COBOL interview questions

• Following is a list of COBOL interview questions with answers for mainframe professionals looking for a Job change. These are job interview questions for mainframe professionals with COBOL skills. These frequently asked interview questions for COBOL and will help you brush up your basic cobol skills
  The answers to interview questions are also provided just below the interview questions. There more sample interview questions on this website.
  
  • What is the result of the following?
  
  MOVE 1 TO VAR1
  MOVE 2 TO VAR2
  
  EVALUATE TRUE
  
  WHEN VAR1=1
  PERFORM PARA-1
  WHEN VAR2=2
  PERFORM PARA-2
  WHEN OTHER
  NEXT SENTENCE
  END-EVALUATE.
  
  
  A) PARA-1 will be performed
  B) PARA-2 will be performed
  C) Both PARA-1 and PARA-2 will be performed.
  D) Compile error for incorrect use of NEXT sentence
  
  
  • Which of the following is an INCORRECT specification for a data-name?
  
  A) var-var1
  B) data1
  C) two
  D) all
  
  (ALL is a reserved
  
• What is the result of the following?

MOVE 1 TO VAR1
MOVE 2 TO VAR2

EVALUATE TRUE

WHEN VAR1=1
PERFORM PARA-1
WHEN VAR2=2
PERFORM PARA-2
WHEN OTHER
DISPLAY VAR1
END-EVALUATE.


A) PARA-1 will be performed
B) PARA-2 will be performed
C) Both PARA-1 and PARA-2 will be performed.
D) Compile error for incorrect use of NEXT sentence

• Which of the following PIC clause is invalid as a floating symbol?

A) +
B) $
C) S
D) -

• What is the result of the following?

MOVE 0 TO VAR1

EVALUATE TRUE

WHEN VAR1=1
PERFORM PARA-1
WHEN VAR1=2
PERFORM PARA-2
WHEN OTHER
PERFORM PARA-3
END-EVALUATE.


A) PARA-1 will be performed
B) PARA-2 will be performed
C) Both PARA-1 and PARA-2 will be performed.
D) PARA-3 will be performed

• Which of the following is an invalid paragraph name?

A) A-1
B) 999
C) A+1
D) ZZ9

• What is the result of the following?

MOVE 0 TO VAR1

EVALUATE TRUE

WHEN VAR1=1
PERFORM PARA-1
WHEN VAR1=2
PERFORM PARA-2
END-EVALUATE.


A) PARA-1 will be performed
B) PARA-2 will be performed
C) Both PARA-1 and PARA-2 will be performed.
D) None of the above

• Which of the following is correct definition of figurative constant in COBOL?

A) Constants that are represented as alphanumeric text also known as non-numeric literals.
B) Constants that are represented in terms of digits, also known as literals
C) Data names that are initialized to specific values in DATA DIVISION and retain those values throughout the execution of the program.
D) Reserved words that are used as substitutes for certain special constants - numeric and alphanumeric

• Where does AREA A in COBOL extends from?

A) 8-16
B) 8-11
C) 12-72
D) 8-10

• According to the given declarations in Data Division. How many elementary items are described below?

05 CALENDAR-DATE.
08 CALENDAR-DAY PIC 99.
08 CALENDAR-MON PIC 99.
08 CALENDAR-YEAR PIC 99.
05 FILLER PIC X(5).
05 VAR1 PIC XX.
05 VAR2 PIC X.
05 END-DATE.
10 FILLER PIC X(4).
10 END-YEAR PIC 99.

A) 3
B) 6
C) 4
D) 5

• Where does AREA B in COBOL extends from?

A) 8-16
B) 8-11
C) 12-72
D) 8-10

• FILE-CONTROL paragraph in a COBOL program appears in

A) Input-Ouput Section in Environment Division
B) File Section in Data Division
C) Procedure Division, it can only be a user-defined paragraph
D) Configuration Section in Environment Division

• Program-id a paragraph name in IDENTIFICATION division?

A) True
B) False

• The Procedure Division of a program contains the statement

WRITE MASTER-REC
This suggests that the OPEN statement for this file
must NOT be

A) OPEN INPUT
B) OPEN EXTEND
C) OPEN INPUT-OUTPUT
D) OPEN OUTPUT

• Program-id is compulsory?

A) True
B) False

• Program-id should necessary be same as member name of COBOL program?

A) True
B) False

• Rounded precedes the ON SIZE ERROR ?

A) True
B) False

• A Numeric literal in COBOL can have at most how many digits?

A) 10
B) 160
C) 18
D) 32

• A Non Numeric literal in COBOL can have at most how many digits?

A) 10
B) 160
C) 18
D) 32

• A 01 level cannot have PIC clause?

A) True
B)