Information Processing Engineer Exam Strategy [Theory] 👺 | 2025 Exam 2 Forecast
Engineer ExamCertificationExam StrategySummaryGuide
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Published: 2025-07-09
Last modified: 2025-07-21
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Summary
This guide provides a strategic study method for the Information Processing Engineer practical exam, targeting test-takers with limited time. It outlines an efficient study scope based on an analysis of expected questions and minimum passing scores.
❗️ This guide is not for those who intend to study the entire theory portion of the practical exam from start to finish.
This post is for those who:
- Don't have enough time to cover the vast scope of the exam.
- Find the scope too overwhelming to study.
- Tend to forget what they've memorized quickly.
If you fall into any of these categories, this guide will be helpful.
2025 Exam 2 Practical Exam Forecast Summary
⚡️ If you're cramming, study the topics below first.
Probability - 💯: 100%, ⭐️: 80%, 🔥: 50%
| Subject | # of Qs | Expected Topics (Click to Navigate) |
|---|---|---|
| DB | 4 | 💯SQL, ⭐️Normalization, ⭐️Keys,🔥Relational Algebra, 🔥Data Modeling |
| SW Development | 2 | ⭐️Test Coverage, ⭐️Interface Implementation, 🔥Black Box Testing |
| SW Design | 2 | ⭐️Design Patterns, ⭐️Cohesion & Coupling, 🔥UML |
| Network/OS | 2 | ⭐️Memory/Process, 🔥Routing, 🔥Network Layer, 🔥Data Link Layer |
| Security | 1 | 🔥Crypto Algorithms,🔥Security Functions |
| Total | 11 |
Information Processing Engineer Practical Exam Summary PDF
This is a highly condensed theory summary PDF for those cramming for the exam. It includes the content from the table above. You can download it from the link below.
Link: Download Jeongcheogi Practical Theory Summary PDF for 2025 Exam 2 Cramming
If you have time, study all the expected topics for each subject below.
Jump to Expected Topics by Subject 🏃💨
Main Subjects for the Practical Exam Theory Questions
❗️ When including SQL queries (DB subject) in theory questions.
| Subject | # of Questions |
|---|---|
| DB | 3-4 questions |
| SW Development | 2 questions |
| SW Design | 1-2 questions |
| Network/OS | 2-3 questions |
| Security | 1-2 questions |
| Total | 11 questions |
- The table above shows the number of questions per major subject from 2023 to the first exam of 2025.
- The DB construction subject, which includes SQL queries, is the most important, followed by the programming language utilization subject, which includes Network and OS.
- As the theory question format has stabilized over the past two years, it is expected that the theory questions for the second exam of 2025 will follow a similar structure.
2025 Exam 2 Practical Exam Theory Question Forecast
How to Predict Practical Exam Theory Questions
- The number of theory questions steadily decreased from 2021 to 2023.
- This was intended to put more emphasis on coding problems.
- As the number of theory questions decreased, the important theory topics, as judged by the examiners, became apparent in 2023 and 2024.
- Based on this trend, we have predicted the theory questions for the second exam of 2025.
