FC-AI BCS Foundation Certificate in Artificial Intelligence Practice Questions
Prepare for FC-AI with more than an answer.
- Time limit
- 60 minutes
- Questions on the exam
- 40
- Passing score
- 65%
- Level
- Foundation
- Valid for
- No expiry - lifetime certification
Domains covered on the exam 6
- An Introduction to AI and Historical Development15%
- Ethical and Legal Considerations15%
- Enablers of Artificial Intelligence15%
- Finding and Using Data in Artificial Intelligence20%
- How Organisations Use AI20%
- Future Planning and Impact15%
- 1
A senior data scientist has developed a proprietary machine learning model for a client. The scientist is subsequently asked by the client to conduct an independent, objective audit of the model's fairness and accuracy. Concurrently, a vendor threatens to withhold critical cloud infrastructure services unless the data scientist endorses their specific AI product in the audit report.
Which two ethical challenges is the data scientist primarily facing in this scenario?
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Correct answer: B
The data scientist is asked to audit their own work, which creates a 'Self-review' threat (objectivity is compromised). The vendor's threat to withhold services constitutes 'Intimidation', coercing the professional to act unethically.
- 2
A project manager is assessing the risks of implementing a new AI chatbot. They are trying to determine whether the implementation represents a 'complicated' scenario requiring expert analysis, or a 'complex' scenario requiring experimental probing and sensing. Which risk management framework is the project manager using?
quadrantChart title Risk Management Framework x-axis Unordered --> Ordered y-axis Low Predictability --> High Predictability quadrant-1 Complicated (Sense-Analyze-Respond) quadrant-2 Clear/Simple (Sense-Categorize-Respond) quadrant-3 Chaotic (Act-Sense-Respond) quadrant-4 Complex (Probe-Sense-Respond)Show answer details
Correct answer: B
The Cynefin framework is a sense-making device that categorises situations into five domains: Clear (Simple), Complicated, Complex, Chaotic, and Confusion. It helps leaders understand the context of risks and choose appropriate management responses (e.g., Probe-Sense-Respond for Complex domains).
- 3
A retail company is deploying an AI-driven recruitment tool that processes CVs and candidate data to shortlist applicants. The legal team insists the tool must comply with the primary legal framework governing data protection in the UK. Which regulation are they referring to?
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Correct answer: C
The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the UK GDPR are the primary regulations governing how personal data is processed and protected in the UK. They are highly relevant to AI systems that process personal information.
- 4
A technology historian is authoring a paper on the cyclical nature of AI research funding. They are specifically focusing on the periods where public interest and financial investment in AI research dropped significantly due to overinflated expectations and subsequent disappointments. Which historical milestones are they researching?
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Correct answer: A
The term 'AI Winters' refers specifically to the periods from 1974-1980 and 1987-1993 when funding and interest in AI research significantly decreased following periods of hype and unfulfilled promises.
- 5
A large enterprise is deploying a new generative AI model for internal document summarisation. The Chief Sustainability Officer is concerned about the environmental impact of the deployment, particularly regarding energy consumption and water usage for cooling processors. Which TWO of the following strategies represent valid sustainability measures to reduce the environmental impact of this AI initiative? (Select TWO)
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Correct answer: D, E
Algorithm choice is a key sustainability measure. Selecting more efficient, targeted algorithms instead of massive, computationally expensive models reduces the energy required for both training and inference.
Green IT initiatives, specifically focusing on data centre efficiency and using renewable energy sources, directly address the environmental impact of running intensive AI workloads.
- 6
A multinational healthcare organisation is implementing a new AI diagnostic tool that analyses patient X-rays to detect early signs of pneumonia. The system operates within a well-defined domain and cannot perform tasks outside of image recognition. Concurrently, the legal team is reviewing the deployment strategy to ensure compliance with the newly established EU AI Act (2024).
Considering the capabilities of the system and the regulatory environment, how should this AI system be classified, and what is the primary purpose of the EU AI Act in this context?
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Correct answer: B
The system is Narrow AI (ANI) because it is task-specific (image recognition) and operates within a well-defined domain. The EU AI Act (2024) establishes a comprehensive, risk-based regulatory framework to ensure AI systems are safe, transparent, and respect fundamental rights.
