PDP9 Exam Preparation Material | BCS Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection

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Prepare for the PDP9 BCS Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection exam with CertQueen's independently developed study resources. Review important concepts, practice scenario-based questions, and use clear explanations to identify areas that require further study.

Question#1

What are Information Society Services'? Select the INCORRECT answer

A. A service provided for remuneration, by electronic means, at distance to an individual that has requested it.
B. An electronic information service provided to individuals but paid for solely by advertising
C. Business to business online networking sites
D. Information services provided by non-profit or government organisations with no remuneration

Explanation:
Information society services (ISS) are defined in Article 4(25) of the UK GDPR as “any service normally provided for remuneration, at a distance, by electronic means and at the individual request of a recipient of services”. This means that ISS are online services that are paid for, either by the user or by another source of income, such as advertising or sponsorship, and that are provided without the parties being physically present, using electronic equipment for the transmission and reception of data, and upon the request of the user. Examples of ISS include apps, programs, websites, search engines, social media platforms, online marketplaces, content streaming services, online games, and any other online services that offer goods or services to users over the internet. Therefore, options A, B and C are correct examples of ISS, as they meet the criteria of the definition. However, option D is not a correct example of ISS, as it does not involve any remuneration for the service provider. Information services provided by non-profit or government organisations with no remuneration are not considered ISS under the UK GDPR, unless they compete with other ISS on the market.
Reference: UK GDPR, Article 4(25)4
Services covered by this code5

Question#2

What factors should be considered when looking at security of processing under Article 32 of the GDPR? Select the INCORRECT answer

A. Lawfulness of processing
B. The most secure option available
C. The likelihood of a risk to the rights of the data subjects
D. Adherence to an approved code of conduct

Explanation:
Lawfulness of processing is not a factor that should be considered when looking at security of processing under Article 32 of the GDPR. Lawfulness of processing is a separate requirement that applies to all processing of personal data, regardless of the level of security. Security of processing under Article 32 of the GDPR should be based on the following factors:
The state of the art and the costs of implementation of the security measures; The nature, scope, context and purposes of the processing;
The risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons;
Adherence to an approved code of conduct or an approved certification mechanism (as an element to demonstrate compliance).
Reference: Article 32 of the GDPR1
Guidelines 07/2020 on the concepts of controller and processor in the GDPR2, p. 36

Question#3

Describe the act of processing under the authority of a controller or processor as stipulated in UK GDPR Article 29.

A. The processor shall implement appropriate technical and organizational measures for ensuring that, by default, only personal data which are necessary for each specific purpose of the processing are processed.
B. A processor shall not process those data except on instructions from the controller, unless required to do so by domestic law
C. Each processor and, where applicable, the processors representative shall maintain a record of all categories of processing activities earned out on behalf of a controller.
D. The processor shall consult the supervisory authority prior to processing where a data protection impact assessment indicates that the processing would result in a high risk in the absence of measures taken by the processor to mitigate the risk.

Explanation:
Article 29 of UK GDPR states that the processor and any person acting under the authority of the controller or of the processor, who has access to personal data, shall not process those data except on instructions from the controller, unless required to do so by domestic law. This means that the processor must follow the controller’s directions on how to handle the personal data, and cannot use it for its own purposes or deviate from the agreed terms. The only exception is when the processor is obliged by law to process the data in a different way, for example, to comply with a court order or a legal obligation. The other options are not related to Article 29, but to other articles of UK GDPR, such as Article 25 (data protection by design and by default), Article 30 (records of processing activities), and Article 36 (prior consultation).
Reference: Article 29 of UK GDPR1
ICO guidance on controllers and processors2

Question#4

1.Who is entitled to a private life by law in the UK?

A. All individuals.
B. All individuals save for Members of Parliament
C. Private individuals who do not conduct their business on public platforms (such as professional sports people and actors
D. Nobody

Explanation:
The right to a private life is a fundamental human right that is protected by law in the UK. Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is incorporated into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998, states that “Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence”. This right applies to all individuals, regardless of their status, profession, or public exposure. The right to a private life covers aspects such as personal identity, personal relationships, physical and mental well-being, personal data, and correspondence. However, this right is not absolute and can be limited or interfered with by the state or other parties in certain circumstances, such as for the protection of national security, public safety, health, morals, or the rights and freedoms of others.
Reference:
Article 8 of the ECHR1
Human Rights Act 19982
ICO Guide to Data Protection3

Question#5

Where are the definitions of "Public Authority" and "Public Bodies" found?

A. Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Data Protection Act 2018
B. GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
C. Data Protection Act 2018 and PEC
D. Data Protection Act 2018 only

Explanation:
The definitions of “public authority” and “public body” for the purposes of the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 are found in the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Data Protection Act 2018 respectively. Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 2018 provides that a public authority or a public body is one that is listed in Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, or is designated by an order under section 5 of that Act. However, a court or tribunal acting in its judicial capacity is not considered a public authority or a public body under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Reference: Section 7 of the Data Protection Act 20181
Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Exam CodePDP9
Q & A: 40 Q&As         Updated:  Sep 22,2026

 

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