Important Questions (Question Bank)

This question bank is prepared for Tribhuvan University (TU) BCA 2nd Semester students appearing for the UX/UI Design (BCA 155) examination. It includes essential questions from internal exam papers, terminal tests, and TU board exam patterns across all 8 syllabus units.

Exam Pattern

60 Marks · 3 Hours · Pass: 24

Section A · 10 Marks

10 Very Short Questions — Attempt all

Section B · 30 Marks

6 Short Questions — Answer 6 of 7/8

Section C · 20 Marks

2 Long Questions — Answer 2 of 3

Section A: Very Short Answer Questions

Attempt all questions. Each question carries 1 mark. [10 × 1 = 10 Marks in TU Exam]
Answers should be concise: typically 1 to 3 sentences, a precise definition, or a clear bulleted comparison.

Unit 1 · Introduction

Define user experience (UX). Unit 1
What does accessibility mean in interface design? Unit 1
Define usability in the context of digital products. Unit 1
State one key difference between UI design and UX design. Unit 1
Name two industry-standard tools used for UI/UX design. Unit 1
What is Information Architecture (IA)? Unit 1
Mention one defining characteristic of a Command Line Interface (CLI). Unit 1
What is an anthropomorphic interface? Unit 1

Unit 2 · User Interaction Design

What is a User Persona? Unit 2
Define User Journey Mapping. Unit 2
State the primary purpose of creating a Mindmap in UX ideation. Unit 2
What is a Mood Board in the design process? Unit 2
State one advantage of conducting qualitative user interviews over quantitative surveys. Unit 2

Unit 3 · User Interface Design

State one human consideration in interface design. Unit 3
What is mental model in human-computer interaction? Unit 3
State one technological constraint when designing interfaces for mobile networks with low bandwidth. Unit 3
What is the Form Fill-in interaction style? Unit 3
State one cognitive limitation of human short-term working memory relevant to screen layout. Unit 3

Unit 4 · UI Components

State one difference between radio buttons and checkboxes. Unit 4
Which control is suitable for selecting a date? Unit 4
What is a cascading menu? Unit 4
What is a tear-off menu? Unit 4
What is an iconic menu? Unit 4
Differentiate between a modal dialog box and a modeless dialog box. Unit 4
When should a slider control be preferred over a numeric text entry field? Unit 4
What is the difference between a primary window and a secondary window? Unit 4
What is a combo box (drop-down list box)? Unit 4

Unit 5 · UI Design Considerations

What is responsive design? Unit 5
What is stepwise navigation? Unit 5
What is hub-and-spoke navigation? Unit 5
Define visual hierarchy in interface design. Unit 5
What is the Gestalt principle of proximity? Unit 5
What is inline navigation? Unit 5
Why is color contrast important for text legibility? Unit 5

Unit 6 · Wireframing & Prototyping

State one difference between a mock-up and a prototype. Unit 6
What is a high-fidelity prototype? Unit 6
What is a low-fidelity wireframe? Unit 6
What is UX storyboarding? Unit 6
State one major benefit of paper prototyping in early design stages. Unit 6

Unit 7 · Design Evaluations

What is formative evaluation? Unit 7
State one purpose of summative evaluation. Unit 7
What is Heuristic Evaluation? Unit 7
Differentiate between moderated and unmoderated usability testing. Unit 7
Mention two common quantitative usability metrics. Unit 7

Unit 8 · Advanced Techniques (VUI & NLP)

What is a voice user interface (VUI)? Unit 8
What is dialog management in a conversational interface? Unit 8
What is an avatar in conversational UI? Unit 8
State one major physical constraint when designing user interfaces for wearable smartwatches. Unit 8

Section B: Short Answer Questions

Answer any SIX questions. Each question carries 5 marks. [6 × 5 = 30 Marks in TU Exam]
Answers should be structured: include definitions, labeled comparison points, diagrams where helpful, and clear real-world examples.

