WGU D325 Lesson 13|PA| PRE-
ASSESSMENT| EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS| LATEST UPDATE 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of descriptive analytics?
Correct Answer: To summarize historical data
Rationale: Descriptive analytics focuses on reporting and summarizing what has already
occurred using historical data.
2. Which analytics type focuses on identifying why
something happened?
Correct Answer: Diagnostic analytics
Rationale: Diagnostic analytics analyzes data to determine causes and relationships behind
outcomes.
3. Using historical sales data to forecast future revenue is an
example of:
Correct Answer: Predictive analytics
Rationale: Predictive analytics uses past data patterns to predict future outcomes.
4. Which type of analytics recommends actions to achieve
desired outcomes?
Correct Answer: Prescriptive analytics
Rationale: Prescriptive analytics goes beyond prediction to suggest optimal actions.
,5. What tool is most commonly used to transform raw data
into reports and dashboards?
Correct Answer: Business Intelligence (BI) tools
Rationale: BI tools analyze, visualize, and report business data to support decision-making.
6. The main benefit of data visualization is that it:
Correct Answer: Improves understanding and interpretation
Rationale: Visual representations make complex datasets easier to understand.
7. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) should primarily be:
Correct Answer: Aligned with organizational goals
Rationale: KPIs are effective only when they measure progress toward strategic objectives.
8. What does data accuracy refer to?
Correct Answer: Correctness of data values
Rationale: Accurate data reflects true, real-world values without errors.
9. Which data quality dimension ensures all required data is
present?
Correct Answer: Completeness
Rationale: Completeness checks for missing or incomplete data fields.
10. Who is responsible for ensuring data quality standards
are followed?
Correct Answer: Data steward
Rationale: Data stewards manage data definitions, quality, and compliance.
, 11. Data stored in rows and columns within a database is
known as:
Correct Answer: Structured data
Rationale: Structured data follows a predefined schema, such as relational databases.
12. Social media posts and free-text survey responses are
examples of:
Correct Answer: Unstructured data
Rationale: Unstructured data does not follow a fixed format.
13. What is the primary purpose of data governance?
Correct Answer: Define policies, ownership, and usage rules
Rationale: Data governance ensures accountability, compliance, and proper data handling.
14. Why is data validation important during data collection?
Correct Answer: It ensures data accuracy and consistency
Rationale: Validation prevents errors from entering the dataset early.
15. Correlation measures:
Correct Answer: The strength of a relationship between variables
Rationale: Correlation shows how variables move together but does not imply causation.
16. What is a major risk of making decisions based on poor-
quality data?
ASSESSMENT| EXAM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS| LATEST UPDATE 2026
1. What is the primary purpose of descriptive analytics?
Correct Answer: To summarize historical data
Rationale: Descriptive analytics focuses on reporting and summarizing what has already
occurred using historical data.
2. Which analytics type focuses on identifying why
something happened?
Correct Answer: Diagnostic analytics
Rationale: Diagnostic analytics analyzes data to determine causes and relationships behind
outcomes.
3. Using historical sales data to forecast future revenue is an
example of:
Correct Answer: Predictive analytics
Rationale: Predictive analytics uses past data patterns to predict future outcomes.
4. Which type of analytics recommends actions to achieve
desired outcomes?
Correct Answer: Prescriptive analytics
Rationale: Prescriptive analytics goes beyond prediction to suggest optimal actions.
,5. What tool is most commonly used to transform raw data
into reports and dashboards?
Correct Answer: Business Intelligence (BI) tools
Rationale: BI tools analyze, visualize, and report business data to support decision-making.
6. The main benefit of data visualization is that it:
Correct Answer: Improves understanding and interpretation
Rationale: Visual representations make complex datasets easier to understand.
7. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) should primarily be:
Correct Answer: Aligned with organizational goals
Rationale: KPIs are effective only when they measure progress toward strategic objectives.
8. What does data accuracy refer to?
Correct Answer: Correctness of data values
Rationale: Accurate data reflects true, real-world values without errors.
9. Which data quality dimension ensures all required data is
present?
Correct Answer: Completeness
Rationale: Completeness checks for missing or incomplete data fields.
10. Who is responsible for ensuring data quality standards
are followed?
Correct Answer: Data steward
Rationale: Data stewards manage data definitions, quality, and compliance.
, 11. Data stored in rows and columns within a database is
known as:
Correct Answer: Structured data
Rationale: Structured data follows a predefined schema, such as relational databases.
12. Social media posts and free-text survey responses are
examples of:
Correct Answer: Unstructured data
Rationale: Unstructured data does not follow a fixed format.
13. What is the primary purpose of data governance?
Correct Answer: Define policies, ownership, and usage rules
Rationale: Data governance ensures accountability, compliance, and proper data handling.
14. Why is data validation important during data collection?
Correct Answer: It ensures data accuracy and consistency
Rationale: Validation prevents errors from entering the dataset early.
15. Correlation measures:
Correct Answer: The strength of a relationship between variables
Rationale: Correlation shows how variables move together but does not imply causation.
16. What is a major risk of making decisions based on poor-
quality data?
