WAEC Data Processing 2020 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 15 October 2026

Ten questions from the 2020 WAEC Data Processing paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 38 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Data Processing 2020 questions and answers

1.In order to protect a computer on the World Wide Web from threats, the user should
1. A
  Install and regularly update antivirus software
  Correct
2. B
  Share passwords with other users
3. C
  Disable the computer's power supply unit
4. D
  Delete the operating system files
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Answer: A
Installing antivirus software and keeping it updated helps detect and block malware and other threats encountered while browsing the web, unlike the other options which damage the system or create security risks.
2.One responsible way of using the computer is
1. A
  Sharing personal passwords with strangers
2. B
  Eating and drinking directly over the keyboard
3. C
  Using unlicensed pirated software
4. D
  Adopting correct sitting posture and taking regular breaks
  Correct
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Answer: D
Maintaining correct posture and taking breaks protects both the user's health and the equipment, while the other listed options are unsafe or unethical computing practices.
3.A company has four computer systems, one printer and one scanner for its daily operations. One factor that can motivate the company to connect all the devices in a network is the need to
1. A
  Reduce the storage capacity of each computer
2. B
  Prevent any communication between the computers
3. C
  Increase the number of separate devices needed
4. D
  Share hardware resources such as the printer and scanner among the computers
  Correct
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Answer: D
Networking the computers lets all four systems share the single printer and scanner as common resources, instead of requiring a dedicated printer and scanner for every computer.
4.Pressing the key combination Ctrl + J on a selected text in a Microsoft Word document would
1. A
  Underline the selected text
2. B
  Justify the selected text
  Correct
3. C
  Center the selected text
4. D
  Italicize the selected text
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Answer: B
In Microsoft Word, the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+J applies justified alignment, spreading the text evenly so it lines up along both the left and right margins.
5.One similarity between the internet and intranet is that they both
1. A
  Both use the TCP/IP protocol for communicating between computers
  Correct
2. B
  Both are accessible to the entire public without restriction
3. C
  Neither can be used to share files
4. D
  Both can operate without any computer network
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Answer: A
Although an intranet is restricted to an organization while the internet is global and public, both networks are built on and communicate using the same TCP/IP protocols.
6.Any activity carried out to protect the user from hazards while using the computer is called
1. A
  Computer safety practice
  Correct
2. B
  Software installation
3. C
  File compression
4. D
  Data encryption
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Answer: A
Computer safety practice covers precautions such as correct posture, proper lighting and cable management, taken specifically to protect the user's wellbeing while operating a computer.
7.Responsibilities of a database administrator includes the following except performing
1. A
  Database security management
2. B
  Daily data entry of records
  Correct
3. C
  Database performance tuning
4. D
  Database backup and recovery
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Answer: B
Routine data entry is an end-user or operator task, whereas backup and recovery, security management and performance tuning are core technical duties of a database administrator.
8.One advantage of the first generation computers is
1. A
  They consumed very little electrical power
2. B
  They performed calculations much faster than manual methods
  Correct
3. C
  They were very small in physical size
4. D
  They generated little or no heat
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Answer: B
Despite being bulky and power-hungry, first generation computers using vacuum tubes could perform calculations far faster than manual human computation, which was their major advantage at the time.
9.The merge button in spreadsheet application is used to
1. A
  Split one cell into multiple cells
2. B
  Combine two or more selected cells into a single cell
  Correct
3. C
  Delete the content of a cell
4. D
  Sort data in ascending order
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Answer: B
The merge function joins two or more adjacent selected cells into one larger cell, which is often used to create a heading that spans several columns or rows.
10.The DBMS statement SELECT * FROM Marksheet in table Marksheet will display all records in the fields; ID NAME SCORE GRADE. Table rows: 001 Abdul 55 C; 002 Emeka 52 C; 003 Kola 49 P
1. A
  Only the records with grade C
2. B
  Only the ID and NAME fields
3. C
  All the records in the Marksheet table
  Correct
4. D
  Only the structure of the Marksheet table
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Answer: C
The asterisk in a SELECT * FROM command requests every field for every row of the named table, so the statement returns the complete Marksheet table exactly as stored, including all ID, NAME, SCORE and GRADE values.

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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WAEC Data Processing 2020 past questions

WAEC Data Processing 2020 questions and answers

Practise all 38 questions we hold from the 2020 paper, on a timed CBT screen

More Data Processing past questions

Other Data Processing years

Other 2020 WAEC papers