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Free Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AI|E) practice test: 30 questions with answers
30 original questions for Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AI|E), drawn from every topic area. Answer each one to see whether you got it right and why. No sign-up.
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Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AI|E) exam guide: topics, cost and format
All 30 Artificial Intelligence Essentials (AI|E) questions with answers
The same questions as the test above, grouped by exam topic. Open any question to see the answer and explanation.
Building Blocks of AI (6 questions)
Question 1
Which component of a neural network applies a non-linear transformation to a neuron's weighted sum of inputs?
- AThe dataset split, which divides the examples into training, validation, and test sets before the model is trained
- BThe loss function, which measures how far the network's predictions are from the expected results during training
- CThe optimizer, which adjusts the weights of the network using gradients to reduce the loss over many training steps
- DThe activation function, which transforms the weighted sum so that the network can model non-linear relationships
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Correct answer: DThe activation function applies the non-linear transformation that lets networks represent complex relationships. The loss function, optimizer, and dataset split each play different roles in training rather than transforming the neuron's output.
Question 2
What is the role of a loss function in training a machine learning model?
- AIt measures how far the model's predictions are from the target values, and training adjusts the model to reduce it
- BIt compresses the trained model file so that it takes less storage space when it is copied to the production servers
- CIt displays the results of the model to the user in a chart that shows the predicted and actual values side by side
- DIt stores the training data in a compressed format so that it can be retrieved by the model quickly during training
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Correct answer: BThe loss function quantifies prediction error, and the training process uses it to adjust the model's parameters. Storing data, displaying charts, and compressing files are separate tasks that the loss function does not perform.
Question 3
What is a token in a large language model?
- AA unit of text, such as a whole word or a fragment of one, that the model reads and generates as it works
- BA form of cryptocurrency that users can spend on the subscription plans of the AI tools they access online
- CA login credential that the model uses to authenticate itself with the cloud service that hosts the model
- DA type of graphics processor that is designed specifically for rendering the images shown in the user interface
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Correct answer: ATokens are the pieces of text that language models process, and their count affects cost and context length. Cryptocurrency, login credentials, and graphics processors are unrelated to this meaning of token.
Question 4
Which mechanism lets a transformer model relate the parts of an input sequence to one another?
- AManually written rules that describe how each sentence should be parsed by the system before it is processed
- BFixed lookup tables that map each input word to a single predetermined output from a list written by the team
- CAttention, which weights how strongly each part of the input should influence the representation of the others
- DRandom number generation that picks which parts of the input to keep and which to discard at each processing step
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Correct answer: CAttention computes how much each element should attend to others, which is the core mechanism of transformers. Lookup tables, hand-written rules, and random selection do not learn relationships between parts of a sequence.
Question 5
Which factor most affects the choice of an AI tool for a particular project?
- AThe data sensitivity, the functional requirements, and how the tool will integrate with existing systems
- BThe colour of the logo that the vendor uses on its website and in the marketing material it sends out
- CThe favourite fruit of the founder of the vendor company, which is often mentioned in its public interviews
- DThe office location of the vendor, considered on its own without any reference to the project requirements
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Correct answer: AData sensitivity, requirements, and integration needs determine whether a tool is suitable and safe to use. A vendor's logo colour, founder preferences, and office location do not reflect whether the tool fits the project.
Question 6
What is a hallucination in a generative AI model?
- AA visual effect that the user interface displays when the model is loading a new session for the user at the start
- BConfident output that is factually incorrect or not supported by the sources that the model was given or trained on
- CA backup copy of the model's weights that is kept in a separate storage location in case the main copy is lost
- DThe training schedule that the team uses to plan when each new version of the model will be run in the environment
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Correct answer: BA hallucination is fluent output that asserts things that are false or unsupported, which is why generated answers need verification. The other options describe interface effects, backups, and schedules rather than an error in content.
AI Ethics and Responsible AI (6 questions)
Question 7
Which principle is central to responsible AI?
- ARemoving human oversight entirely, so that the system can make every decision automatically and without delay
- BMaximizing secrecy, so that the way the system reaches its decisions is never disclosed to anyone outside the team
- CIgnoring the risks of the system, so that the project can move forward without being slowed down by reviews
- DFairness, meaning the system should not produce unjustified disparate outcomes for different groups of people
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Correct answer: DFairness is a core principle of responsible AI, because systems can otherwise treat groups unjustly. Secrecy, ignoring risk, and removing oversight each work against accountability and the protection of people affected by the system.
Question 8
Why is transparency important in AI systems?
