Software Engineering – Unit Wise Important
Questions (Based on Syllabus + PYQs)
Unit–1: Introduction to Software Engineering
Most Important Long Questions
1. What is Software Engineering? Explain its evolution and software crisis.
2. Explain characteristics of software. Why are software different from hardware?
3. Explain Waterfall Model with advantages and disadvantages.
4. Explain Spiral Model with diagram. Why is it called a risk-driven model?
5. Compare Waterfall Model and Spiral Model.
6. Explain Incremental Model and Evolutionary Model.
7. Explain Prototype Model with merits and demerits.
8. Explain Agile Development Process and its advantages.
9. Explain Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
10. Compare different SDLC models.
11. Explain RAD (Rapid Application Development) Model.
12. Explain Software Reuse and its importance.
13. Explain Code-and-Fix model.
14. Explain RUP (Rational Unified Process).
Repeated / Important Short Questions
• Define Software Engineering.
• What is software crisis?
• What is SDLC?
• Define Agile Model.
• Difference between Version and Release.
• What is prototyping?
• Define software reuse.
• Advantages of Spiral Model.
• What is iterative development?
• Difference between Waterfall and Incremental model.
Unit–2: Requirements Engineering
Most Important Long Questions
1. Explain Requirement Engineering Process.
2. Explain Requirement Analysis with its phases.
3. Explain Functional and Non-Functional Requirements with examples.
4. Explain SRS (Software Requirement Specification) and its characteristics.
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5. Explain techniques for Requirement Gathering.
6. Explain barriers in eliciting user requirements.
7. Explain Decision Table and Decision Tree with examples.
8. Explain DFD (Data Flow Diagram) with symbols and examples.
9. Explain Requirement Validation and Requirement Management.
10. Explain Software Requirements Standards.
11. Explain User Requirements and System Requirements.
12. Explain Requirement Documentation process.
Repeated / Important Short Questions
• Define SRS.
• Difference between Functional and Non-functional requirements.
• What is requirement elicitation?
• Define DFD.
• What is Decision Table?
• Define Requirement Engineering.
• Characteristics of good SRS.
• What are volatile requirements?
• What is feasibility study?
• Define Requirement Validation.
Unit–3: Software Design
Most Important Long Questions
1. Explain goals of good software design.
2. Explain coupling and cohesion with types.
3. Explain Structured Design approach.
4. Explain Object Oriented Design.
5. Explain Top-down and Bottom-up design approaches.
6. Explain UML diagrams and their importance.
7. Explain DFD and Data Dictionary.
8. Explain Structure Chart with example.
9. Explain Design Strategies and Methodologies.
10. Explain Modular Design.
11. Explain Design Patterns.
12. Explain Packaging in software design.
Repeated / Important Short Questions
• Define cohesion.
• Define coupling.
• Difference between coupling and cohesion.
• What is modularity?
• Define UML.
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• What is data dictionary?
• Define structure chart.
• Difference between top-down and bottom-up approach.
• What are design patterns?
• Types of cohesion.
Unit–4: Software Project Management
Most Important Long Questions
1. Explain Software Project Management.
2. Explain responsibilities of Project Manager.
3. Explain COCOMO Model with example.
4. Explain LOC and Function Point metrics.
5. Explain Halstead Software Science.
6. Explain Project Scheduling techniques.
7. Explain Staffing Level Estimation.
8. Explain Risk Management in software projects.
9. Explain Software Cost Estimation techniques.
10. Explain Team Structure and Organization.
11. Explain Project Planning activities.
12. Explain Size Oriented and Function Oriented metrics.
Repeated / Important Short Questions
• Define COCOMO.
• What is LOC?
• Define Function Point.
• Role of Project Manager.
• What is Risk Management?
• Define Software Metrics.
• What is scheduling?
• Types of project estimation.
• Define staffing.
• What is software cost estimation?
Unit–5: Software Coding & Testing
Most Important Long Questions
1. Explain Software Testing process.
2. Explain Black Box Testing and White Box Testing.
3. Explain Boundary Value Analysis with example.
4. Explain Equivalence Class Testing.
5. Explain Decision Table Testing.
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6. Explain Cause Effect Graphing.
7. Explain Unit Testing, Integration Testing and System Testing.
8. Explain Alpha Testing and Beta Testing.
9. Explain Cyclomatic Complexity and Control Flow Graph.
10. Explain Path Testing.
11. Explain Mutation Testing and Data Flow Testing.
12. Explain Debugging techniques.
13. Explain Functional Testing.
14. Explain Test Case Design techniques.
Repeated / Important Short Questions
• Define software testing.
• Difference between Alpha and Beta testing.
• What is black-box testing?
• What is white-box testing?
• Define cyclomatic complexity.
• What is debugging?
• Define path testing.
• What is mutation testing?
• Define integration testing.
• What is unit testing?
Unit–6: Software Maintenance & Quality Management
Most Important Long Questions
1. Explain Software Maintenance and its types.
2. Explain Maintenance Process and Maintenance Models.
3. Explain Reverse Engineering and Reengineering.
4. Explain Configuration Management.
5. Explain Regression Testing.
6. Explain Software Reliability and Reliability Metrics.
7. Explain Software Quality Management.
8. Explain ISO 9000 and SEI CMM.
9. Explain Documentation in software maintenance.
10. Explain Reliability Measurement techniques.
11. Explain Software Reengineering Process.
12. Explain Quality Assurance and Quality Control.
Repeated / Important Short Questions
• Define software maintenance.
• Types of maintenance.
• What is regression testing?
• Define reverse engineering.
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• What is software reliability?
• Define configuration management.
• What is SEI CMM?
• Define ISO 9000.
• Difference between quality assurance and quality control.
• Define software reengineering.
Very Important Topics for Exam Preparation (High
Probability)
Unit–1
• SDLC Models Comparison
• Waterfall vs Spiral
• Agile Model
Unit–2
• SRS
• Functional vs Non-functional Requirements
• DFD
Unit–3
• Coupling & Cohesion
• UML Diagrams
• Structure Chart
Unit–4
• COCOMO
• Function Point & LOC
• Risk Management
Unit–5
• Black Box vs White Box Testing
• Cyclomatic Complexity
• Alpha & Beta Testing
Unit–6
• Software Maintenance Types
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• Reliability Metrics
• ISO 9000 & SEI CMM
Important MCQs / Objective Topics from PYQ
1. SDLC activities
2. Classical Waterfall Model
3. Spiral Model characteristics
4. COCOMO estimation order
5. Version vs Release
6. SRS document properties
7. Cohesion types
8. Black-box and White-box testing
9. Alpha Testing & Beta Testing
10. Strong cohesion and low coupling