Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2007 / ib / Paper 2 / 4A / ii / Solution

False. Give $X=\mathbb{R}$ its usual topology, let $Y$ be a one-point space, and take the constant continuous map $f:X\to Y$. The set $K=Y$ is compact, but $f^{-1}(K)=\mathbb{R}$ is not compact. For example, the open cover $\{(-n,n):n\ge 1\}$ has no finite subcover. Thus continuity alone does not preserve compactness under inverse images.