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Subjects · Leaving Cert Computer Science

Leaving Cert Computer Science: History & emerging trends

How often History & emerging trends comes up on the Computer Science papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

OL Asked on 3 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

History & emerging trends, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on History & emerging trends.

(a)The Intel 4004 of 1971 was the first commercial what?
  1. Transistor
  2. Microprocessor
  3. Hard disk drive
(b)Who wrote a program for Babbage's Analytical Engine in the 1840s?
  1. Alan Turing
  2. Grace Hopper
  3. Ada Lovelace
(c)Who proposed the World Wide Web while working at CERN in 1989?
  1. Tim Berners-Lee
  2. Steve Jobs
  3. Bill Gates
Show the answers

(a) Microprocessor

(b) Ada Lovelace

(c) Tim Berners-Lee

Your turn: Higher Level questions on History & emerging trends.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2024.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024A5, A7
2023Not asked
2022A3
2021Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 3 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025B13
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022A7, B15
2021B15

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More History & emerging trends questions

History & emerging trends, 2 marks

Who is often called the first computer programmer?

  1. Alan Turing
  2. Tim Berners-Lee
  3. Ada Lovelace
Show the answer

Ada Lovelace

In 1843 Lovelace published an algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, a machine that was never fully built.

History & emerging trends, 2 marks

Who invented the World Wide Web?

  1. Charles Babbage
  2. Tim Berners-Lee
  3. Bill Gates
Show the answer

Tim Berners-Lee

At CERN in 1989 he proposed the web: pages linked by hyperlinks, using HTTP, HTML and URLs. The internet itself already existed.

History & emerging trends, 2 marks

Which invention replaced valves and made computers much smaller?

  1. The transistor
  2. The mouse
  3. The hard disk
Show the answer

The transistor

Transistors (invented 1947) are tiny, cheap electronic switches that use far less power than valves. Billions now fit on one chip.

Other Computer Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Computer Science