Unlock hundreds more features
Save your Quiz to the Dashboard
View and Export Results
Use AI to Create Quizzes and Analyse Results

OR
Sign inSign in with Facebook
Sign inSign in with Google
Quizzes > Programming & Software

COBOL quiz: Test your JCL and 88-level knowledge

Quick, free JCL and COBOL quiz to test your skills. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Daniella RamirezUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art COBOL JCL quiz illustration with code blocks file handling 88 level operations on sky blue background.

Use this quiz to check your COBOL and JCL skills, including 88-level condition names, file handling, and job control steps. You will get a score and quick feedback to spot gaps before an exam or interview. For more mainframe practice, try our vsam test, or broaden your basics with an it skills quiz.

What is the primary purpose of the COBOL LEVEL 88 clause?
To define a data item's occurrence
To assign values to condition-named flags when a condition is met
To allocate disk storage for a field
To repeat data description entries
The LEVEL 88 clause in COBOL is used to define condition names that are associated with specific literal values. These condition names act like boolean flags that become true when the data item matches the literal. It does not allocate storage or repeat entries; it simply names specific conditions.
In COBOL, which DIVISION contains the file descriptions?
Environment Division
Procedure Division
Identification Division
Data Division
File descriptions, including the FD entries for files, are declared in the Data Division under the File Section. The Environment Division is where SELECT clauses appear but detailed descriptions belong in the Data Division. The Procedure and Identification Divisions do not contain file layout definitions.
Which COBOL statement is used to open files before processing?
OPEN
START
READ
CLOSE
The OPEN statement in COBOL is used to open one or more files for INPUT, OUTPUT, I-O, or EXTEND before any READ or WRITE operations. CLOSE is used at the end of processing, START is for indexed file positioning, and READ reads records.
Which JCL statement marks the beginning of a job for the system?
PROC
DD
JOB
EXEC
The //JOB statement is the first statement that defines the start of a JCL job to JES. EXEC statements define steps within the job, DD statements describe data definitions, and PROC is used for procedures.
What JCL parameter specifies the disposition of a dataset at job completion?
DISP
UNIT
VOL
DCB
The DISP (disposition) parameter in a DD statement specifies the dataset's status at the start and end of the step, including retention or deletion. UNIT identifies the device, DCB defines data control block attributes, and VOL specifies tape volume.
Which COBOL clause specifies record organization (e.g., LINE SEQUENTIAL)?
FILE CONTROL
ACCESS MODE
RECORD CONTAINS
ORGANIZATION
The ORGANIZATION clause defines how records are organized in the file, such as SEQUENTIAL, INDEXED, or RELATIVE. ACCESS MODE deals with read/write modes, FILE CONTROL is where SELECT appears, and RECORD CONTAINS describes record length.
Which JCL utility would you normally use to sort a dataset?
SORT
IEBCOPY
IDCAMS
IEBGENER
The SORT utility (often provided by DFSORT or SyncSort) is specifically designed to sort records in a dataset. IEBGENER copies, IDCAMS manages VSAM and catalog, and IEBCOPY copies partitioned datasets.
What is the default sign position for numeric items in COBOL?
Trailing
Floating
Leading
There is no sign
By default, COBOL places the sign of a numeric field in the leading position unless a SIGN IS TRAILING clause overrides it. Floating is used for floating-point, and without a sign clause, trailing is not assumed.
Which statement closes all files and terminates a COBOL program?
CLOSE PROGRAM
EXIT
STOP RUN
END PROGRAM
STOP RUN closes all files and ends the execution of the COBOL program. END PROGRAM is used in nested programs, EXIT returns control to the caller, and there is no CLOSE PROGRAM statement.
In JCL, which DD statement parameter identifies the dataset name?
DUMMY
DISP
DSN
SYSOUT
The DSN parameter in a DD statement specifies the dataset name to be used. DISP describes the dataset's disposition, DUMMY indicates a placeholder dataset, and SYSOUT routes output to a JES output class.
What COBOL clause allows a table to vary in size based on a data condition?
SORT
RENAMES
OCCURS ... DEPENDING ON
REDEFINES
The OCCURS ... DEPENDING ON clause allows a table to have a variable number of occurrences determined at runtime by the value of a data item. REDEFINES overlays storage, RENAMES gives alternate names, and SORT is for processing records.
In JCL, how do you concatenate multiple sequential datasets into one input stream?
Use & in the DSN parameter
Use the JOINKEYS utility
Use INCLUDE statement
Use multiple DD statements with the same DDNAME
Concatenation in JCL is done by listing multiple DD statements with the same DDNAME; the system reads them sequentially as one dataset. & is not allowed, INCLUDE is for procedures, and JOINKEYS is for keyed merging.
Which COBOL verb is used to perform a binary search on a sorted table?
FIND
SEARCH
PERFORM
SEARCH ALL
SEARCH ALL uses a binary search algorithm and requires the table to be pre-sorted on the key. SEARCH does a linear search, PERFORM iterates paragraphs, and FIND is not a COBOL verb.
What JCL parameter controls conditional execution of a step based on return codes?
STEP
WHEN
IF
COND
The COND parameter on an EXEC statement controls whether a step is bypassed based on the return code from prior steps. IF/THEN/ELSE is a newer feature but COND is classic; STEP and WHEN are not used this way.
A file status code of '35' in COBOL indicates which condition?
End of file reached
Invalid file status
Key not found
Duplicate key
In indexed file processing, code 35 indicates that the specified key was not found in the file. Duplicate key is code 37, end of file is code 10, and invalid status is not a standard code.
Which DD parameter in JCL defines dataset control block attributes like record length?
SPACE
DCB
DISP
UNIT
The DCB (Data Control Block) parameter specifies record format (RECFM), logical record length (LRECL), block size, etc. UNIT identifies the device, SPACE sets allocation, and DISP sets dataset disposition.
What is the purpose of the COBOL REDEFINES clause?
