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Quizzes > Computers & IT

Computer IQ Test: Check your tech smarts

Quick quiz to gauge your computer IQ level. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Kim RobinsonUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz graphic circuit board icons code fragments logic shapes on teal background for computer IQ challenge

This computer IQ test helps you check your grasp of logic, hardware, and software across real-world tasks. Get instant results and see where to improve next. If you want to drill specific areas, try our computer knowledge quiz, pc hardware quiz, or computer terminology quiz.

What does CPU stand for?
Central Processing Unit
Computer Performance Unit
Central Programming Utility
Control Processing Unit
The CPU, or Central Processing Unit, is the primary component of a computer that performs most of the processing inside a system. It executes instructions from programs by performing basic arithmetic, logical, control, and input/output operations. The CPU is often referred to as the 'brain' of the computer.
Which type of computer memory is volatile, meaning it loses its contents when power is removed?
RAM
SSD
HDD
ROM
Random Access Memory (RAM) is volatile memory used by computers to store data that is actively being used or processed. When the power is turned off, data in RAM is lost. Read-Only Memory (ROM), SSDs, and HDDs retain data without power.
Which of the following is not an operating system?
Windows 10
MySQL
Linux
macOS
MySQL is a relational database management system, not an operating system. Operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux manage hardware and software resources on a computer. Databases like MySQL operate on top of these systems to store and retrieve data.
What does HTTP stand for?
High Transfer Text Protocol
Hyperlink Transmission Transfer Protocol
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Hyperlink Transfer Text Protocol
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol and is the foundation of data communication on the World Wide Web. It defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and how web servers and browsers should respond to various commands. Without HTTP, browsers could not fetch web pages or resources.
What is the binary representation of the decimal number 10?
0101
1100
1001
1010
The decimal number 10 is represented in binary as 1010 because it equals 1×2³ + 0×2² + 1×2¹ + 0×2?. Binary is the base-2 numeral system used internally by almost all modern computers. Each digit in binary is a power of two.
Which protocol uses port 443 by default to secure web traffic?
FTP
HTTPS
HTTP
SMTP
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) uses port 443 by default to encrypt web traffic between a client and server using SSL/TLS. This ensures data privacy and integrity over insecure networks. Regular HTTP uses port 80 and is not encrypted.
Which protocol resolves IPv4 addresses to MAC addresses on a local network?
DNS
ARP
DHCP
ICMP
ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) maps IPv4 addresses to MAC (hardware) addresses on a local network. When a device knows an IP address but not the MAC address, it sends an ARP request to discover it. DNS and DHCP serve different functions, and ICMP is used for diagnostics.
Which Boolean operator yields true if at least one operand is true?
OR
NOT
XOR
AND
The OR operator in Boolean logic returns true when one or both of its operands are true. The AND operator requires both operands to be true, NOT negates a single operand, and XOR returns true only if exactly one operand is true. OR is fundamental in digital circuit design.
What is the time complexity of binary search on a sorted array of n elements?
O(1)
O(log n)
O(n)
O(n log n)
Binary search divides the search interval in half each step, reducing the problem size exponentially. This leads to a logarithmic time complexity of O(log n). Linear search, by contrast, has O(n) complexity. O(log n) is very efficient for large data sets.
Which logic gate outputs true only when both inputs are false?
XNOR
NOR
XOR
NAND
The NOR gate outputs true only if all inputs are false; if either input is true, the output is false. A NAND gate outputs false only when all inputs are true. XOR outputs true when exactly one input is true, and XNOR is the complement of XOR.
In a RAID 5 storage configuration, how many drive failures can be tolerated without data loss?
2
4
3
1
RAID 5 uses block-level striping with distributed parity. It can tolerate a single drive failure and still reconstruct lost data using parity information. Two simultaneous drive failures would result in data loss.
Which resource-allocation and deadlock-avoidance algorithm checks for safe states before granting resources?
Banker's Algorithm
First-Come, First-Served
Round Robin
Shortest Job First
The Banker's Algorithm evaluates requests by simulating resource allocation to ensure that the system remains in a safe state and deadlock cannot occur. It derives its name from the way a banker might ensure they never allocate more money than they can safely lend. Other scheduling algorithms like Round Robin or FCFS do not consider system-wide safety.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Assess Core Computer IQ Skills -

    Measure your understanding of essential computing concepts, from hardware basics to software fundamentals, and establish your starting computer IQ score.

  2. Analyze Logic and Problem-Solving Abilities -

    Break down challenging puzzles and reasoning questions to sharpen analytical skills and boost your performance on the computer intelligence test.

  3. Identify Technical Strengths and Weaknesses -

    Pinpoint the computing topics where you excel or need more practice, helping you focus your study efforts effectively.

  4. Apply Instant Feedback for Targeted Improvement -

    Leverage clear, immediate feedback and explanations to address weak areas and reinforce your tech skills.

  5. Compare Your Computer IQ Test Online Results -

    See how your scores stack up against an online community benchmark and gain perspective on your computer IQ test online performance.

  6. Enhance Future Computer Skills Quiz Performance -

    Use insights from this quiz to refine your approach in future computer skills quizzes and deepen your overall technical proficiency.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Binary & Number Systems -

    Understanding how computers use binary (base-2), decimal (base-10), and hexadecimal (base-16) is essential for any computer IQ boost. Practice converting numbers - e.g., 1011₂ = 11₝₀ - using the "double and add" method recommended by MIT OpenCourseWare. A handy mnemonic is "Big Elephants Hide" to recall Binary, Eight, Hex.

  2. Boolean Logic & Gates -

    Boolean algebra underpins all digital circuits; get familiar with AND, OR, and NOT operations and truth tables as outlined in ACM's computing curricula. Simplify expressions with De Morgan's Laws - "Not both becomes neither not" - to speed up logic puzzles in a computer intelligence test. Try mapping a simple AND-OR network on paper to cement your skills.

  3. Algorithmic Thinking & Big O -

    Algorithm efficiency is a core concept in any computer IQ test online - learn common time complexities like O(n), O(log n), and O(n log n) from Stanford's CS resources. Compare how quicksort (O(n log n)) outperforms bubble sort (O(n²)) on large data sets. A tip: visualize "n doubling, time halving" to remember divide-and-conquer strategies.

  4. CPU Architecture Basics -

    Review the Fetch-Decode-Execute cycle and vital components such as the Program Counter (PC) and Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) as detailed by Intel's developer guides. Sketching the cycle helps in computer knowledge quizzes to grasp how instructions move through a processor. Use the phrase "Fetch, Decode, Execute - Repeat" to internalize the core loop.

  5. OSI Model & Networking -

    Strong computer skills hinge on knowing the seven OSI layers - Physical through Application - and how data flows in TCP/IP stacks per IEEE standards. Memorize "All People Seem To Need Data Processing" to recall the OSI sequence, then map common protocols (HTTP at Layer 7, TCP at Layer 4). This framework often appears in computer intelligence test questions about data transmission.

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