Operating Systems Knowledge Quiz — Linux, Windows & macOS Fundamentals
Covers core concepts of modern operating systems like Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Test your knowledge with the Operating Systems Knowledge Quiz — a focused assessment covering core concepts of modern operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS. This quiz is designed for developers, sysadmins, IT students, and technology professionals who want to validate and improve their understanding of kernels, processes, memory management, file systems, system calls, service management, and security features. The questions emphasize practical skills and theory frequently encountered in real-world system administration and software development.
By taking this Operating Systems Knowledge Quiz, you will evaluate your familiarity with essential OS topics such as kernel modes, scheduling algorithms, virtual memory, file permissions, systemd, APFS, and diagnostic commands (ps, top, df, du). Ideal for certification preparation or measuring baseline competency, this quiz provides actionable feedback to help you prioritize study areas across Linux, Windows, and macOS platforms.
What is the primary role of an operating system kernel?
Choose the statement that best describes the kernel's core responsibilities.
Which command will list detailed information about running processes on a Linux system?
Select the best command for a comprehensive process snapshot.
How does virtual memory benefit modern operating systems?
Pick the most complete explanation.
In Linux file permissions, what does the mode 755 typically mean?
Interpret common octal permission notation.
What is the difference between user mode and kernel mode?
Choose the most accurate description of the two CPU execution modes.
Which of the following best describes a system call?
Pick the most precise definition used by applications and the kernel.
Which tools are commonly used to check disk usage on Linux?
Select the best combination for overall and per-directory usage checks.
Which CPU scheduling algorithm is typically preemptive and fair for time-shared systems?
Consider common scheduling strategies used in general-purpose OSes.
What is a key characteristic of Apple's APFS (Apple File System)?
Select the most notable modern feature of APFS used in macOS.
Which tool is the primary way to manage services on a systemd-based Linux distribution?
Choose the recommended modern command for starting, stopping, and enabling services.
Frequently asked questions
The quiz contains 10 multiple-choice questions and typically takes about 8–12 minutes to complete depending on how much time you spend reading explanations and reflecting on answers.
This quiz covers core operating system concepts including kernel responsibilities, processes and threads, memory management and virtual memory, scheduling algorithms, file systems (Linux and APFS), system calls, and common diagnostic and management commands for Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Each answer has a numeric value. The quiz uses a simple scoring function (sum of selected option values) to compute a total score. Higher scores indicate stronger demonstrated knowledge across the tested operating system topics.
Yes. While this quiz is not a certification exam, it highlights essential OS concepts and practical commands commonly tested in technical interviews and certification study guides. Use your results to identify areas for deeper study and hands-on practice.
The questions address general, widely applicable concepts across modern operating systems and include platform-specific examples (e.g., systemctl for systemd, APFS for macOS). They are not tied to a single distribution version and aim to be relevant for Linux, Windows, and macOS professionals.
Absolutely. We encourage retaking the quiz after studying targeted topics. The results section provides recommended actions to improve, and repeating the quiz can help you measure knowledge gains over time.
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