EC-AI BCS Essentials Certificate in Artificial Intelligence Practice Questions
Prepare for EC-AI with more than an answer.
- Time limit
- 30 minutes
- Questions on the exam
- 20
- Passing score
- 65% (13/20)
- Level
- Essentials
- Valid for
- Does not expire (BCS professional certifications are typically lifetime credentials)
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%
- Using AI in Your Organisation20%
- Future Planning and Impact - Human Plus Machine15%
- 1
A large financial institution implements an AI-driven recruitment tool to screen initial job applications. The tool was trained exclusively on the resumes of the company's past successful executives over the last 30 years.
After six months of deployment, the HR director notices that the system is consistently rejecting candidates from specific educational backgrounds and geographical areas, despite them having identical qualifications to accepted candidates. An internal audit reveals the historical training data predominantly featured candidates from a narrow demographic.
Based on the ethical concerns of AI outlined in the syllabus, what is the primary issue demonstrated in this scenario?
flowchart TD HistoricalData[30 Years of Executive Resumes] --> Training[Train ML Model] Training --> Deployment[AI Screening Tool] Deployment --> Decision{Candidate Profile} Decision -->|Matches Historical Demographic| Accept[Interview] Decision -->|Different Demographic| Reject[Reject]Show answer details
Correct answer: D
This scenario perfectly illustrates the potential for bias, unfairness, and discrimination. Because the AI was trained on historical data that lacked diversity, the machine learning model learned to replicate those historical biases, leading to systematic unfairness in evaluating new candidates.
- 2
When a company deploys an AI system that automatically monitors employee productivity by tracking keystrokes and screen activity, which specific ethical concern regarding AI is primarily being raised?
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Correct answer: D
Monitoring employee keystrokes and screen activity directly impacts data privacy and protections. It raises significant ethical concerns about surveillance, consent, and the handling of personal behavioural data in the workplace.
- 3
An organisation uses an AI system to generate marketing content. Because the law in their country does not yet regulate AI-generated content, the compliance team states that the system cannot possibly pose any ethical issues. Is this statement True or False?
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Correct answer: B
False. Ethics and law are different. Ethics govern moral principles and behaviour, while laws are enforceable rules. Something can be entirely legal (or unregulated) but still be highly unethical (e.g., generating deceptive or biased content).
- 4
A university lecturer is explaining the fundamental concepts of artificial intelligence to a new cohort of students. They quote a famous definition: 'The study of computer algorithms that allow computer programs to automatically improve through experience.' Which pioneer of machine learning is credited with this specific definition?
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Correct answer: D
Tom Mitchell explicitly defined machine learning as 'The field of machine learning is concerned with the question of how to construct computer programs that automatically improve with experience.' This is a core syllabus definition. Alan Turing is known for the Turing Test, and Marvin Minsky was a pioneer of AI but not the author of this specific ML definition.
- 5
An enterprise architect is classifying the company's current software portfolio to identify which systems utilise Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI). Which TWO of the following applications strictly fall under the category of Narrow AI? (Select TWO)
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Correct answer: A, B
Narrow AI (ANI), also known as weak AI, is task-specific and operates within well-defined domains. Language translation and image recognition are prime examples of Narrow AI currently in use. A system that can learn any intellectual task represents General AI (AGI), which is currently hypothetical.
Narrow AI (ANI), also known as weak AI, is task-specific and operates within well-defined domains. Language translation and image recognition are prime examples of Narrow AI currently in use. A system that can learn any intellectual task represents General AI (AGI), which is currently hypothetical.
- 6
A technology consultancy is preparing a presentation on the evolution of Artificial Intelligence for a corporate client. They are mapping out the critical milestones that have shaped the industry from its inception to the modern era.
The presentation highlights a specific period where funding and interest in AI research drastically decreased, leading to stagnation. It also points to a recent breakthrough year where a specific type of AI became a matter of massive public interest.
Based on the historical development of AI, which of the following statements correctly identifies these key milestones?
timeline title AI Historical Milestones 1956 : Dartmouth Conference 1974-1980 : First AI Winter 1987-1993 : Second AI Winter 2010s : Big Data & IoT Boom 2022 : LLMs reach public awarenessShow answer details
Correct answer: A
According to the official BCS syllabus, the AI winters (periods of reduced funding and interest) occurred from 1974-1980 and 1987-1993. Furthermore, Large Language Models (LLMs) saw widespread use and became a matter of massive public interest in 2022. The Dartmouth conference in 1956 was the starting point of AI, not an AI winter.
