Ethical Issues: JAMB Computer Studies Questions, Answers & Notes

What Ethical Issues covers in the JAMB Computer Studies syllabus

Ethics in computing means using computers in a right (moral) and responsible way. Several issues arise. Software piracy is copying and using software without permission or a licence; plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own; copyright is the legal right that protects a creator's original work, and respecting intellectual property means not copying or stealing others' digital work. Data privacy concerns keeping people's personal data safe, private and not misused. Users must also avoid clear wrongs: hacking (gaining unauthorised access to a system), using another person's password without permission, cyberbullying (harassing others online), spreading misinformation (false information) and cybercrime (fraud using computers or the internet) — all of which are unethical and often illegal. A responsible computer user should respect others' privacy and work. The main point: ethical issues in computing include software piracy, plagiarism, respecting copyright and privacy, and avoiding hacking, cyberbullying and cybercrime.

For Ethical Issues, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Define ethics in computing (responsible, moral use)
• Recall key issues (software piracy, plagiarism, copyright, intellectual property, data privacy)
• Recall misuse to avoid (hacking, cyberbullying, misinformation, cybercrime) and responsible conduct

Key facts & revision notes: Ethical Issues

These are the recurring points our Ethical Issues questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• Ethics in computing means using computers in a right (moral) and responsible way.
• Software piracy is copying and using software without permission or a licence.
• Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own.
• Copyright is the legal right that protects a creator's original work from unauthorised use.
• Data privacy concerns keeping people's personal data safe, private and not misused.
• Hacking is gaining unauthorised access to a computer system, which is unethical and illegal.
• Cyberbullying is using the internet or phones to bully or harass others.
• Spreading false information online is misinformation, which can mislead and harm people.
• Respecting intellectual property means not copying or stealing other people's digital work.
• Using another person's password without permission is unethical and illegal.
• A responsible computer user should respect others' privacy and work.
• Fraud carried out using computers or the internet is a form of cybercrime.
• Ethics in computing means using computers responsibly.
• Copying software without permission is software piracy.
• Presenting others' work as your own is plagiarism.
• The right protecting a creator's work is copyright.
• Unauthorised access to a system is hacking.
• Bullying others online is cyberbullying.
• Keeping personal data safe concerns data privacy.
• The main point is that ethical issues in computing include software piracy, plagiarism, respecting copyright and privacy, and avoiding hacking, cyberbullying and cybercrime.

Worked examples

Three Ethical Issues questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How Ethical Issues is tested in JAMB Computer Studies

Our Ethical Issues bank holds 20 questions (2 easy, 16 medium, 2 hard). JAMB Computer Studies typically returns to Ethical Issues year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer Ethical Issues questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on Ethical Issues. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Computer Studies item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at Ethical Issues is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Ethical Issues

The errors that cost marks on Ethical Issues are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise Ethical Issues actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ethical Issues part of the JAMB Computer Studies syllabus?

Yes. Ethical Issues is a recognised topic in the JAMB Computer Studies syllabus, covering define ethics in computing (responsible, moral use). You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Ethical Issues questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 20 original, JAMB-standard Ethical Issues questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about Ethical Issues?

Ethics in computing means using computers in a right (moral) and responsible way. Several issues arise. Software piracy is copying and using software without permission or a licence; plagiarism is presenting someone else's work or ideas as your own; copyright is the legal right that protects a creat…

How do I answer Ethical Issues questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for Ethical Issues. Practising timed Ethical Issues questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB Computer Studies Ethical Issues questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise Ethical Issues questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start Ethical Issues practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Computer Studies syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.