- AIt lets stakeholders understand how decisions are made and challenge them when the outcomes appear to be wrong
- BIt removes the need for testing, because a system that is open about its design is considered correct by default
- CIt makes the system faster to run, since the transparent components can be optimized without additional review
- DIt replaces the need for governance, because the public can see the system and so no internal oversight is needed
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Correct answer: ATransparency lets people understand, question, and appeal decisions, which is essential for accountability. It does not remove the need for testing, improve speed, or replace governance.
Question 9
Which is a common source of bias in AI systems?
- AThe typeface chosen for the documentation that describes the system's features to the staff who use it
- BThe colour of the user interface that the system presents to its users on the screen during each session
- CThe number of servers that are used to host the system in the data center during the period of operation
- DTraining data that under-represents certain groups, so the model performs worse for the people in those groups
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Correct answer: DUnder-representation in training data is a primary cause of biased performance, because the model learns less about those groups. Interface colour, server counts, and typefaces do not shape the patterns the model learns.
Question 10
What is the purpose of an AI governance framework in an organization?
- ATo set the policies, roles, and oversight arrangements that guide responsible AI use across the organization
- BTo replace the legal counsel of the organization, so that contracts and compliance questions are answered by the system
- CTo ban all use of AI in the organization, so that every risk is removed by stopping the use of the technology entirely
- DTo speed up the deployment of new AI systems by removing the review steps that the organization applied previously
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Correct answer: AA governance framework defines policies, responsibilities, and oversight so that AI is used consistently and within acceptable risk. It does not replace legal counsel, ban AI outright, or remove the reviews that protect the organization.
Question 11
Which regulatory approach classifies AI systems by risk and sets obligations that increase with that risk?
- AA building code for data centres that sets the fire safety rules for the server rooms of the organization
- BA tax regime for software licences that defines how the purchase of each subscription is treated for accounts
- CThe EU AI Act, which sets risk-based obligations for AI systems, with the strictest rules for high-risk uses
- DAn energy efficiency standard for servers that sets the maximum power draw allowed for each rack in the facility
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Correct answer: CThe EU AI Act classifies systems by risk and attaches obligations, such as documentation and oversight, that grow with the level of risk. Building codes, tax rules, and energy standards do not regulate AI systems by risk.
Question 12
Which two practices support responsible AI deployment? (Choose two.)
- ARequiring human review for decisions with a high impact on people, such as hiring or credit decisions
- BLogging and monitoring model performance over time so that drift and new errors can be detected early
- CDeploying the system without documenting its risks, so that the team can move faster on the release
- DHiding the known limitations of the system from users, so that they do not lose confidence in its results
- EUsing personal data without consent or a legal basis, since the data is already held by the organization
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Correct answer: A, BHuman review of high-impact decisions and ongoing monitoring of performance are core safeguards that keep AI use accountable. Undocumented risks, hidden limitations, and use of personal data without a legal basis each undermine responsible use.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (6 questions)
Question 13
Which pair of terms is described correctly?
- AData is the examples used for learning, and a model is the learned function that maps inputs to predictions
- BData is a computer and a model is a monitor that displays the output of the computer for its users
- CData is the program code of an application, and a model is the written documentation that describes that code
- DData and a model are two names for the same thing, so either term can be used when describing an AI system
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Correct answer: AData is the set of examples that a system learns from, while a model is the function it learns and then uses to predict. The other options confuse hardware, code, and documentation with the data and the learned model.
Question 14
Which milestone is commonly cited as a turning point for deep learning in image recognition?
- AThe invention of the transistor, which made it possible to build the first electronic computers in the lab
- BThe 2012 ImageNet results, in which deep convolutional neural networks far outperformed earlier approaches
- CThe launch of the first personal computer for consumers, which introduced graphical interfaces to homes
- DThe development of the TCP/IP protocol suite, which standardized how computers communicate across networks
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Correct answer: BThe 2012 ImageNet results showed that deep convolutional networks, trained on large datasets with GPUs, could outperform earlier methods by a wide margin. The transistor, personal computers, and TCP/IP are important computing milestones but not the deep learning turning point.
Question 15
What distinguishes supervised learning from unsupervised learning?
- ASupervised learning works only on image data, while unsupervised learning works only on numerical tables
- BUnsupervised learning requires labelled examples for every record, while supervised learning needs no labels
- CSupervised learning uses labelled examples, while unsupervised learning looks for structure in unlabelled data
- DThe two approaches are identical in every respect except for the name that the research community gives them
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Correct answer: CSupervised learning trains on inputs paired with known outputs, while unsupervised learning finds groupings or patterns without labels. The reverse statement, the data type limits, and the claim that they are identical are all incorrect.
