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Exam Review

Key Facts: Database Specialist Examination Exam

7,500 JPY

Exam fee (tax included)

IPA スケジュール、手数料など

60/100 each subject

Pass cutoff for A-1, A-2, B-1, and B-2

IPA 試験要綱 Ver.5.6

30 + 25 MCQ

Official A-1 and A-2 item counts

IPA データベーススペシャリスト試験

Level 4

IT Skill Standards (ITSS) ranking

IPA データベーススペシャリスト試験シラバス（レベル4）

Japan's national ITSS Level 4 database-specialist exam, run by IPA for METI. Fee 7,500 JPY (tax included); Japanese CBT with MCQ and descriptive papers. This bank is independent English MCQ study, not an official translation.

Sample Database Specialist Examination Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Database Specialist Examination exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1In the usual software testing hierarchy, what does integration testing verify that unit testing does not?
A.That modules already tested individually work correctly together across their interfaces, including the data passed between them
B.That each individual function returns the right value for its own inputs in isolation
C.That the finished system meets the acquirer's business requirements in the live environment
D.That the source code compiles without warnings on the build server
Explanation: Unit testing exercises one module or function in isolation against its detailed design. Integration testing then exercises the interfaces between already-tested modules, which is where mismatched parameters, data formats, and call sequences surface. Confirming business requirements in the operating environment is system qualification and acceptance testing, later in the sequence.
2A demand-paged system spends nearly all of its time moving pages between memory and disk and very little time executing user code. What is this condition, and what is the standard response?
A.A cache hit storm; disable the CPU cache so memory is accessed directly
B.Thrashing; reduce the degree of multiprogramming or add physical memory so each resident process can hold its working set
C.Deadlock; abort one transaction chosen as the victim and roll it back
D.Fragmentation; defragment the paging file so that pages become contiguous
Explanation: Thrashing occurs when the combined working sets of the active processes exceed physical memory, so almost every reference causes a page fault and the CPU stalls waiting on I/O. The classic responses are to lower the degree of multiprogramming by swapping processes out, or to add memory so each resident process can keep its working set. Deadlock and fragmentation are different failure modes with different remedies.
3A server has MTBF of 990 hours and MTTR of 10 hours. What is its steady-state availability?
A.90%
B.99%
C.99.9%
D.9.9%
Explanation: Steady-state availability is MTBF / (MTBF + MTTR) = 990 / (990 + 10) = 990 / 1,000 = 0.99, or 99%. MTBF is mean time between failures; MTTR is mean time to repair. The unused 10 hours in the denominator are downtime, not an extra nine of availability.
4Four 2 TB disks are configured as RAID 5 with one parity stripe and no spare. What is the usable capacity for data?
A.8 TB
B.6 TB
C.4 TB
D.2 TB
Explanation: RAID 5 stripes data and distributed parity across n disks and can survive one disk failure. Usable capacity is (n − 1) times one disk, so (4 − 1) × 2 TB = 6 TB. RAID 0 would offer 8 TB with no redundancy; RAID 1 mirroring of two pairs would offer 4 TB; RAID 5 is not a single-disk usable remainder of 2 TB.
5In public-key cryptography, which key pair is used to create and then verify a digital signature on a message?
A.The sender encrypts the message digest with the sender's public key; the receiver verifies with the sender's private key
B.The sender encrypts the message digest with the sender's private key; the receiver verifies with the sender's public key
C.The sender encrypts the message digest with the receiver's public key; the receiver verifies with the receiver's private key
D.The sender and receiver share one secret HMAC key that is also used as a public verification key
Explanation: A digital signature is produced with the signer's private key so that anyone who has the matching public key can verify origin and integrity. Encrypting a digest with the receiver's public key provides confidentiality of that digest, not a signature others can check. HMAC uses a shared secret, not a public verification key.
6Which TCP handshake sequence establishes a connection?
A.ACK, then SYN, then FIN
B.SYN, then SYN-ACK, then ACK
C.FIN, then ACK, then SYN-ACK
D.RST, then SYN, then ACK
Explanation: TCP uses a three-way handshake: the client sends SYN, the server replies SYN-ACK, and the client returns ACK. FIN is used to close a connection. RST aborts. Starting with ACK or FIN does not open a new TCP connection.
7How many usable host addresses does the IPv4 subnet 192.168.20.0/28 provide?
A.16
B.8
C.30
D.14
Explanation: A /28 prefix leaves 32 - 28 = 4 host bits, so the block holds 2^4 = 16 addresses. The all-zeros network address and the all-ones broadcast address cannot be assigned to hosts, leaving 16 - 2 = 14 usable host addresses.
8Confidentiality, integrity, and availability are the classic information-security triad. Which statement matches availability?
A.Only authorized parties can read the payroll table
B.Authorized users can use the database service when they need it, within agreed service hours
C.A checksum proves a backup file has not been altered in storage
D.A digital signature proves which administrator issued a schema change
Explanation: Availability is timely, usable access for authorized users. Confidentiality is secrecy of data. Integrity is protection against unauthorized or accidental modification. Authentication/non-repudiation of an actor is related to integrity and accountability, not the availability property itself.
9Software copyright under Japan's Copyright Act (著作権法) generally arises when?
A.Only after the program is registered with the Japan Patent Office as an invention
B.Automatically when the original program is created, without a constitutive registration requirement
C.Only after METI publishes the source code in an official gazette
D.Only if the author files an ISO/IEC 27001 Statement of Applicability
Explanation: Japanese copyright in a program work arises on creation; registration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs can help prove facts but is not required to create the right. Patents are a separate industrial-property regime at the Japan Patent Office. METI gazettes and ISMS documents do not confer copyright.
10In project management, what does a work breakdown structure (WBS) primarily define?
A.The sequence of critical-path activities with float already calculated
B.A hierarchical decomposition of project deliverables and work packages
C.The earned-value SPI and CPI for the current reporting period
D.The RACI matrix of named individuals only, without deliverable structure
Explanation: A WBS decomposes project scope into a hierarchy of deliverables and work packages. Scheduling, float, and the critical path come from a network/schedule built after work packages exist. Earned-value indices measure performance against a baseline. RACI assigns roles; it is not a substitute for scope decomposition.

