Indian Institute of Technology Madras
BS Degree Programme · Examination & Study Paper
Software Engineering
Most repeated questions
Examination Instructions & Guidelines
- Solve on notebook/paper first before checking solutions.
- MCQ: Exactly 1 option is correct. Negative marking applies.
- MSQ: One or more options correct. Select all to score.
- Scientific calculator allowed for all calculations.
- Official answer key is sealed at the end of this sheet.
Type 1 · asked 2 times · Estimation & risk management
Classify the risk from a faulty third-party module
Read the passage below, then answer Q1
A module in your project depends on a third-party payment gateway. During testing, you discover it is not functioning properly due to a known bug in the vendor’s code.
Based on the above data, answer the given subquestions.
Q1MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓Based on the scenario, which category does this risk most appropriately fall under?
- ABusiness risk
- BTechnical risk
- CProject risk
- DLegal risk
- Q2MCQ3 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓
A software development team is working on an AI-powered chatbot for customer service. However, they realize late in the development process that the third-party AI module they integrated does not support some key languages their client requires. What type of risk does this represent?
- ABusiness Risk
- BProject Risk
- CTechnical Risk
- DNone of these
Type 2 · asked 2 times · Process models, Agile & Scrum
Which SMART criterion a user story lacks or gains
- Q3MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓

- AMeasurable
- BSpecific
- CTime-boxed
- DRelevant
- Q4MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓
The development team updates a user story as follows: Before: "As an admin, I want to generate reports on user activity." After: "As an admin, I want to generate a daily report of user logins and purchases, formatted as a downloadable CSV file." Which SMART characteristic is best addressed in this improvement?
- AAchievable
- BMeasurable
- CTimeboxed
- DRelevant
Type 3 · asked 2 times · SOLID, design patterns & architecture
Identify the peer-to-peer architecture from a description
- Q5MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓
A file-sharing system allows users to both download and upload files from / to other users without relying on any central server. Each user system shares a part of their storage. What architecture is being described?
- AClient-Server
- BModel-View-Controller
- CPipe and Filter
- DPeer-to-Peer (P2P)
- Q6MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓
An organization is developing a collaborative document editing system where multiple users can edit the same document simultaneously. The system must operate without relying on a central server or any form of centralized control, ensuring direct communication among users. Which architectural style best fits this requirement?
- AClient-Server
- BPipe and Filter
- CPeer-to-Peer
- DModel-View-Controller
Type 4 · asked 2 times · Software design: coupling & cohesion
Identify control coupling when a flag decides another module's behaviour
- Q7MCQ5 Marks·Choose one optionQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓
In an e-commerce system, the SellerModule calls a function in the InventoryModule using a variable operationFlag to decide whether to view, add, or delete a product. Which type of coupling is present?
- AControl Coupling
- BContent Coupling
- CData Coupling
- DCommon Coupling
- Q8MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓

- AData Coupling
- BControl Coupling
- CCommon Coupling
- DContent Coupling
Type 5 · asked 2 times · Software design: coupling & cohesion
Identify class relationships (association, inheritance, realization) in a scenario
- Q9MSQ5 Marks·Choose all correct optionsQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓
In an online seller portal, the Seller class uses the Inventory class’s viewInventory(sellerID) method to fetch the list of products. Additionally, the Inventory class implements an interface InventoryInterface that defines standard inventory operations. Which of the following relationships can be identified from this scenario?
- ASeller and Inventory have an inheritance relationship
- BSeller and Inventory have an association relationship
- CInventory and InventoryInterface have a dependency relationship
- DSeller and InventoryInterface have a composition relationship
- Q10MSQ4 Marks·Choose all correct optionsEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓

- A

- B

- C

- D

- A
Type 6 · asked 2 times · Testing & debugging
Choose the debugging technique for a scenario
- Q11MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓
A programmer is working with a third-party Python API for image processing. Their code compiles, but the output image is not what they expected. They cannot see or change the library’s internal code. Which debugging technique should they use?
- AStep into each function using PDB
- BForward debugging to trace internal logic
- CBlack box debugging using documentation and examples
- DDump and diff comparison between images
- Q12MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓
Bhavya is trying to understand why a variable in his Python program is getting the wrong value at a certain point. He decides to insert print statements in the code to check intermediate values. Which debugging technique is he using?
- AStepping in a debugger
- BLogging
- CProfiling
- DDump & Diff
Type 7 · asked 2 times · SOLID, design patterns & architecture
Identify the design pattern (Facade, Builder) that fits a scenario
Type 8 · asked 2 times · SOLID, design patterns & architecture
Identify or apply a SOLID principle (ISP, LSP) in a class design
Type 9 · asked 2 times · Usability, heuristics & prototypes
Identify the usability factor a feature improves
- Q17MSQ5 Marks·Choose all correct optionsQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓
A team is designing a new tax filing software for first-time users. Which of the following features would most likely improve the learnability of their system?
- AStep-by-step wizard that guides users through each section
- BAbility to undo recent entries using a shortcut
- CTemplates for common user profiles (e.g., salaried, freelancer)
- DStrong password requirement with special characters and numbers
- Q18MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓
A retail website optimizes its checkout process by reducing the number of steps from product selection to payment confirmation. Users can now complete a purchase with a single click if they have saved their payment details. What usability factor is being improved?
- ASafety
- BLearnability
- CEfficiency
- DMemorability
Type 10 · asked 2 times · Requirements gathering & analysis
Identify the requirement gathering technique used
- Q19MCQ4 Marks·Choose one optionQuiz 2 · 3 Aug 2025 (AN)Key ↓
While designing the seller portal's financial features, your team needs to comply with local banking regulations on fund transfers. You refer to official banking policies and competitor portal FAQs. Which requirement gathering technique does this illustrate?
- AFocus group
- BObservation
- CDocumentation
- DInterview
- Q20MCQ3 Marks·Choose one optionEnd Term · 31 Aug 2025 (FN)Key ↓
A researcher is trying to understand how warehouse employees manage inventory updates in real time. They shadow employees, take notes, and ask clarifying questions while observing daily operations. Which technique is being applied here?
- AQuestionnaires
- BInterviews
- CNaturalistic Observations
- DFocus Groups




