Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Computer Science

Leaving Cert Computer Science: Operating systems

How often Operating systems 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 2025.

Operating systems, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Operating systems.

(a)Which OS function decides which running program gets the CPU next?
  1. File management
  2. Process management
  3. Compiling
(b)What is virtual memory?
  1. Memory built into the graphics card
  2. Memory stored in the cloud
  3. Part of secondary storage used as extra RAM
(c)Which layer sits directly between application software and the hardware?
  1. The operating system
  2. The user layer
  3. The compiler (translator)
Show the answers

(a) Process management

(b) Part of secondary storage used as extra RAM

(c) The operating system

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Operating systems.

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
2025A4
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2021A9

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

More Operating systems questions

Operating systems, 2 marks

What is a GUI?

  1. A text-only command line where commands are typed in
  2. A type of CPU register that holds graphics data for the screen
  3. A user interface with windows, icons, menus and a pointer
Show the answer

A user interface with windows, icons, menus and a pointer

A graphical user interface lets users point and click instead of typing commands. It is easier to learn; a command line can be quicker for experts.

Ordinary Level

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

Every paper, year by year

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

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

More Operating systems questions

Operating systems, 2 marks

One job of an operating system is…

  1. Writing essays and letters for users
  2. Designing websites for the user
  3. Managing memory for running programs
Show the answer

Managing memory for running programs

The OS manages memory, files, running programs (processes) and devices like printers, and gives the user an interface.

Operating systems, 3 marks

From the bottom up, the layers are hardware, then…

  1. User, operating system, applications
  2. Operating system, applications, user
  3. Applications, operating system, user
Show the answer

Operating system, applications, user

The OS sits directly on the hardware. Applications run on the OS, and the user works with the applications.

Operating systems, 2 marks

Small software that lets the OS control a device like a printer is a…

  1. Device driver
  2. Compiler
  3. Firewall
Show the answer

Device driver

Each device needs a driver that translates the OS's general commands into instructions that particular device understands.

Other Computer Science topics

All of Leaving Cert Computer Science