To repeat a group of items
To allocate file space
To sort records
To allow two data items to share the same memory location
The REDEFINES clause lets one data item share the storage area of another, enabling multiple interpretations of the same bytes. It does not create arrays or sort data, nor does it affect file allocation.
Which SYSOUT class is typically used for printer output in JCL?
SYSOUT=X
SYSOUT=A
SYSOUT=*
SYSOUT=PRINTER
SYSOUT=A is the conventional class for printed output routed to a line printer. X is seldom used or site-defined, * inherits from the EXEC, and PRINTER is not a standard class name.
Which JCL statement is used to include a cataloged procedure from a procs library?
INCLUDE
PROC
COPY
EXEC
The INCLUDE statement in JCL brings in cataloged procedure members at compile time. COPY is a COBOL directive, EXEC starts a step, and PROC is not by itself a JCL statement.
Which COBOL statement allows multi-branch decision similar to a switch-case?
PERFORM
EVALUATE
SELECT
IF...ELSE
EVALUATE provides a branch table or switch-case style decision in COBOL. IF...ELSE handles simple conditions, PERFORM executes paragraphs, and SELECT is a file control keyword.
In JCL, what does the ACC parameter on a SYSOUT control block define?
Access method for dataset
Whether flags are set for JES to track spool files
Account number for billing
ASCII control
The ACC= parameter controls accounting information and JES tracking flags for spool management, not dataset access, ASCII conversion, or billing codes. It's part of the SYSOUT DD.
What does the COBOL intrinsic function VAL-REPLACE do?
Replaces characters in a string based on matching values
Formats date values
Converts values to upper case
Validates numeric data
VAL-REPLACE allows substitution of one set of characters for another in an alphanumeric string. It does not perform case conversion, numeric validation, or date formatting. COBOL VAL-REPLACE function
How do you conditionally compile code in JCL?
Using // SET and // IF statements
Using PEND only
Using INCLUDE MEMBER
Using /* comments
Conditional processing in modern JCL is handled with // SET variables and // IF/THEN/ELSE/END statements. INCLUDE MEMBER brings in procs, comments do not condition, and PEND ends REPRO macros.
When sorting in COBOL, how do you declare the sort file in the FILE SECTION?
With the OPEN SORTED phrase
With FD ... ORGANIZATION LINE SEQUENTIAL
With the SORT phrase in the SELECT statement
With a WORKING-STORAGE sort table
You specify SORT-FILE in the SELECT statement with the SORT phrase; the FD in the File Section follows the name. You do not use ORGANIZATION, OPEN SORTED, or working-storage tables for file declarations.
Which JCL program is used to execute TSO commands in batch?
IEBCOPY
IEFBR14
IEBGENER
IKJEFT01
IKJEFT01 is the batch TSO environment program used to run TSO commands. IEFBR14 is a dummy program, IEBCOPY copies PDS members, and IEBGENER copies data.
How does COBOL handle multi-dimensional arrays?
By dynamic allocation at runtime
By inline indexing functions
By specifying multiple OCCURS clauses in nested group items
By using REDEFINES
COBOL handles multi-dimensional tables by nesting OCCURS clauses within a group item; each OCCURS represents one dimension. REDEFINES overlays storage, indexing functions do not create dimensions, and COBOL does not dynamically allocate storage this way.
What is the difference between STEPLIB and JOBLIB in JCL?
STEPLIB overrides SYSIN, JOBLIB overrides SYSOUT
STEPLIB is sequential, JOBLIB is VSAM-only
STEPLIB applies to a single step, JOBLIB applies to all steps in the job
STEPLIB is for datasets, JOBLIB is for procedures
STEPLIB specifies libraries for one EXEC step, while JOBLIB provides them for all job steps. Neither is limited to data sets vs procedures or by access type, nor do they override SYSIN or SYSOUT.
In COBOL, which section is used for working storage variables?
FILE SECTION
LINKAGE SECTION
LOCAL-STORAGE SECTION
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION
The WORKING-STORAGE SECTION is where persistent program variables are declared. LINKAGE is for parameters passed in, FILE describes files, and LOCAL-STORAGE is for reinitialized data on each call.
What does the JCL PEND statement do?
Terminates the entire job
Ends conditional processing blocks started with IF
Defines a pending dataset allocation
Suspends the job until resources are available
PEND is used in older JCL IF/THEN processing to terminate the conditional block. It does not suspend jobs or allocate datasets, nor does it end the job.
How do you define an alternate index in VSAM for use in COBOL?
Use a secondary FD in the ENVIRONMENT DIVISION
Use the ALTERNATE INDEX clause in the FILE-CONTROL paragraph
Use DEFINE ALTERNATEINDEX in IDCAMS and reference it in the SELECT statement
Use the REDEFINES clause on an index record
To define a VSAM alternate index, you issue a DEFINE ALTERNATEINDEX command in IDCAMS. You then reference the index through the SELECT clause mapping in COBOL. There is no ALTERNATE INDEX clause in FILE-CONTROL, nor is REDEFINES or a second FD used.
What is the purpose of the DEFER parameter in JCL for Generational Data Groups (GDGs)?
To assign a logical sequential number
To specify retention period for old generations
To allocate space for future generations
To delay creation of the new generation until the job completes successfully
DEFER tells the system to write the new GDG generation entry to the GDG base only if the job ends with a condition code lower than the COND specification. It does not affect space or retention directly and does not assign generation numbers.
Which service can COBOL programs invoke to dynamically allocate datasets at runtime?
BPXWDYN
CEE3SRV
IIHLINK
CEESVC00
BPXWDYN is the TSO dynamic allocation service that allows COBOL or other LE programs to allocate and free datasets dynamically. CEESVC00 and CEE3SRV provide general runtime support, and IIHLINK is unrelated.
0
{"name":"What is the primary purpose of the COBOL LEVEL 88 clause?", "url":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/QPREVIEW","txt":"What is the primary purpose of the COBOL LEVEL 88 clause?, In COBOL, which DIVISION contains the file descriptions?, Which COBOL statement is used to open files before processing?","img":"https://www.quiz-maker.com/3012/images/ogquiz.png"}

