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Software Developer practice questions with answers

Updated 16 September 2026 · 2 min read

These questions focus on software development, with smaller shares of cloud and emerging technology, security and Linux, matching what a developer draws on day to day. Treat each question like a code review: understand what is being asked, reason through the behaviour, and only then pick an answer. Rushing is how off-by-one errors and wrong assumptions creep in.

How this guide was made

Written for this site with AI assistance, then checked automatically before publishing. The topic table, sample questions, worked examples and study plan are generated from this site’s question bank: each worked example is recalculated by separate code, and each sample answer says where it came from.

The guide deliberately states no salaries, grades, pass marks or exam dates. Those change, and they could not be checked here, so take them from the advert itself.

This site is independent and is not affiliated with MIFOTRA or any employer.

Practice questions

  1. What is the primary benefit of using cloud storage services?

    1. Remote access to files
    2. Higher local storage capacity
    3. Improved graphics performance
    4. Faster processing speed
    Show the answer

    A. Remote access to files

    Cloud storage makes files reachable from any location and device. It does not change local processing or graphics performance.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

  2. What does SaaS stand for in cloud computing?

    1. Software as a Service
    2. Storage as a Service
    3. Security as a Service
    4. System as a Service
    Show the answer

    A. Software as a Service

    Software as a Service - applications delivered over the network, with the provider managing the underlying infrastructure entirely.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

  3. What is the main purpose of antivirus software?

    1. To improve graphics
    2. To speed up the computer
    3. To manage files
    4. To detect and remove malware
    Show the answer

    D. To detect and remove malware

    Antivirus software identifies malicious code by signature and behaviour, then quarantines or removes it.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

  4. Which of the following is an example of two-factor authentication?

    1. Password and security question
    2. Password and fingerprint
    3. Password and username
    4. Password and CAPTCHA
    Show the answer

    B. Password and fingerprint

    Two factors must come from different categories: something you know plus something you are. A password paired with a username, CAPTCHA or security question is still only one category.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

  5. What is the main purpose of a firewall?

    1. To monitor network traffic
    2. To store data
    3. To speed up the internet
    4. To protect against malware
    Show the answer

    A. To monitor network traffic

    A firewall inspects and filters traffic against a rule set. Anti-malware is a separate control - a firewall does not scan files for infection.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

  6. Which of the following is an example of a phishing attack?

    1. An email that asks for personal information by pretending to be from a legitimate source
    2. A system-generated error message
    3. A newsletter subscription confirmation
    4. A software update notification
    Show the answer

    A. An email that asks for personal information by pretending to be from a legitimate source

    Phishing is social engineering by impersonation - a message that pretends to be a trusted sender in order to extract credentials or personal data.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

  7. A hospital's patient records system suddenly displays a red screen demanding payment in Bitcoin within 48 hours to decrypt the database. What type of malware has infected the system?

    1. Keylogger
    2. Rootkit
    3. Ransomware
    4. Spyware
    Show the answer

    C. Ransomware

    Ransomware encrypts files or locks systems and demands payment for the decryption key or restoration of access.

    Original practice question, written against published exam objectives. Open this question

  8. A user reports that they are unable to access the hospital management system due to a certificate expiration issue. What steps would you take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue while ensuring system availability?

    1. Renew the expired certificate and update it on the system
    2. Promise a solution without a timeline
    3. Utilize a certificate revocation list (CRL) to block access from expired certificates
    4. No correct answer
    Show the answer

    A. Renew the expired certificate and update it on the system

    Renewing and installing the certificate restores trust and availability. A CRL blocks access rather than restoring it.

    Real past-paper question; answer cross-checked against the original session. Open this question

Reason through behaviour, not keywords

Options in programming questions often include familiar terms that do not fit the situation. A question about keeping items in arrival order, with fast removal from the front, points to a queue, even if another option names a more impressive-sounding structure. Describe what the code or data must do before you look at the choices.

Learn from each mistake

When you get a question wrong, write down the concept behind it: a scope rule, a property of a data structure, an SQL clause or an HTTP status code. Development knowledge is wide, and a short list of concepts you keep missing is more useful than rereading everything.

After these questions

The worked examples below practise algorithm efficiency and number systems, which appear in questions about searching, memory and data representation. More development questions from the full bank follow, for a second round once this set feels comfortable. Space that second round a few days later, because recalling something after a gap fixes it far better than reading it twice in one sitting.

Two calculations to try

Try each one on paper first. Every figure is generated and then recalculated by separate code before it is published.

  1. Worst-case comparisons in a binary search

    A sorted array holds 100 records. In the worst case, how many comparisons does a binary search need, and how many would a linear search need?

    Show the working
    1. Each binary-search comparison halves what is left, so the worst case is ⌊log₂ n⌋ + 1 comparisons.
    2. log₂(100) ≈ 6.64, so ⌊6.64⌋ + 1 = 7
    3. A linear search may have to check every record: 100 comparisons. That gap is what O(log n) versus O(n) means in practice.

    Answer: 7 comparisons (binary) versus 100 (linear)

  2. Converting hexadecimal to decimal and binary

    Convert 0x41A4 to decimal and to binary.

    Show the working
    1. Expand by place value: 4×16^3 + 1×16^2 + A×16^1 + 4×16^0
    2. = 16384 + 256 + 160 + 4 = 16804
    3. For binary, write each hex digit as four bits: 0100 0001 1010 0100

    Answer: 16804 decimal, 0100 0001 1010 0100 binary

More from the full bank

Anyone can read these questions. Their answers and explanations open with an access code.

Common questions

Why are there cloud and security questions in a developer set?

Modern applications are deployed to cloud platforms and must be secure by design. Developers are expected to understand both, even when specialists handle the details.

Should I practise coding as well as answering questions?

Yes. Multiple-choice practice builds knowledge, but writing and debugging real code builds the reasoning that both tests and jobs require.

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