1. UX vs UI Design Responsibilities [1 + 2 + 2 = 5]

Distinguish between UX design and UI design. Describe two specific responsibilities of a UX designer and two responsibilities of a UI designer using a college website as an example.
(Unit 1 · Introduction)

2. Window Presentation Styles [3 + 2 = 5]

Compare tiled, overlapping, and cascading window presentation styles. Recommend one style for comparing two documents side-by-side and justify your choice.
(Unit 4 · UI Components)

3. Formative vs Summative Evaluation [5 Marks]

Differentiate between Formative Evaluation and Summative Evaluation. Highlight their differences based on purpose, timing in the design lifecycle, methodology, and outcome.
(Unit 7 · Design Evaluations)

4. Navigational Models & Hierarchy [3 + 2 = 5]

Compare hub-and-spoke and tree (hierarchical) navigation models with neat diagrams and examples. Distinguish global navigation from utility navigation.
(Unit 5 · UI Design Considerations)

5. Readability & Responsive Adaptation [3 + 2 = 5]

Explain how typography, color contrast, and spacing affect readability on screens. Suggest two layout changes when a desktop web page is adapted for a mobile phone screen.
(Unit 5 · UI Design Considerations)

6. Human and Technological Considerations [3 + 2 = 5]

Describe three human considerations (e.g., visual perception, memory limitations, motor skills) and two technological considerations (e.g., screen resolution, bandwidth/latency) that influence interface design.
(Unit 3 · User Interface Design)

7. Functions and Organization of Menus [2 + 3 = 5]

Explain the functions of system menus. Describe three guidelines for organizing menu items effectively (e.g., grouping, ordering, and complexity management).
(Unit 4 · UI Components)

8. Visual Hierarchy Principles [1 + 3 + 1 = 5]

What is visual hierarchy? Explain alignment, proximity, size, and contrast as visual hierarchy principles. Give one concrete example of how to direct user attention to a primary Call to Action (CTA) button.
(Unit 5 · UI Design Considerations)

9. Wireframes, Mock-ups, and Prototypes [3 + 2 = 5]

Differentiate between wireframes, mock-ups, and prototypes across dimensions of visual fidelity, interactivity, and purpose. Explain when each is most useful during the product design lifecycle.
(Unit 6 · Wireframing & Prototyping)

10. Command-and-Control vs Conversational VUI [3 + 2 = 5]

Differentiate between command-and-control and conversational voice interfaces with real-world examples. Explain how a voice interface should gracefully handle an unclear or unrecognized spoken request.
(Unit 8 · Advanced Techniques)

11. User-Centered Design (UCD) Process [2 + 3 = 5]

What is User-Centered Design (UCD)? Describe the core phases of the UCD process (Research, Design, Prototype, Evaluate) and explain why it is inherently iterative.
(Unit 2 · User Interaction Design)

12. User Research: Interviews vs Surveys [3 + 2 = 5]

Compare User Interviews (qualitative) and Surveys/Questionnaires (quantitative) as UX research methods. Under what project conditions would you choose an interview over a survey?
(Unit 2 · User Interaction Design)

Compare Direct Manipulation and Menu Selection interaction styles. State two distinct advantages and two limitations of direct manipulation interfaces.
(Unit 3 · User Interface Design)

14. Selection Controls in Forms [3 + 2 = 5]

Compare Radio Buttons, Checkboxes, and Drop-down List Boxes. Provide design guidelines for when a designer should use a drop-down list rather than radio buttons.
(Unit 4 · UI Components)

15. Usability Testing: Moderated vs Unmoderated [3 + 2 = 5]

Differentiate between moderated and unmoderated usability testing. Explain the role and importance of the “Think-Aloud Protocol” during a moderated usability session.
(Unit 7 · Design Evaluations)

16. Designing for Wearable Devices [3 + 2 = 5]

Explain three critical design principles for wearable interfaces (e.g., smartwatches): glanceability, minimal input, and haptic feedback. Suggest how navigation should be simplified for circular displays.
(Unit 8 · Advanced Techniques)

17. Nielsen’s Usability Heuristics [2 + 3 = 5]

What is Heuristic Evaluation? Explain any three of Jakob Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics (e.g., Visibility of system status, Match between system and real world, Error prevention) with UI examples.
(Unit 7 · Design Evaluations)

18. Color Psychology and the 60-30-10 Rule [2 + 3 = 5]

Explain the 60-30-10 color rule in UI design. How does proper color contrast ensure accessibility according to WCAG guidelines?
(Unit 5 · UI Design Considerations)

Section C: Long Answer Questions

Answer any TWO questions. Each question carries 10 marks. [2 × 10 = 20 Marks in TU Exam]
Answers must be comprehensive, well-structured, accompanied by diagrams, workflows, and realistic application scenarios.

