Unit 3: A3 Databases
Topic 3.1: Relational databases Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB Computer Science Topic 3.1. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
1Outline2 marks
2026
A school's timetable database is checked after an update fails part-way. Outline what is meant by a consistent database state.
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2017
A music app's database links SONG and ARTIST tables. Explain the purpose of the foreign key ArtistID in SONG.
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2016
Explain two benefits of a relational database for a school's timetable and records.
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2026
Identify the type of relationship between Students and Subjects when each student takes several subjects and each subject is taken by several students.
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2026
Explain why a many-to-many relationship cannot be implemented directly with two tables.
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2026
Outline the structure of the link table needed between Students and Subjects.
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2026
Suggest one situation in which a spreadsheet is the better choice.
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2026
Outline what is meant by a database management system.
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2026
Explain why a database separates the logical structure of the data from how it is physically stored.
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2026
Define the term relational database.
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2026
Outline the difference between a record and a field.
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2026
Outline what is meant by a primary key.
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2026
Explain why a database designer would add a StudentID field rather than using a student's name as the primary key.
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2026
Outline what is meant by a foreign key.
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2026
Explain how a foreign key enforces referential integrity.
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2026
Explain what would happen without referential integrity when a book is deleted from a library database.
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2026
Outline what is meant by a composite key.
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2026
Explain two advantages of a relational database over storing the same data in one large spreadsheet.
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2026
Explain two functions a database management system performs that an application would otherwise have to implement.
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