Question 16
Which term describes a model that performs well on its training data but poorly on new, unseen data?
- AUnderfitting, in which the model is too simple to capture the real patterns in either the training or new data
- BNormalization, in which the input values are rescaled to a common range before they are passed to the learning step
- CConvergence, in which the loss value stops decreasing during training because the optimizer has reached a stable point
- DOverfitting, in which the model memorizes patterns in the training data that do not generalize to new examples
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Correct answer: DOverfitting means the model has learned the training examples too closely, including their noise, so it generalizes poorly. Underfitting describes a model that is too simple, while convergence and normalization are training and preprocessing concepts rather than descriptions of this gap.
Question 17
Which two statements about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning are correct? (Choose two.)
- ADeep learning is a subset of machine learning that uses multi-layer neural networks to learn representations
- BMachine learning is a subset of deep learning, which is the broader field that contains all learning methods
- CArtificial intelligence is the broad field of making machines perform tasks that normally need human intelligence
- DDeep learning cannot use neural networks, because neural networks are a separate technology from deep learning
- EMachine learning cannot learn from data, because learning from data is a feature that belongs only to people
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Correct answer: A, CAI is the broadest field, machine learning is a part of it that learns from data, and deep learning is a subset of machine learning built on multi-layer neural networks. The statements that reverse this hierarchy or deny that machines can learn from data are incorrect.
Question 18
What is the goal of artificial intelligence as a field?
- ACreating faster hardware so that existing software runs more quickly on the processors that are already in use today
- BReplacing every computer network in an organization with a single central server that is managed by one administrator
- CBuilding systems that can perform tasks which normally require human intelligence, such as perception, language, and reasoning
- DStoring the largest possible amount of data in a single database so that the organization can keep its records forever
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Correct answer: CAI aims to build systems that carry out tasks such as perceiving, understanding language, and reasoning, which otherwise need human intelligence. Networks, hardware speed, and data storage are supporting technologies rather than the goal of the field.
Everyday AI Tools and Use Cases (6 questions)
Question 19
Which everyday application is a typical example of a recommendation system?
- AA thermometer that measures the temperature of a room and displays the reading on a small digital screen
- BA basic calculator that performs arithmetic on the numbers that a user types in at the keypad of the device
- CA paper clip that holds sheets of documents together so that they can be filed in the correct folder later
- DA streaming service that suggests films to watch based on a viewer's previous viewing history and ratings
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Correct answer: DRecommendation systems predict what a user is likely to want based on past behaviour, which is what the streaming example does. The calculator, paper clip, and thermometer perform fixed functions without learning from user behaviour.
Question 20
How does AI-based threat detection typically help a security team?
- ABy printing a daily security report on paper so that the managers can read it during their morning meeting each day
- BBy replacing every firewall in the network with a single adaptive device that makes the rules automatically each day
- CBy flagging unusual network activity or login behaviour so that analysts can review the cases most likely to matter
- DBy disabling all passwords across the organization so that attackers have no credentials to steal from the users
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Correct answer: CAI-based detection learns normal patterns and flags deviations, which helps analysts focus on the most relevant events. It supports rather than replaces firewalls and human review, and disabling passwords or printing reports does not describe threat detection.
Question 21
Which is a common AI use case in manufacturing?
- AScheduling the annual holiday calendar for the staff based on their individual preferences recorded in the system
- BPainting the walls of the factory floor in a fixed colour scheme that has been chosen by the company's design team
- CPredictive maintenance that uses sensor data to anticipate when a machine is likely to fail before it breaks down
- DWriting the legal contracts that the company uses with its suppliers and customers in the course of each year
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Correct answer: CPredictive maintenance models sensor patterns to forecast failures, which reduces downtime and unplanned repairs. Painting, holiday scheduling, and contract drafting are not manufacturing uses of AI in the sense the question describes.
Question 22
Which is an example of AI supporting transportation safety?
- AA paper road map that the driver keeps in the glove box of the vehicle for use when the satellite signal is lost
- BDriver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking that use sensors and models to detect hazards
- CTraffic cones that are placed around roadworks by the maintenance crews during the working hours of each day
- DA bicycle bell that alerts pedestrians to the presence of a cyclist approaching them on a shared path nearby
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Correct answer: BAutomatic emergency braking uses models on sensor data to recognize hazards and act, which is an AI-supported safety function. Paper maps, cones, and bicycle bells are useful safety aids but do not involve AI.
Question 23
Which two are valid uses of AI in personalized learning? (Choose two.)