2025 Exam 2 Expected Questions: DB Subject
Probability - 💯: 100%, ⭐️: 80%, 🔥: 50%, 🤔: 20%
| Main Topic | # of Qs | Expected Topics (Click to Navigate) |
|---|---|---|
| SQL | 2 | 💯SQL Commands, 🤔Transactions |
| Logical DB Design | 0-1 | 🔥Relational Algebra/Calculus, 🤔Relational Data Model |
| Physical DB Design | 1 | ⭐️Normalization, ⭐️Keys, 🤔Integrity |
| Data Modeling | 0-1 | 🔥Conceptual/Logical/Physical Models |
| Total | 4 |
2025 Exam 2 Expected Questions: SW Development Subject
Probability - 💯: 100%, ⭐️: 80%, 🔥: 50%, 🤔: 20%
| Main Topic | # of Qs | Expected Topics (Click to Navigate) |
|---|---|---|
| Testing | 1 | ⭐️Test Coverage, 🔥Black Box Testing, 🤔Test Automation Tools |
| Interface | 1 | ⭐️Interface Implementation |
| Total | 2 |
2025 Exam 2 Expected Questions: SW Design Subject
Probability - 💯: 100%, ⭐️: 80%, 🔥: 50%, 🤔: 20%
| Main Topic | # of Qs | Expected Topics (Click to Navigate) |
|---|---|---|
| App Design | 1-2 | ⭐️Design Patterns, ⭐️Cohesion & Coupling |
| Requirements | 0-1 | 🔥UML Diagrams |
| Total | 2 |
2025 Exam 2 Expected Questions: Network/OS Subject
Probability - 💯: 100%, ⭐️: 80%, 🔥: 50%, 🤔: 20%
| Main Topic | # of Qs | Expected Topics (Click to Navigate) |
|---|---|---|
| Memory, Process | 1 | ⭐️Memory Management/Process Scheduling |
| Network 7 Layers | 0-1 | 🔥Routing Protocols, 🔥Network Layer Protocols, 🔥Data Link Layer Protocols |
| IP | 0-1 | 🤔Subnet Mask |
| Shell Script | 0-1 | 🤔chmod |
| Total | 2 |
2025 Exam 2 Expected Questions: Security Subject
Probability - 💯: 100%, ⭐️: 80%, 🔥: 50%, 🤔: 20%
| Main Topic | # of Qs | Expected Topics (Click to Navigate) |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto Algorithms | 0-1 | 🔥Crypto Algorithms |
| Security Functions | 0-1 | 🔥Security Functions |
| Attack Types | 0-1 | 🤔Attack Types |
| New Tech/Devices | 0-1 | 🤔New Network Tech, 🤔New SW Tech, 🤔New Cloud Tech, 🤔New DB Tech |
| Total | 1 |
Increased Importance of Theory Questions
Due to the rising difficulty of coding questions, you now need to get 7 theory questions correct to pass.
(Based on the first exam of 2025, there were 5 easy/medium coding questions out of 9. Assuming you get all 5 of these right, you need to answer 7 theory questions correctly to pass.)
| Subject | # of Qs | # to Get Correct |
|---|---|---|
| DB | 4 | 3 |
| SW Development | 2 | 1 |
| SW Design | 2 | 2 |
| Network/OS | 2 | 1 |
| Security | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 11 |
- To cover security, you need to memorize a vast number of terms.
- Security is expected to take the most time in the theory part, despite its lower priority.
- The SW Design subject has a narrow scope, and new types of problems are unlikely to appear.
- Therefore, a strategy of skipping security and mastering the SW Design subject is advantageous for reducing study time.
Study Strategy for Coding Problems
A solid foundation in C, Java, and Python is essential for solving coding problems. (A post on this is planned for a future update.)
If you understand these subjects well, you can solve any application problem.
Recommended Books for the Practical Exam
The Soojebi series is a relatively good choice for preparing for the practical exam. Studying them alongside blog posts is effective.
Soojebi Information Processing Engineer Practical Final Mock Exam
- For certification exams like this, solving many problems is always helpful.
- It contains a vast number of problems, allowing for repeated practice.
- However, for theory questions, it tries to cover too broad a range, resulting in many niche problems.
- This can lead to low mock exam scores and a loss of motivation.
- Even if you get them wrong, don't try to memorize every obscure theory question; it's important to keep solving all of them.
- It's recommended to start with the latest past papers instead of starting from the first one (try solving them in reverse chronological order).
- Starting from the first paper might lead to too many wrong answers, increasing the chance of giving up.
Soojebi Information Processing Engineer Practical Basic Books 1-2
- Some parts of the theory are well-explained, while others are not.
- The well-explained parts are very easy to understand with diagrams.
- If you are strong at rote memorization, this book alone might be sufficient.
- It is recommended to solve past papers first and then look up the parts you got wrong in the book (this helps with interest and focus).
Soojebi Cafe
- Very helpful for continuous updates with additional materials.
- Following the Soojebi Cafe - 10-Week Study and Schedule Guide is recommended (helpful for studying the entire scope).
- Daily problems are also updated, and it's recommended to solve them.