About the Database Specialist Examination Exam

The Database Specialist Examination (データベーススペシャリスト試験, DB) is Japan's national ITSS Level 4 exam for database engineers. IPA administers it for METI. The 2026 fee is 7,500 JPY (tax included). Candidates sit Japanese CBT: 30 common MCQs, 25 specialist MCQs, two of three short descriptive cases, and one longer descriptive paper. A pass requires 60 of 100 on each subject. OpenExamPrep publishes 100 independent English multiple-choice study questions on the published syllabus. This bank is not an official translation, not a 2026 CBT item clone, and not a substitute for Japanese SQL and design papers.

Exam sponsor: 独立行政法人情報処理推進機構 (IPA / Innovation Platform Agency, Japan) under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Japanese CBT in the FY2026 second-half (後期) window. Subject A group and Subject B group are reserved on separate days. Multi-stage scoring applies. DB B-2 is descriptive with a 60-of-100 cutoff, not a Rank A essay. Paper sittings are a special measure only.

Time Limit

A-1 50 min; A-2 40 min; B-1 90 min; B-2 120 min, with A group and B group on separate 2026 CBT days.

Passing Score

60 of 100 on A-1, A-2, B-1, and B-2. IPA may adjust the cutoff if difficulty requires it.

Exam / Certification Fees

7,500 JPY (tax included).

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25% of this local practice set

Common IT knowledge (Subject A-1)

Shared advanced-exam knowledge. IPA does not publish DB domain percentages.

25% of this local practice set

Data modeling and relational theory

Conceptual/logical models, normalization, and constraints.

25% of this local practice set

SQL, transactions, and concurrency

SQL results, isolation, locking, and recovery.

25% of this local practice set

Physical design, security, and operations

Indexes, performance, privileges, and data administration.

Preparing for the Database Specialist Examination Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 60 of 100 on A-1, A-2, B-1, and B-2. IPA may adjust the cutoff if difficulty requires it.
  • Assessment: Japanese CBT in the FY2026 second-half (後期) window. Subject A group and Subject B group are reserved on separate days. Multi-stage scoring applies. DB B-2 is descriptive with a 60-of-100 cutoff, not a Rank A essay. Paper sittings are a special measure only.
  • Time limit: A-1 50 min; A-2 40 min; B-1 90 min; B-2 120 min, with A group and B group on separate 2026 CBT days.
  • Exam / certification fees: 7,500 JPY (tax included). Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Database Specialist Examination: Suggested Study Strategy

1Include genuine SQL result and normalization items; DB is quantitative.
2Trace isolation anomalies (dirty read, non-repeatable read, phantom) from stated schedules.
3Use this English bank for theory and judgment; still work Japanese B papers from IPA past questions.
4Do not invent vendor-only syntax as if it were IPA standard SQL.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for the DB examination?

IPA requires at least 60 of 100 on Subjects A-1, A-2, B-1, and B-2 (試験要綱 Ver.5.6). DB B-2 is descriptive, not a Rank A essay. Multi-stage selection applies.

How is the 2026 examination structured?

Japanese CBT in the late window: A-1 30 MCQs/50 min, A-2 25 MCQs/40 min, B-1 3 descriptive/90 min (answer 2), B-2 2 descriptive/120 min (answer 1). A group and B group are on separate days.

Does this bank replace descriptive SQL papers?

No. Official B papers are Japanese descriptive modeling and SQL. This bank is independent English MCQ study, not an official translation or a writing simulation.

Are these OpenExamPrep practice questions official IPA exam questions?

No. IPA administers the official Japanese examination. This bank is independent study on published syllabus topics.

Is the exam changing after 2026?

IPA states that the current examination system ends with the FY2026 (令和8年度) administration and that a new examination system is planned from FY2027, following the METI/IPA review of the exam-division structure. FY2026 is also the year every division moved to CBT, and IPA no longer publishes live CBT questions. This practice set is built from the current published syllabus, so confirm IPA's 試験制度の見直し page before planning a sitting beyond FY2026.