the TestingFunctions class through an import statement.

    int x = 5;
    TestingFunctions test = new TestingFunctions( );
    test.fun2(x);

What will be the output from these three lines of code?

Choose an answer

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 20

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

According to the following segment of Java registered trademark symbol code, which Java registered trademark symbol string method should be used to print "Extra" to the screen?

    String text = "Extra Special!";
    String part = /* string method */
    System.out.println(part)

Choose an answer

```
text.substring(0, 4)
```
```
text.substring(0, 5)
```
```
text.substring(1, 5)
```
```
text.substring(1, 6)
```

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 21

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Two Java registered trademark symbol classes are defined as follows.

    public class Class1 {
        public void m1( ) {
            System.out.print("one");
        }
        public void m2( ) {
            System.out.print("two");
            this.m1( );
        }
    }
    public class Class2 extends Class1 {
        public void m1( ) {
            System.out.print("three");
            super.m2( );
        }
        public void m2( ) {
            System.out.print("four");
        }
    }

In addition, the following code appears in the instance of another class that has access to these two Java registered trademark symbol classes by import statements.

    Class2 number = new Class2 ( );
    number.m1( );

What will be printed by these two lines of code?

Choose an answer

one two three
one three two
three two one
three two three

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 22

Competency 5—Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and networking

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A teacher has created the spreadsheet below to calculate average quiz grades for several students.

spreadsheet sample

A B C D E F

1 Student Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 Quiz 4 Average

2 this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank.

3 Student 1 64 72 84 90 77.5

4 Student 2 84 87 90 81 85.5

5 Student 3 89 90 94 92 91.25

6 Student 4 90 88 93 88 89.75

7 this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank. this cell intentionally left blank.

8 Average 81.75 84.25 90.25 87.75 86

spreadsheet sample
	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Student	Quiz 1	Quiz 2	Quiz 3	Quiz 4	Average
2	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.
3	Student 1	64	72	84	90	77.5
4	Student 2	84	87	90	81	85.5
5	Student 3	89	90	94	92	91.25
6	Student 4	90	88	93	88	89.75
7	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.	this cell intentionally left blank.
8	Average	81.75	84.25	90.25	87.75	86

Which of the following formulas could be used to calculate the average quiz grade for Student 3?

Choose an answer

equal sign left paren b 5 colon b 8 forward slash 4
equal sign left paren b 3 colon b 6 right paren forward slash 4
equal sign left paren b 5 colon e 5 right paren forward slash
=(B6:E6)/4

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 23

Competency 5—Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and networking

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

At which of the following layers of the Open Systems Interconnection model is wireless network technology implemented?

Choose an answer

application
session
data link
physical

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: D.

Question 24

Competency 5—Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and networking

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following devices would be most appropriate for connecting a local area network using one protocol with a wide area network using a different protocol?

Choose an answer

hub
server
router
switch

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 25

Competency 6—Knowledge of the historical aspects and social issues related to computer technologies

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following best describes the malicious nature of worm software?

Choose an answer

giving a remote hacker unauthorized access to a network computer
sending data from a host computer to another unauthorized entity
self-replicating in order to spread across networks to other computers
deleting or altering essential files stored on an infected computer

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 26

Competency 6—Knowledge of the historical aspects and social issues related to computer technologies

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The most significant drawback associated with software that uses signature-based detection methods for identifying computer malware is that the software will

Choose an answer

delete essential files that are not infected.
fail to identify new or unknown viruses.
block incoming data from the network server.
require frequent scans of all executable files.

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: B.

Question 27

Competency 6—Knowledge of the historical aspects and social issues related to computer technologies

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A plan for ensuring the fault tolerance of a computer network would most likely contain a strategy for

Choose an answer

encrypting the most sensitive data.
installing a proxy server on the host.
maintaining uninterrupted power.
increasing the network bandwidth.

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 28

Competency 7—Knowledge of computer science pedagogy

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A teacher is developing a rubric for assessing students' computer programs. One of the teacher's goals is that students will be able to explain how their programs work. Which of the following rubric components is most closely aligned with this goal?

Choose an answer

The program compiles without any syntax or runtime errors.
The program outputs the correct solution to the problem.
The code variables are declared using the correct data types.
The code contains clear and appropriate internal documentation.

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: D.

Question 29

Competency 7—Knowledge of computer science pedagogy

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following types of computer software would be most effective in helping an English language learner make connections between written and spoken English?

Choose an answer

word prediction
sound recording
speech synthesizer
automated translation

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: C.

Question 30

Competency 7—Knowledge of computer science pedagogy

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An elementary school teacher would like to pursue professional development opportunities for integrating computational thinking and programming concepts into the classroom. Which of the following organizations could provide the teacher with the most relevant resources to achieve this goal?

Choose an answer

Computer Science Teachers Association
Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education
International Society for Technology in Education
Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education

Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded: Correct Response: A.

Sections

Computer Science K– to 12

Test Format and Sample Questions

Table of Question Formats

Sample Questions

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

Competency 1—Knowledge of computational thinking and problem solving

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

Competency 2—Knowledge of data types and structures

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

Competency 3—Knowledge of programming logic

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

Competency 4—Knowledge of programming languages

Competency 5—Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and networking

Competency 5—Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and networking

Competency 5—Knowledge of computer hardware, software, and networking

Competency 6—Knowledge of the historical aspects and social issues related to computer technologies

Competency 6—Knowledge of the historical aspects and social issues related to computer technologies

Competency 6—Knowledge of the historical aspects and social issues related to computer technologies

Competency 7—Knowledge of computer science pedagogy

Competency 7—Knowledge of computer science pedagogy

Competency 7—Knowledge of computer science pedagogy

Computer Science K to 12