WAEC Data Processing 2021 past questions

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

Ten questions from the 2021 WAEC Data Processing paper, with answers and explanations. We hold 36 questions from this paper, and the Skolra app has all of them.

WAEC Data Processing 2021 questions and answers

1. 1.When information is conveyed from one space to another, it is referred to as information
   1. A
      storage
   2. B
      processing
   3. C
      retrieval
   4. D
      transmission
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   Moving information from one location (space) to another is called information transmission.
2. 2.A system analyst is a person who
   1. A
      repairs faulty computer equipment
   2. B
      writes the final program code for a system
   3. C
      operates computer hardware on a daily basis
   4. D
      studies an existing system and designs a new or improved one
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   A systems analyst investigates existing systems, identifies problems and designs new or improved systems to meet user requirements, while programmers write the code.
3. 3.The malware which is programmed to initiate at a specific date or when a specific event occurs is called
   1. A
      Logic bomb
      Correct
   2. B
      Spyware
   3. C
      Worm
   4. D
      Trojan horse
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   Answer: A

   A logic bomb is malicious code set to trigger when a specific date, time or event occurs, unlike worms (self-replicating), Trojan horses (disguised programs) or spyware (covert monitoring).
4. 4.A worksheet contains a table of staff sales data. Headers: S/N | A (STAFF) | B (DAYS) | C-H (ITEMS SALES in Naira). Row 2: JOY | MON | C=208 | D=300 | E=500 | F=400 | G=300 | H=158. Row 3: AKIN | TUE | C=300 | D=200 | E=500 | F=400 | G=200 | H=200. Row 4: KEN | WED | C=400 | D=300 | E=400 | F=500 | G=100 | H=300. (Row 1 is the header row.) The highest sale by Joy is recorded in cell
   1. A
      E2
      Correct
   2. B
      G2
   3. C
      D2
   4. D
      F2
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   Answer: A

   Joy's row (row 2) has sales of 208, 300, 500, 400, 300 and 158 in columns C to H; the highest value, 500, is in column E, so the highest sale is in cell E2.
5. 5.Mr Francis has an office complex with 20 rooms. What type of network is suitable for connecting all the computers in their various rooms into a single network?
   1. A
      Local Area Network (LAN)
      Correct
   2. B
      Personal Area Network (PAN)
   3. C
      Wide Area Network (WAN)
   4. D
      Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
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   Answer: A

   Connecting computers within a single office complex covers a small geographic area, which is exactly what a Local Area Network (LAN) is designed for.
6. 6.Web design packages includes the following except
   1. A
      Microsoft FrontPage
   2. B
      Adobe Flash
   3. C
      Macromedia Dreamweaver
   4. D
      Microsoft Excel
      Correct
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   Answer: D

   Dreamweaver, FrontPage and Flash are tools used to design and build websites, whereas Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application, not a web design package.
7. 7.To prevent the loss of data in the computer, it is better to implement file
   1. A
      backup
      Correct
   2. B
      compression
   3. C
      deletion
   4. D
      conversion
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   Answer: A

   Keeping a backup copy of files ensures data can be recovered if the original is lost or damaged.
8. 8.The function of the SQL statement SELECT Student ID, Surname, House Name FROM Student, is that it
   1. A
      sorts the Student table alphabetically by Surname
   2. B
      deletes the Student ID, Surname and House Name fields from the table
   3. C
      retrieves only the Student ID, Surname and House Name fields from the Student table
      Correct
   4. D
      creates a new table called Student
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   Answer: C

   SELECT followed by column names and FROM a table retrieves only the specified fields (Student ID, Surname, House Name) for every record in the Student table.
9. 9.Which of the following file organizations requires primary key?
   1. A
      Random (direct) file organization
      Correct
   2. B
      Indexed sequential file organization
   3. C
      Sequential file organization
   4. D
      Serial file organization
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   Answer: A

   Random/direct file organization computes a storage address directly from a record's primary key, so it specifically requires a primary key for each record to be stored or retrieved.
10. 10.The field in a database which uniquely identifies each record is called a
    1. A
       candidate key
    2. B
       foreign key
    3. C
       composite index
    4. D
       primary key
       Correct
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: D

    The primary key is the field (or set of fields) that uniquely identifies each record in a database table.

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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