Lesson 4.9.2.3

4.9.2.3 Wireless networking Quiz: AQA Computer Science, Unit 9

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 4.9.2.3, Wireless networking: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Computer Science (7517), Unit 9: Fundamentals of communication and networking, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What is the purpose of WiFi?

    • To connect devices to a network wirelessly, using a wireless LAN based on international standards
    • To encrypt all of the data stored on a hard disk drive in the computer, so that it cannot be read without a key
    • To carry data between two computers over a dedicated copper cable only, with no wireless link used at any point
    • To route packets across the backbone links of the Internet, handling the forwarding decisions made by routers

  2. Which component does a computer need to join a WiFi network?

    • A laser printer driver
    • A wireless network adapter
    • A wireless access point
    • A hard disk controller

  3. What is the role of a wireless access point?

    • It converts radio signals into digital data for the screen to display
    • It stores the SSID and password for every device in the building
    • It connects wireless devices to a wired network, acting as a bridge between them
    • It removes the need for a router, so devices connect straight to the Internet

  4. What does WPA2 provide for a wireless network?

    • A list of approved MAC addresses that is stored in the router
    • A broadcast of the network name to every device within range
    • Strong encryption of the data transmitted over the wireless link
    • A faster physical layer that doubles the bit rate of the connection

  5. What is the effect of disabling SSID broadcast?

    • The access point is switched off, so no devices can connect to the network
    • All data sent over the wireless link is encrypted from that moment on
    • The network name is no longer advertised in the list of visible networks
    • Each device on the network is given a unique IP address automatically

  6. What is the purpose of the SSID?

    • It is the address of the access point on the wired part of the network, so that devices can find the router
    • It is a name that identifies a wireless network to the devices that want to connect to it
    • It is a code that measures the signal strength of each device in range, so the access point can adjust its power
    • It is the password used to encrypt every wireless packet that is sent, so that eavesdroppers cannot read the data

  7. What is a MAC address allow list used for in wireless security?

    • It encrypts the data sent from each device to the access point, so that the contents cannot be read by others
    • It sets the name of the wireless network for display to users, so that they can recognise it in the list
    • It assigns IP addresses to devices as they join the network, so that each one has a unique address on the LAN
    • It permits only devices with listed hardware addresses to connect to the network

  8. What does CSMA/CA stand for, and why is it used on wireless networks?

    • Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Acknowledgement, used to encrypt wireless traffic
    • Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection, used to repair frames on a wired bus
    • Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance, used to reduce collisions on a shared wireless channel
    • Common Signal Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance, used to share a copper cable

  9. What is the purpose of the RTS/CTS exchange in CSMA/CA?

    • A device asks the router to change its IP address before it transmits any data, so that the address is unique
    • A device asks permission to send (RTS) and waits for a clear-to-send (CTS) reply, reducing collisions with hidden devices
    • A device sends its SSID and receives a list of MAC addresses in reply, which it then uses to route its data
    • A device requests a copy of the router's encryption key before any data is sent, so that the frame can be secured

  10. Which combination describes a secure home WiFi set-up using the measures in the spec?

    • Open access, an SSID hidden only from visitors, and no MAC address filtering whatsoever
    • Shared keys published on a website, SSID broadcast enabled and no allow list at all
    • WPA2 encryption, SSID broadcast disabled, and a MAC address allow list
    • No encryption, SSID broadcast enabled, and an open network for any visitor to join

  11. What is the main difference between a wireless adapter and a wireless access point?

    • The adapter converts the SSID into an IP address, whereas the access point stores passwords
    • Both are identical components that differ only in their colour and size
    • The adapter provides the wireless network to devices, while the access point joins devices to it
    • The adapter lets a device join a wireless network, while the access point provides the wireless network to devices

  12. Why does a wireless network need access control even when it uses WPA2?

    • The SSID can be encrypted only if the MAC addresses are encrypted in the same way
    • WPA2 does not encrypt data, so access control is the only protection the network has
    • Encryption protects data in transit, but access control such as an allow list limits who can join at all
    • Encryption is needed only on wired networks, so access control is always enough for wireless

  13. Which device would a desktop computer need to join a wireless network if it has no wireless hardware fitted?

    • An optical disk drive with a read-only laser
    • A solid-state disk with a controller that manages blocks
    • A wireless network adapter, for example a USB dongle
    • A barcode reader fitted to the keyboard

  14. Which of these is NOT a wireless security measure described in the spec?

    • Using a MAC address allow list to restrict who can join
    • Strong encryption using WPA2 for the wireless link
    • Disabling SSID broadcast so that the name is not advertised
    • Using a barcode to identify each wireless device on the network

  15. A household router provides the wireless network that three devices join. What is the role of the router's access point here?

    • It replaces each device's wireless adapter with its own built-in hardware
    • It stores the files of each device and shares them with the others on the network
    • It sends data only to the devices that have a wired connection to the router
    • It provides the wireless network that the three devices join

  16. A network uses CSMA/CA without RTS/CTS. What is the main drawback?

    • Devices cannot send any data at all until an RTS/CTS exchange has completed, which delays every single transmission
    • Hidden devices may not hear one another, so collisions can occur without the channel being reserved
    • The access point must encrypt every frame, which reduces the bit rate to zero whenever a frame is being sent
    • Every device must share one SSID, which slows the network down considerably as the number of devices grows

  17. Which measure stops a device that knows the password from joining a network when its hardware address is not on the list?

    • A MAC address allow list
    • Disabling SSID broadcast on the access point
    • Choosing a longer SSID name for the network
    • WPA2 encryption on the wireless link

  18. Why does disabling SSID broadcast not provide strong security on its own?

    • Devices can join only if they hold a matching IP address, which the broadcast would reveal
    • It removes the access point from the network, so there is nothing for an attacker to protect
    • Disabling the broadcast also turns off encryption, so data travels unprotected over the air
    • The network name can still be detected by tools that monitor traffic, so it is weak protection without encryption

  19. What does the WPA in WPA2 stand for?

    • Wireless Packet Authentication
    • Wired Protected Architecture
    • WiFi Protected Access
    • WiFi Public Access

  20. Why is a wireless link more exposed to eavesdropping than a wired link?

    • Wireless devices never carry real data, so there is nothing for an attacker to intercept
    • Signals travel through the air, where anyone in range can receive them unless the data is encrypted
    • Wireless signals travel only through the mains wiring, which is easy to tap into
    • Wired networks always encrypt their data by default, so there is nothing to intercept

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