Hey there, folks! Are you preparing for a process control test and looking for some multiple-choice questions and answers to get a handle on the material? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, we have compiled the top 25 process control multiple-choice questions and answers (MCQ) to help you ace your test.
Top Process Control Multiple Choice Questions

What is the purpose of process control?
a. To maintain a consistent quality of a product or process
b. To maximize profits for the company
c. To minimize the amount of raw materials used
d. To increase production speed
Answer: a.
The purpose of process control is to maintain a consistent quality of a product or process.
What is a control system?
a. A system that manages a company’s finances
b. A system that manages a company’s employees
c. A system that manages a process or product
d. A system that manages a company’s marketing
Answer: c.
A control system is a system that manages a process or product.
What is feedback control?
a. A control system that operates without input
b. A control system that uses sensors to adjust the process
c. A control system that uses predetermined settings to adjust the process
d. A control system that is used in manual processes
Answer: b. Feedback control is a control system that uses sensors to adjust the process.
What is feedforward control?
a. A control system that operates without input
b. A control system that uses sensors to adjust the process
c. A control system that uses predetermined settings to adjust the process
d. A control system that anticipates changes in the process and adjusts accordingly
Answer: d.
Feedforward control is a control system that anticipates changes in the process and adjusts accordingly.
What is a process variable?
a. A variable that changes during a process
b. A variable that remains constant during a process
c. A variable that is used to calculate profits
d. A variable that is used to calculate employee performance
Answer: a.
A process variable is a variable that changes during a process.
What is a setpoint?
a. The desired value for a process variable
b. The maximum value for a process variable
c. The minimum value for a process variable
d. The average value for a process variable
Answer: a.
A setpoint is the desired value for a process variable.
What is a controller?
a. A person who manages a process or product
b. A device that manages a process or product
c. A software program that manages a process or product
d. A sensor that measures a process variable
Answer: b.
A controller is a device that manages a process or product.
What is a proportional controller?
a. A controller that adjusts the process in proportion to the error
b. A controller that adjusts the process based on a predetermined setting
c. A controller that adjusts the process based on the time of day
d. A controller that adjusts the process based on employee performance
Answer: a.
A proportional controller is a controller that adjusts the process in proportion to the error.
What is an integral controller?
a. A controller that adjusts the process based on a predetermined setting
b. A controller that adjusts the process in proportion to the error
c. A controller that adjusts the process based on the time of day
d. A controller that adjusts the process based on employee performance
Answer: b.
An integral controller is a controller that adjusts the process in proportion to the error over time.
What is a derivative controller?
a. A controller that adjusts the process based on a predetermined setting
b. A controller that adjusts the process in proportion to the error
c. A controller that adjusts the process based on the time rate of change of the error
d. A controller that adjusts the process based on employee performance
Answer: c.
A derivative controller is a controller that adjusts the process based on the time rate of change of the error.
What is the purpose of a control loop?
a. To measure the process variable
b. To adjust the process variable
c. To monitor the process variable
d. To maintain a constant process variable
Answer: b.
The purpose of a control loop is to adjust the process variable.
What is the difference between open-loop control and closed-loop control?
a. Open-loop control does not use a controller, while closed-loop control does
b. Open-loop control does not use sensors, while closed-loop control does
c. Open-loop control does not adjust the process, while closed-loop control does
d. Open-loop control is less accurate than closed-loop control
Answer: a.
The difference between open-loop control and closed-loop control is that open-loop control does not use a controller, while closed-loop control does.
What is a cascade control system?
a. A control system that uses multiple controllers to manage the process
b. A control system that uses a single controller to manage the process
c. A control system that operates without input
d. A control system that uses predetermined settings to adjust the process
Answer: a.
A cascade control system is a control system that uses multiple controllers to manage the process.
What is a split-range control system?
a. A control system that uses multiple sensors to measure the process variable
b. A control system that uses a single controller to manage multiple processes
c. A control system that uses multiple controllers to manage the process
d. A control system that uses a single controller to manage multiple variables
Answer: d.
A split-range control system is a control system that uses a single controller to manage multiple variables.
What is a safety instrumented system?
a. A system that prevents accidents and injuries
b. A system that monitors employee performance
c. A system that manages a company’s finances
d. A system that manages a process or product
Answer: a.
A safety instrumented system is a system that prevents accidents and injuries.
What is a deadband?
a. A range of values in which the process variable can fluctuate without triggering an adjustment
b. A range of values in which the process variable must remain
c. A range of values in which the controller must remain
d. A range of values in which the setpoint can fluctuate without triggering an adjustment
Answer: a.
A deadband is a range of values in which the process variable can fluctuate without triggering an adjustment.
What is a tuning parameter?
a. A parameter that determines the accuracy of a controller
b. A parameter that determines the speed of a controller
c. A parameter that determines the cost of a controller
d. A parameter that determines the size of a controller
Answer: a.
A tuning parameter is a parameter that determines the accuracy of a controller.
What is the purpose of a process simulator?
a. To test and optimize control strategies
b. To measure the process variable
c. To adjust the process variable
d. To monitor the process variable
Answer: a.
The purpose of a process simulator is to test and optimize control strategies.
What is an actuator?
a. A device that measures the process variable
b. A device that adjusts the process variable
c. A device that monitors the process variable
d. A device that maintains a constant process variable
Answer: b.
An actuator is a device that adjusts the process variable.
What is a feedback controller?
a. A controller that adjusts the process based on employee feedback
b. A controller that adjusts the process based on external feedback
c. A controller that adjusts the process based on internal feedback
d. A controller that does not use feedback
Answer: c.
