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Subjects · Leaving Cert Computer Science

Leaving Cert Computer Science: Modelling & simulation

How often Modelling & simulation 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 2025.

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

Modelling & simulation, Higher Level(8 marks)

Quick ones on Modelling & simulation.

(a)In agent-based modelling, what is emergent behaviour?
  1. A bug that appears only in large simulations
  2. Group patterns arising from simple rules for each agent
  3. Behaviour coded directly into the whole group
(b)In a traffic-light simulation, the average queue length is best described as?
  1. An agent
  2. An input variable
  3. An output variable
(c)What is one main advantage of a computer simulation over a real-world trial?
  1. Many scenarios can be tested cheaply and safely
  2. It needs no data about the real system
  3. It always gives exactly correct results
Show the answers

(a) Group patterns arising from simple rules for each agent

(b) An output variable

(c) Many scenarios can be tested cheaply and safely

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Modelling & simulation.

Higher Level

Asked on 2 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025B15
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021A11

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

More Modelling & simulation questions

Modelling & simulation, 3 marks

How can a model be validated?

  1. Add agents until it runs slowly
  2. Run it once and accept the output
  3. Compare its results with real-world data
Show the answer

Compare its results with real-world data

If a model reproduces what really happened, e.g. past flood levels, its forecasts can be trusted more. If not, its rules or data need changing.

Modelling & simulation, 2 marks

In a flood model, rainfall per hour is changed to test different storms. What is rainfall here?

  1. An agent
  2. An input variable
  3. An output variable
Show the answer

An input variable

Inputs are the values you set to try out scenarios. Outputs, such as the water depth on a street, are what the model produces from them.

Ordinary Level

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

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Not asked
2024B15
2023Not asked
2022A2
2021Not asked

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

More Modelling & simulation questions

Modelling & simulation, 2 marks

Running a computer model to see what happens under different conditions is called…

  1. Encryption
  2. Compilation
  3. Simulation
Show the answer

Simulation

A simulation lets you test ideas, e.g. new traffic-light timings, without causing real queues. You change the inputs and watch the outputs.

Modelling & simulation, 3 marks

A traffic model: you change the green-light time and measure the queue length. The queue length is the…

  1. Algorithm
  2. Output variable
  3. Input variable
Show the answer

Output variable

The input is what you change (green-light time). The output is what you measure to see the effect (queue length).

Modelling & simulation, 2 marks

One advantage of a simulation over a real-world test?

  1. It is safer and cheaper
  2. It is always 100% accurate
  3. It needs no data
Show the answer

It is safer and cheaper

You can test a fire evacuation or a flood without danger or big cost. But a model simplifies reality, so its results are never perfect.

Other Computer Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Computer Science