Study Outcomes

  1. Understand 88 Level COBOL Conditions -

    Describe how to define and use 88 level condition names for streamlined condition checking in COBOL programs.

  2. Apply JCL Operations -

    Create and manage JCL statements to allocate resources, execute job steps, and control workflow - skills reinforced through the COBOL JCL practice test.

  3. Analyze COBOL File Handling -

    Examine file organization and perform read/write operations using COBOL file-handling constructs effectively in our COBOL file handling quiz scenarios.

  4. Differentiate COBOL and JCL Integration -

    Identify how COBOL programs interact with JCL for dataset allocation, parameter passing, and seamless job execution.

  5. Evaluate Program Flow Logic -

    Trace control flow paths, conditional branches, and error-handling routines to ensure robust COBOL and JCL processes.

  6. Interpret JCL Syntax for Troubleshooting -

    Detect and fix common JCL syntax errors encountered in the COBOL JCL Quiz for smoother job execution and improved debugging.

Cheat Sheet

  1. 88-Level Condition Names -

    In the COBOL Data Division the 88 level defines named boolean conditions for fields, such as 88 AVAILABLE-FLAG VALUE 'Y'. They allow you to write clearer IF statements like IF AVAILABLE-FLAG instead of checking literal values. A handy mnemonic is that "88" looks like two switches, each representing TRUE or FALSE.

  2. COBOL File Handling Verbs -

    Master the OPEN, READ, WRITE, and CLOSE verbs to manage sequential and indexed files efficiently. Always check the FILE-STATUS 02-level status code to handle end-of-file conditions - e.g., READ IN-FILE AT END MOVE 'Y' TO EOF-FLAG. Remember the sequence acronym "ORWC" (Orange Rabbits Wear Caps) to lock in your workflow order.

  3. JCL DD Statement Essentials -

    The DD statement defines dataset attributes like DSN, DISP, UNIT, and DCB for each file. For example: //INFILE DD DSN=MY.DATA.FILE,DISP=SHR,UNIT=SYSDA. Familiarity with DISP parameters (NEW, OLD, SHR) is crucial for safe dataset allocation.

  4. Batch JCL Job Structure -

    A basic JCL job starts with a JOB card, followed by one or more EXEC steps and their DD statements. Example skeleton:
    //MYJOB JOB …
    //STEP1 EXEC PGM=MYPROG
    //STEPLIB DD DSN=MY.LOADLIB,DISP=SHR    . Remember JOB → EXEC → DD to build every batch workflow correctly in your COBOL JCL Quiz practice.

  5. JCL Return Codes & Conditional Processing -

    JCL uses the return code (RC) from each step to determine success or failure; RC=0 usually means success. Use JCL IF/THEN/ELSE constructs to branch - e.g., //IF (STEP1.RC = 0) THEN. Tracking RC values in SYSOUT helps you debug and refine your COBOL JCL Quiz solutions with confidence.

Make a Quiz (FREE) Copy & Edit This Quiz Create a Quiz with AI

Programming & Software Quizzes

Powered by: Quiz Maker