A feedback controller is a controller that adjusts the process based on internal feedback.
What is a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller?
a. A controller that adjusts the process based on a combination of proportional, integral, and derivative control actions
b. A controller that adjusts the process based on the proportion of input to output
c. A controller that adjusts the process based on employee performance
d. A controller that adjusts the process based on the time rate of change of the error
Answer: a.
A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is a controller that adjusts the process based on a combination of proportional, integral, and derivative control actions.
What is a process control block?
a. A data structure that contains information about a process
b. A control strategy that uses external feedback to adjust the process
c. A control strategy that adjusts the process based on the time rate of change of the error
d. A control strategy that adjusts the process based on employee performance
Answer: a. A process control block is a data structure that contains information about a process.
What is the purpose of a process control system?
a. To measure the process variable
b. To adjust the process variable
c. To monitor the process variable
d. To maintain a constant process variable
Answer: b.
The purpose of a process control system is to adjust the process variable.
What is the difference between a set point and a process variable?
a. The set point is the target value, while the process variable is the measured value.
b. The set point is the measured value, while the process variable is the target value.
c. The set point and the process variable are the same thing.
d. The set point and the process variable are unrelated.
Answer: a.
The set point is the target value, while the process variable is the measured value.
What is a control valve?
a. A valve that controls the flow of fluids or gases in a process
b. A valve that measures the pressure of fluids or gases in a process
c. A valve that measures the temperature of fluids or gases in a process
d. A valve that measures the level of fluids or gases in a process
Answer: a.
A control valve is a valve that controls the flow of fluids or gases in a process.
What is a distributed control system?
a. A control system that uses a central processor to control a process
b. A control system that uses multiple processors to control a process
c. A control system that uses feedback from multiple sensors to control a process
d. A control system that does not use feedback
Answer: b.
A distributed control system is a control system that uses multiple processors to control a process.
What is a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system?
a. A system that collects and analyzes data from a process
b. A system that controls a process from a remote location
c. A system that monitors the performance of a process
d. A system that optimizes the operation of a process
Answer: b.
A supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system is a system that controls a process from a remote location
What is a feedback control system?
a. A control system that uses multiple control loops to control a process
b. A control system that uses a single control loop to control multiple processes
c. A control system that uses feedback from multiple sensors to control a process
d. A control system that does not use feedback
Answer: c.
A feedback control system is a control system that uses feedback from multiple sensors to control a process.
What is the purpose of a three-element control system?
a. To control the flow rate, pressure, and temperature of a process
b. To control the flow rate, level, and pressure of a process
c. To control the level, pressure, and temperature of a process
d. To control the flow rate, level, and temperature of a process
Answer: b.
The purpose of a three-element control system is to control the flow rate, level, and pressure of a process.
What is a set point?
a. The maximum value a process variable can reach
b. The minimum value a process variable can reach
c. The desired value of a process variable
d. The actual value of a process variable
Answer: c.
A set point is the desired value of a process variable.
What is the difference between a primary and a secondary control element?
a. Primary control elements manipulate process variables directly, while secondary control elements manipulate primary control elements
b. Primary control elements are used for open-loop control, while secondary control elements are used for closed-loop control
c. Primary control elements use feedback, while secondary control elements do not
d. There is no difference between a primary and a secondary control element
Answer: a.
Primary control elements manipulate process variables directly, while secondary control elements manipulate primary control elements.
What is a process disturbance?
a. An unexpected change in a process variable
b. A planned change in a process variable
c. The difference between the set point and the measured value
d. The actual value of a process variable
Answer: a.
A process disturbance is an unexpected change in a process variable.
What is the difference between feedback and feedforward control?
a. Feedback control uses a model of the process, while feedforward control uses feedback from sensors
b. Feedback control is used for open-loop control, while feedforward control is used for closed-loop control
c. Feedback control uses feedback from sensors, while feedforward control predicts the effect of a disturbance and takes action to prevent it
d. There is no difference between feedback and feedforward control
Answer: c.
Feedback control uses feedback from sensors, while feedforward control predicts the effect of a disturbance and takes action to prevent it.
What is the difference between manual and automatic control?
a. Manual control uses a computer to control a process, while automatic control uses human intervention
b. Manual control uses feedback from sensors, while automatic control uses open-loop control
c. Manual control requires human intervention, while automatic control does not
d. There is no difference between manual and automatic control
Answer: c.
Manual control requires human intervention, while automatic control does not.
What is the difference between on-off and modulating control?
a. On-off control is used for open-loop control, while modulating control is used for closed-loop control
b. On-off control uses feedback from sensors, while modulating control does not
c. On-off control switches a device on or off, while modulating control adjusts the output continuously
d. There is no difference between on-off and modulating control
Answer: c.
On-off control switches a device on or off, while modulating control adjusts the output continuously.
What is the difference between a pneumatic and an electronic control system?
a. Pneumatic control systems use air pressure to control devices, while electronic control systems use electricity
b. Pneumatic control systems are more accurate than electronic control systems
c. Pneumatic control systems are more reliable than electronic control systems
d. There is no difference between a pneumatic and an electronic control system
Answer: a.
Pneumatic control systems use air pressure to control devices, while electronic control systems use electricity.
What is the purpose of a process control chart?
a. To measure the accuracy of a control system
b. To display the performance of a control system over time
c. To measure the process variables of a control system
d. To calculate the gain of a control system
Answer: b.
The purpose of a process control chart is to display the performance of a control system over time.
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