- AAdapting practice questions to the performance and pace of each individual learner over time
- BReplacing every teacher in the school without any oversight from the staff or the parents at all
- CGiving learners feedback on their written answers so that they can correct their mistakes quickly
- DGuaranteeing that every learner will pass the final examination once they have used the system
- EPrinting the textbooks for the class so that every student has a physical copy of the course material
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Correct answer: A, CAdaptive practice and feedback on written work are established uses of AI in learning, with teachers still in the loop. Replacing teachers without oversight, guaranteeing exam results, and printing textbooks are not valid uses of AI for personalized learning.
Question 24
Which everyday application relies on AI speech recognition?
- AA wall clock that displays the time in a fixed format that is set once by the user when the clock is installed
- BA voice assistant that converts a spoken request into text so that it can be interpreted and acted upon
- CA kitchen timer that counts down the minutes entered by the user and sounds an alarm when the time is up
- DA printed poster that shows the opening hours of a shop on the front door of the building in the main street
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Correct answer: BVoice assistants depend on speech recognition models that turn audio into text before any further processing. Clocks, timers, and posters perform fixed functions without interpreting speech.
Prompt Crafting for Effective AI Interactions (6 questions)
Question 25
What is a prompt in generative AI?
- AA printed label that is attached to a server rack so that the operations team can identify the machine quickly
- BThe input instruction or context that is given to a model to guide the content and format of its output
- CA password that the user enters to sign in to the AI tool at the start of each session in the browser
- DA driver file that the graphics card uses to communicate with the operating system of the computer host
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Correct answer: BA prompt is the instruction and context that steer a generative model's response. Labels, passwords, and drivers are unrelated objects that do not guide the model's output.
Question 26
Which technique gives the model examples of the desired output before it receives the real request?
- AFew-shot prompting, which includes a small number of worked examples so that the model follows the same pattern
- BZero-knowledge proof, which lets one party show that a statement is true without revealing the underlying data
- CBrute-force search, which tries every possible combination of words until one of the answers happens to fit
- DRandom sampling of the training data, which selects examples at chance and presents them to the model at once
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Correct answer: AFew-shot prompting shows the model a handful of examples so it can infer the expected format and style. Zero-knowledge proofs, brute-force search, and random sampling are unrelated methods.
Question 27
Which characteristic makes a prompt more effective for a generative model?
- AA vague one-word request that leaves the model to guess what the user wants and how they want it presented
- BClear instructions, relevant context, and a specified output format that suits the task the user needs done
- CDeliberately leaving out the context, so that the model is not influenced by the earlier parts of the conversation
- DA long list of unrelated requests placed in a single message without any structure to show their relative order
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Correct answer: BClear instructions, the necessary context, and a stated output format give the model what it needs to produce a useful answer. Vague requests, missing context, and unstructured lists of tasks each make the result less reliable.
Question 28
Which practice reduces the risk of exposing sensitive data when using an AI tool?
- AIncluding the passwords of the systems in the prompt so that the assistant can help troubleshoot the access problem
- BPasting complete client records into the tool so that the answers reflect the full history of each customer relationship
- CAvoiding pasting confidential data into the tool unless its data handling has been approved under company policy
- DIgnoring the acceptable use policy for AI tools because the tool is free to use and no one checks what is entered
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Correct answer: CKeeping confidential data out of tools that are not approved for it is the basic control against exposure. Pasting client records, including passwords, and ignoring the policy each increase the risk of leaking sensitive information.
Question 29
Which two techniques are recognized prompt engineering approaches? (Choose two.)
- AChain-of-thought prompting, which asks the model to reason through the problem step by step before answering
- BRole prompting, which asks the model to respond from the perspective of a specified expert or professional
- CRandom key mashing, which types meaningless characters into the prompt box to see what the model produces
- DDisabling the context window, which removes all earlier turns of the conversation from the model's input
- EPrinting the prompts on paper for review, which allows the team to read each prompt before it is submitted
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Correct answer: A, BChain-of-thought and role prompting are established techniques that shape how a model reasons and responds. Random characters, disabling context, and printing prompts are not prompt engineering techniques that improve the model's output.
Question 30
What is a system prompt in a generative AI application?
- AA warning displayed by the operating system when the device runs low on memory during a long working session
- BA message that the end user types at the start of each new conversation to introduce the topic they want to discuss
- CInstructions set by the application developer that shape the model's role, tone, and rules across the whole conversation
- DA list of the keyboard shortcuts that the application supports so that the user can navigate the interface faster
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Correct answer: CA system prompt is set by the developer to define the assistant's behaviour and constraints for the whole session. User messages, operating system warnings, and keyboard shortcuts are different things that do not define the assistant's role.