IPA IP 2020 Question 63

Topic: System Component

A question IPA Japan published in 令和2年度 10月 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問63, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.

Same question on ITPEC: Apr 2025 Q15 +2 more

Among the changes A through D in a client/server system, which of the following is the list that contains all and only the appropriate changes for reducing the response time?

A:Establishing a high-speed line between the client and the server, and reducing the time taken to transmit dataB:Increasing the number of clients, and reducing the waiting time for users before using clientsC:Reducing the time taken for data entry by users on the client’s input screenD:Making the server high-performance, and reducing the server’s processing time

Explanation

A and D — response time runs from the end of the user's input to the start of the reply, and only a faster line and a faster server shorten it.

After the user sends a request, the time until the result appears is made of transmitting the request to the server, processing it on the server, and transmitting the result back:

  • •A: a high-speed line shortens both transmissions: appropriate
  • •B: more clients shortens the wait to get a terminal, which happens before any request is sent; more clients can even load the server more: not appropriate
  • •C: faster data entry shortens the time before the request is sent, which is not part of response time: not appropriate
  • •D: a high-performance server shortens the processing: appropriate

Answer (b)

Why not others:

  • •(a) — includes B and C, which act before the request is sent, and misses D
  • •(c) — B and C are exactly the two items outside the response time
  • •(d) — includes C and misses A, the transmission time

Key rule: Response time is measured from the end of input to the start of output: it covers transmission and processing, not the user's entry time or waiting for a terminal.

System Component · AI-written, may contain errors

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This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.