Issue with the solution to a question of the Fundamentals of Quantum Computing Using Qiskit v2.X Developer - Sample Test

[matteo-piccolini]

URL to the relevant guide or resource

Sample test available at https://s3-api.us-geo.objectstorage.softlayer.net/credman-prod/exam/C1000-179_SAM_SampleTestQiskitv2.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=88673a689335411dbbef07d4969c34c2%2F20251121%2Fus-geo%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20251121T171735Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20%3B%20filename%3D%22C1000-179_SAM_SampleTestQiskitv2.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=b9dedbee17fb3a7f9120ccac4a6fe9f0cd1cc9617097088f2d1668a5f75e9aaa,
accessible from https://www.ibm.com/training/certification/ibm-certified-quantum-computation-using-qiskit-v2x-developer-associate-C9008400.

Error mitigation guide: https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/docs/en/guides/configure-error-mitigation

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• new content request
• typo
• code bug
• out-of-date content
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Describe the fix or the content request.

Hi all,
I think there's an issue with a solution of the Sample Test for the Fundamentals of Quantum Computing Using Qiskit v2.X Developer exam. The incriminated question is number 16:

Which error mitigation technique can be applied using resilience options?

The sample test reports c - Zero Noise Extrapolation as the only solution. However, the Configure error mitigation guide at https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/docs/en/guides/configure-error-mitigation states that Resilience Level 2 also accounts for gate twirling, therefore making answer a correct, too.

If I am correct, solution to question 16 should therefore be changed to a, c.

For new content requests - if the request is accepted, do you want to write the content?

I only want to review the material when it's finished

[abbycross]

@christopherporter1 do you know whom to contact about the Qiskit Developer test content?

[christopherporter1]

@abbycross No, but let me try James Weaver. He worked on it and may know a good contact.

[JavaFXpert]

According to these docs, Pauli Twirling is an error suppression, not error mitigation, technique. @nathanearnestnoble can you please confirm or refute this assertion?

[nathanearnestnoble]

There is some nuance in this, but agree with @JavaFXpert as the pauli twirling helps ensure that errors during a circuit can be well characterized by pauli linblad models, so we have generally considered as an error suppression method (as discussed in docs that @JavaFXpert links to).

Given the slight ambiguity, we can try to account for wording of the question.

[christopherporter1]

@JavaFXpert drafted an unambiguous question and it is in the process of being updated. He will close when fully updated.

[matteo-piccolini]

Hi,
I see what you say, and it's true that here https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/docs/en/guides/configure-error-suppression Pauli Twirling is listed as an error suppression. However:

1. here https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/docs/en/guides/configure-error-mitigation it is discussed within the error mitigation topic in different parts of the documentation. For example, it is stated that

The resilience level abstracts the detailed choice of error mitigation method to allow users to reason about the cost/accuracy trade that is appropriate to their application

before listing gate twirling in the subsequent table at resilience level 2.

2. here https://quantum.cloud.ibm.com/docs/en/guides/error-mitigation-and-suppression-techniques, in the section on Pauli twirling, it is stated that:

Pauli twirling is often combined with other error mitigation techniques that work better with Pauli noise than with arbitrary noise.

The other mitigation techniques is a bit misleading to me, as it drove me to think that twirling is one of such mitigation methods.

I agree that rewording the question in the sample test is a good idea, but I think that these two parts of the documentation should be addressed, too.

[jyu00]

Which error mitigation technique can be applied using resilience options?

I think this question meant resilience options literally. Neither resilience_level nor twirling is an option inside ResilienceOptions class.

[beckykd]

@matteo-piccolini Can you look at the updates to the guides and see if they're what you had in mind? #4436