WAEC Computer Studies 2019 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 23 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2019 WAEC Computer Studies paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 44 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Computer Studies 2019 questions and answers

1. 1.Which of the options labeled I to IV give two stages involved in booting? I. Power On self test II. Loading of Operating System IIl. Loading ofemail IV. Power On Safe Mode
   1. A
      I and II
      Correct
   2. B
      III and IV
   3. C
      I and IV
   4. D
      II and III
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   Answer: A

   Power On Self Test (POST) and Loading of the Operating System are the genuine stages of the booting process. When a computer is switched on, the BIOS/firmware first runs the POST to check that the keyboard, memory, disk drives and other hardware are working, and once that check passes, the operating system is loaded from the storage device into main memory so the computer becomes usable.

   So the two items that truly belong among the booting stages are the Power On Self Test and the Loading of the Operating System.

2. 2.The scanner and the floppy disk are?
   1. A
      Both output devices
   2. B
      Input and output devices respectively
   3. C
      Both input devices
   4. D
      Input and storage devices respectively
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   A scanner is an input device — it reads a printed document or image and converts it into digital data that the computer can process.

   A floppy disk, on the other hand, is a storage device — it is used to hold data permanently (until overwritten) so it can be retrieved later, not to feed data into the computer for the first time.

3. 3.To hold row and column titles in places so that they do not scroll when the user scrolls a worksheet, click the?
   1. A
      Page Layout command
   2. B
      Freeze Panes command
      Correct
   3. C
      Split command
   4. D
      Page Break Preview command
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   Answer: B

   Freeze Panes (found under the View tab in spreadsheet packages like Microsoft Excel) is used to lock chosen rows and/or columns, usually the ones holding titles or headings, so that they remain visible on the screen while the rest of the worksheet scrolls up/down or left/right.

4. 4.The Windows PC and the Apple Macintosh are examples of two different?
   1. A
      Operating systems
   2. B
      Generations of computers
   3. C
      Microprocessor types
   4. D
      Platforms
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   A platform is the whole computing environment a program runs on: the hardware design together with its operating system. The Windows PC (IBM-compatible hardware running Microsoft Windows) and the Apple Macintosh (Apple-designed hardware running macOS) are built differently and run different, largely incompatible software, so they are described as two different platforms.

5. 5.A computer program that gathers information about a person or organization without their knowledge or consent is known as?
   1. A
      Worm
   2. B
      Adware
   3. C
      Spyware
      Correct
   4. D
      Computer virus
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   Answer: C

   Spyware is the correct answer. Spyware is a type of program that installs itself on a computer or device and secretly gathers information about a person or organization, such as browsing habits, passwords or personal data, and sends it to a third party without the owner's knowledge or consent.

   The other options are different kinds of malicious or unwanted software but are not defined by secret information gathering:

   Computer virus is a program that attaches itself to files and replicates to damage or corrupt data and programs; its purpose is destruction or disruption, not covert spying.

6. 6.Three major types of language translators are?
   1. A
      Compiler, Interpreter and Linker
   2. B
      Assembler, Compiler and Interpreter
      Correct
   3. C
      Compiler, Interpreter and Debugger
   4. D
      Assembler, Interpreter and Translator
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   A language translator is a program that converts source code written in one programming language into machine code (or another form) the computer can execute. There are three major types taught in the WAEC Computer Studies syllabus:

   Assembler — translates assembly language (which uses mnemonics) into machine code.
   Compiler — translates the whole source program written in a high-level language into machine code at once, producing an object/executable file before execution.
   Interpreter — translates and executes a high-level language program line by line, without producing a separate object file.

7. 7.The Slide Rule is accurate to?
   1. A
      5 decimal places
   2. B
      3 to 4 decimal places
      Correct
   3. C
      6 decimal places
   4. D
      1 to 2 decimal places
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   Answer: B

   The Slide Rule is a mechanical calculating device that uses logarithmic scales to multiply, divide and find roots and powers quickly, without electricity.

8. 8.The hexadecimal number 13, expressed as a binary here is?
   1. A
      10010
   2. B
      11001
   3. C
      1101
   4. D
      10011
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   Step 1: Convert the hexadecimal number 13 to decimal.
   13₁₆ = (1 × 16) + (3 × 1) = 16 + 3 = 19₁₀

   Step 2: Convert 19 (decimal) to binary.
   19 = 16 + 2 + 1 = 2⁴ + 2¹ + 2⁰
   So 19₁₀ = 10011 in binary.

9. 9.The disk operating system will label three hard drives as?
   1. A
      C, D, E
      Correct
   2. B
      B, C, D
   3. C
      A, B, C
   4. D
      D, E, F
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   Answer: A

   In a disk operating system (DOS/Windows drive-lettering convention used in Nigerian computer studies textbooks), drive letters A and B are reserved for floppy disk drives, even on modern systems that no longer have floppy drives fitted. Because of this reservation, the first hard disk drive is always labelled starting from C.

10. 10.Which of the following is true when data maintained in MS Excel workbook is linked to a word document? The word document
    1. A
       Its file size increases greatly because the full worksheet is copied into it
    2. B
       It stores a permanent copy of the Excel data even if the workbook is later deleted
    3. C
       It updates automatically to show changes made in the source Excel workbook
       Correct
    4. D
       Its data can be edited directly without affecting the original workbook
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: C

    This question is about linking an Excel workbook to a Word document (one of the two ways to bring spreadsheet data into Word — the other being embedding).

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

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