List of Related Posts
Design Patterns
View Design Patterns Post List
- GoF Design Patterns Cheat Sheet🦴 Mnemonics (Acronyms + Images)
- GoF Design Patterns: Creational Patterns - 🚀 Includes Prep Questions for the Engineer Exam
- GoF Design Patterns: Structural Patterns (1) - Conceptual Understanding for Engineer Exam (Adapter, Decorator, Facade, Proxy)
- GoF Design Patterns: Structural Patterns (2) - Composite, Bridge, Flyweight | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions + JavaScript Examples
- GoF Design Patterns: Behavioral Patterns (1) - Strategy, Observer | JavaScript Examples + 🚀 Prep Questions
- GoF Design Patterns: Behavioral Patterns (2) - Command, Template Method | TypeScript Examples + 🚀 Prep Questions
- GoF Design Patterns: Behavioral Patterns (3) - Chain of Responsibility, Memento | TypeScript Examples
- GoF Design Patterns: Behavioral Patterns (4) - Iterator, State | TypeScript Examples
- GoF Design Patterns: Behavioral Patterns (5) - Mediator, Visitor | TypeScript Examples
SQL
DB (Database)
View DB (Database) Post List
- 🛢️ Components of the Relational Data Model | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🛢️ Transactions and Recovery Techniques | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🛢️ Relational Algebra | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🗃️ Database Integrity: Entity, Referential, Attribute, User, Key | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 💾 Data Model: 3 Elements and 4 Design Steps | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🔑 Database Keys: Superkey, Candidate Key, Primary Key, Foreign Key | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🗃️ Database Normalization, Functional Dependency, Denormalization | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
Cohesion & Coupling
Testing
View Testing Post List
Interface Implementation
View Interface Implementation Post List
- 🧩 Summary of Interface Implementation for the Information Processing Engineer Exam
- 🌉 Interface Security Encryption Protocols (PPTP, L2TP, SSL, S-HTTP) | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🔒 Complete Guide to IPsec: AH, ESP, Transport/Tunnel Mode - 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 📄 Data Representation Formats: JSON, XML, YAML Comparative Analysis | 🚀 For Engineer Exam
- 🏛️ Web Service Interfaces: SOAP vs. REST Comparative Analysis | 🚀 For Engineer Exam
- 🔄 Interface Communication Technologies: AJAX, Fetch, WebSocket, GraphQL | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
Security
View Security Post List
- 🔐 Types of Security Attacks | For Engineer Exam Prep
- 🔐 Authentication Techniques for the Engineer Exam
- 🔒 Summary of Encryption Algorithms for the Engineer Exam | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🔒 Mastering the 3As: Authentication, Authorization, Accounting | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🚀 Includes Prep Questions | 🔐 Mastering SSO, Kerberos, OAuth
- 🚀 Includes Prep Questions | 🔐 Server Access Control - DAC, MAC, RBAC
- 🛡️ Types of Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks - 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🔒 Types of Network Attacks - 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
New Technologies
View New Technologies Post List
Network
View Network Post List
- Complete Guide to Network Routing Protocols: Everything about IGP and EGP
- Network Transmission Methods: Packet Switching vs. Circuit Switching
- 🌐 Network Layer Protocols | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- 🔗 Data Link Protocols and Error Control | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
- Subnet Mask, Subnetting | 🚀 Includes Prep Questions
OS
UML Diagrams
View UML Diagrams Post List
By the way
- Since there are no changes to the exam criteria in 2026, the same strategy can be applied.
==== Update History ====
- 7/18 Added download link for the practical theory summary PDF.
- 7/14 Added Network Layer Protocols, Data Link Protocols and Error Control, and Subnet Mask.
- 7/13 Added Memory Management, Process Scheduling, New Tech & Devices, Test Harness, and chmod.
- 7/12 Revised strategy after analyzing trends from 2021 to the first exam of 2025.
- 7/11 Confirmed no changes between the revised 2023 exam criteria and previous criteria.
- 7/10 Revised strategy after analyzing trends from 2024 and the first exam of 2025.
- 7/9 First draft posted.
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