Free BCS Practitioner Certificate in Systems Development Essentials Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the BCS Practitioner Certificate in Systems Development Essentials practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A software project assigns one role primary responsibility for creating test plans and reporting defects. Which role most closely matches these responsibilities?

   1. A.Software quality assurance analystCorrect answer: A
   2. B.Software applications developer
   3. C.Information technology project manager
   4. D.Systems technical architect

   Explanation: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says software quality assurance analysts and testers typically "Create test plans, scenarios, and procedures for new software" and "Document and report defects or problems with software". These duties match the assigned testing role.

   Reference: Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers — What Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers Do, Duties

2. 2An enterprise architect needs the document that states the organization's mission and long-range objectives to guide enterprise architecture development. Which document should the architect consult?

   1. A.The strategic planCorrect answer: A
   2. B.The sequencing plan
   3. C.The communication plan
   4. D.The migration roadmap

   Explanation: The federal enterprise architecture guide identifies the "Agency’s strategic plan" and states that it "defines the mission and long-range objectives of the Agency". Those objectives provide strategic direction for enterprise architecture.

   Reference: A Practical Guide to Federal Enterprise Architecture — Section 5.2, Generate Products and Populate EA Repository, p. 36

3. 3A team applies the standard incremental lifecycle described in NASA's software guidance. What is the pattern of planned functionality across successive builds?

   1. A.Each build provides a different non-overlapping set of functionality.
   2. B.Each build adds functionality to that provided in the preceding build.Correct answer: B
   3. C.Each build retains the same set of functionality as the preceding build.
   4. D.All planned functionality is delivered together in the final build.

   Explanation: NASA states that "Each successive build adds on to the capabilities encoded in the prior cycle". Thus successive builds extend the functionality already developed.

   Reference: NASA Software Engineering Handbook: Software Life Cycle — Types of Software Life Cycles, The Standard Incremental Life Cycle

4. 4After an iteration, an Agile team meets to discuss lessons learned and improve how its members collaborate. What is this meeting called?

   1. A.An iteration planning meeting
   2. B.An iteration retrospectiveCorrect answer: B
   3. C.A backlog refinement meeting
   4. D.A daily standup meeting

   Explanation: GAO defines a retrospective as "A team meeting that occurs at the end of every iteration to review lessons learned and to discuss how the team can improve the process and team dynamics." That purpose matches the meeting in the scenario.

   Reference: GAO Agile Assessment Guide — Appendix II, Key Terms, Retrospective, p. 214

5. 5An agile project has completed Feasibility and is planning analysis and design during Foundations. Which breadth and level of detail does the selected method call for at this point?

   1. A.A high-level understanding across the whole projectCorrect answer: A
   2. B.A high-level understanding of the first delivery only
   3. C.Detailed specifications across the whole project
   4. D.Detailed specifications for the first delivery only

   Explanation: The framework says Foundations "covers the full breadth of the project but deliberately avoids going into detail (the depth)." It establishes overall scope while leaving detailed requirements to evolve later.

   Reference: The DSDM Agile Project Framework Handbook — Introduction, Enough Design Up Front; Chapter 6, Foundations Phase

6. 6Two departments disagree about a deliverable's requirements. Their decision-makers can meet once to negotiate an agreed outcome together. Which fact-finding approach is designed to support that group decision?

   1. A.A facilitated requirements workshopCorrect answer: A
   2. B.A requirements focus group
   3. C.A Delphi panel
   4. D.A requirements survey

   Explanation: GAO states that "facilitated workshops are used to help a team reach consensus on the requirements for a deliverable." A focus group explores perspectives, while a Delphi panel uses sequential surveys rather than a single joint negotiation.

   Reference: GAO Agile Assessment Guide — Appendix V, Dynamic Systems Development Method, pp. 260–261

7. 7During Foundations, a team designs system roles so each user receives only the access needed for assigned work. Which security principle guides that design?

   1. A.Separation of duties
   2. B.Least functionality
   3. C.Least privilegeCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Defense in depth

   Explanation: NIST defines least privilege as restricting access privileges "to the minimum necessary to accomplish assigned tasks." The team is limiting each user's authority to what their work requires.

   Reference: NIST Computer Security Resource Center Glossary: Least Privilege — Definition, CNSSI 4009-2022 and NIST SP 800-12 Rev. 1

8. 8During an agile increment, a team evaluates whether software continues to function correctly when supplied with invalid inputs. Which quality attribute is it assessing?

   1. A.Compatibility
   2. B.Modifiability
   3. C.RobustnessCorrect answer: C
   4. D.Predictability

   Explanation: NIST describes robustness as the degree to which a system or component "can function correctly in the presence of invalid inputs or stressful environmental conditions." That is the condition being evaluated.

   Reference: Software Quality Assurance: Documentation and Reviews — Appendix A, Definitions of Quality Attributes, Robustness, p. A-1

9. 9During an agile Timebox, a team wants a testing tool that reports which parts of the software were exercised by the test suite. Which type of tool should it choose?

   1. A.A test-case generator
   2. B.A coverage analysis toolCorrect answer: B
   3. C.A capture/playback tool
   4. D.A test harness

   Explanation: The NIST-commissioned study says coverage analysis "informs testers about which parts of the product have been tested and which parts have not." That is the information the team needs.

   Reference: The Economic Impacts of Inadequate Infrastructure for Software Testing — Appendix A, Coverage Analysis Tools, p. A-5

10. 10In a project using NASA's systems engineering roles, who has overall responsibility for managing the team and delivering a technically correct system within cost and schedule?

    1. A.The project systems engineer
    2. B.The project planning and control lead
    3. C.The project managerCorrect answer: C
    4. D.The technical subsystem engineer

    Explanation: NASA states that "The project manager has overall responsibility for managing the project team and ensuring that the project delivers a technically correct system within cost and schedule." The systems engineer and planning and control function contribute technical and programmatic inputs.

    Reference: NASA Systems Engineering Handbook: Fundamentals of Systems Engineering — Systems Engineering Introduction, project organization responsibilities