1. Comparative Analysis of User Interface Types [6 + 4 = 10]

Compare Command Line Interface (CLI), Graphical User Interface (GUI), Voice User Interface (VUI), Menu-driven Interface, and Natural Language Processing (NLP) based Interface across:

Primary interaction mechanism
Learning curve & cognitive load
Error tolerance and recovery
Typical hardware requirements

Recommend suitable interfaces for (a) an experienced database administrator managing high-volume server backups, and (b) a visually impaired user navigating home automation appliances. Justify both choices thoroughly.
(Unit 1 · Introduction & Unit 3 · User Interface Design)

2. UI Design Process Applied to a Resort Website [4 + 6 = 10]

Describe the major stages of the User Interface (UI) design process from problem definition to final handoff.

Apply this complete design process to a Luxury Mountain Resort Website:

User & Requirement Analysis: Define target audience, key user personas, and primary goals.
Information Architecture & Navigation: Propose an appropriate navigational model and site structure.
Wireframing & Prototyping: Outline the homepage layout, booking flow, and interactive components.
Visual Design: Specify color palette, typography choices, imagery guidelines, and responsive behavior for mobile travelers.
Expected Deliverables: List the concrete outputs produced at each stage.
(Unit 3 · User Interface Design & Unit 2 · User Interaction Design)

Compare the following six menu types in terms of visual presentation, invocation method, screen real-estate usage, and typical use cases:

Menu bars
Pull-down menus
Cascading menus
Pop-up (contextual) menus
Tear-off menus
Iconic menus (toolbars/docked palettes)

Select and design a cohesive menu hierarchy for a professional vector graphics-editing application (such as Figma or Adobe Illustrator). Justify why specific tools belong in toolbars/iconic menus, while other functions reside in menu bars or context menus.
(Unit 4 · UI Components)

4. The DECIDE Evaluation Framework [6 + 4 = 10]

Explain the six stages of the DECIDE evaluation framework in human-computer interaction:

D — Determine the overall goals
E — Explore the specific questions
C — Choose the evaluation paradigm and techniques
I — Identify practical issues
D — Decide how to deal with ethical issues
E — Evaluate, analyze, interpret, and present data

Apply the DECIDE framework to evaluate an Online University Library Management System that students report is difficult to navigate. Detail:

Two specific evaluation questions you will formulate.
The chosen evaluation method (e.g., heuristic evaluation vs usability testing) and justification.
How user consent and ethical handling of student data will be addressed.
How the test findings will be translated into concrete UI redesign priorities.
(Unit 7 · Design Evaluations)

5. End-to-End User-Centered Design Case Study [4 + 6 = 10]

A commercial bank is launching an e-Wallet and Mobile Banking App targeting young adults and college students in Nepal.

Research & Modeling: Formulate a structured UX research plan. Create one detailed User Persona and a 5-step Customer Journey Map for sending money to a friend via phone number.
Component & Navigation Design: Detail the operable controls, selection controls, and navigational model you would implement on the home dashboard to minimize friction and prevent financial transfer errors.
Usability Metrics: State three quantitative metrics (e.g., task success rate, time-on-task, error rate) you would measure during usability testing before releasing the application to the public.
(Unit 2 · User Interaction Design, Unit 4 · UI Components, & Unit 7 · Design Evaluations)

6. Voice User Interface (VUI) & NLP Design [6 + 4 = 10]

Discuss the architectural components of modern Voice User Interfaces (VUIs), including automatic speech recognition (ASR), natural language understanding (NLU), dialog management, and text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis.

Address the unique design challenges of voice interfaces compared to graphical interfaces (e.g., transient audio output, lack of visual affordance, high cognitive burden).

Design a complete conversational dialog flow for booking a domestic flight ticket via a smart voice assistant. Include:

Initial prompt and intent extraction
Slot-filling interactions (origin, destination, date, passenger count)
Error recovery / confirmation when user speech is ambiguous or background noise occurs
Final booking confirmation and receipt handover
(Unit 8 · Advanced Techniques: VUI and NLP Based UI)

Model Examination Papers

To practice under standard 3-hour exam conditions, practice with these full model papers:

Model Exam · Set AFull 60-mark paper featuring internal terminal questions.

Model Exam · Set BFull 60-mark paper featuring internal terminal questions.

Model Exam · Set CFull syllabus mock practice examination paper.