Databricks · DCDAA
Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate Practice Tests
Validates the ability to perform data analysis tasks using Databricks SQL and the Data Intelligence Platform, covering data management with Unity Catalog, query development and optimization, dashboards and visualizations, AI/BI Genie spaces, and data modeling.
Exam Details
Practice Questions
627
≈ 13 practice exams
Duration
90 minutes
Passing Score
Not published by Databricks
Difficulty
AssociateLast Updated
Oct 2026
Databricks Data Analyst Associate Practice Exam
The October 2025 exam guide for the Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate has nine sections: the Data Intelligence Platform, managing data, importing data, running queries with Databricks SQL and SQL warehouses, analyzing queries, dashboards and visualizations, AI/BI Genie spaces, data modeling with Databricks SQL, and securing data. Databricks does not publish percentage weights, so older five-domain breakdowns no longer match the exam.
The exam has 45 scored multiple-choice questions and 90 minutes; unscored items may be added with extra time. It costs $200 per attempt, with a 14-day wait before a retake. Databricks does not publish a passing score, so the often-quoted 70% is unconfirmed. You can take it online or at a test center through Kryterion, in English, with no test aids. The certification is valid for two years and renewal means retaking the full current exam.
Use these 627 questions with a workspace open: query data in a SQL warehouse, build and share a dashboard, write a Genie space, set up permissions in Unity Catalog, and read a query profile. Databricks recommends about six months of hands-on analyst experience but requires none.
Exam Overview
The Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate validates basic data analytics work on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. The October 30, 2025 exam guide has nine sections: the platform, managing data, importing data, executing queries with Databricks SQL, analyzing queries, dashboards and visualizations, AI/BI Genie spaces, data modeling, and securing data.
Databricks does not publish percentage weights, so older five-domain breakdowns no longer describe the exam.
Who Should Take This Exam
This certification is designed for data analysts, business intelligence professionals, SQL practitioners, and business users who work with or plan to work with the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. It is well-suited for individuals in roles such as Data Analyst, BI Analyst, Analytics Engineer, or SQL Developer who need to demonstrate hands-on proficiency with Databricks SQL for querying, visualization, and insight generation.
Candidates are expected to have approximately 6 months of hands-on experience performing data analysis tasks within the Databricks environment. The associate-level designation makes it an appropriate starting point for professionals transitioning into the Lakehouse ecosystem or those looking to formalize their existing Databricks SQL skills with a vendor-recognized credential.
Prerequisites
There are no required prerequisites. Databricks recommends related training and about six months of hands-on experience as a data analyst.
Exam Format
The exam has 45 scored multiple-choice questions and 90 minutes; unscored items may be added with extra time. It costs $200 per attempt with a 14-day wait before a retake. Databricks does not publish a passing score, so the often-quoted 70% is unconfirmed. It is delivered in English, online or at a test center through Kryterion, with no test aids. The certification is valid for two years and recertifying means taking the full current exam.
Skills Measured
- 1.Understanding the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform
- 2.Managing data
- 3.Importing data
- 4.Executing queries with Databricks SQL and SQL warehouses
- 5.Analyzing queries
- 6.Dashboards and visualizations
- 7.Developing, sharing, and maintaining AI/BI Genie spaces
- 8.Data modeling with Databricks SQL
- 9.Securing data
Study Tips
- Use the October 2025 exam guide as your checklist and recheck it two weeks before your appointment.
- Practise in a Databricks workspace: write queries on a SQL warehouse, build a dashboard, and create a Genie space.
- Review Unity Catalog basics, including the catalog, schema, and table namespace and how grants work.
- Practise importing data through the UI, cloud storage, Delta Sharing, and Auto Loader.
- Learn to read query history and query profiles so you can explain why a query is slow.
Career Benefits
The credential shows foundational skills for analysts who query, visualize, and share data on Databricks. It suits analysts moving onto the platform, and it is most convincing alongside real dashboards and queries. It must be renewed every two years by retaking the current exam.
Sample Questions
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 627 questions, enough for 13 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. A data analyst grants ALL PRIVILEGES on a schema to a user group. Which privileges does the group NOT receive? (Select one!)
AMANAGE
BCREATE TABLE and CREATE FUNCTION
CUSE SCHEMA and BROWSE
DSELECT and MODIFY
Explanation
ALL PRIVILEGES grants all available privileges for an object and its children except MANAGE. The MANAGE privilege must be granted separately as it allows viewing and managing privileges, transferring ownership, and dropping objects. ALL PRIVILEGES does grant SELECT and MODIFY for data operations. It grants CREATE TABLE and CREATE FUNCTION for object creation. It grants USE SCHEMA and BROWSE for access and metadata viewing. Only MANAGE is explicitly excluded from ALL PRIVILEGES.
2. A healthcare analytics team needs to visualize patient enrollment distribution across different age ranges to identify clustering patterns. Which AI/BI dashboard visualization type should they use? (Select one!)
AHistogram
BBox chart
CScatter plot
DHeatmap
Explanation
Histograms plot frequency that values occur and show distribution clustering by grouping continuous data into bins. This is ideal for understanding how patient ages cluster across ranges. Box charts show distribution summaries with quartiles but don't show frequency clustering as clearly. Heatmaps visualize numerical data using color intensity but are better for two-dimensional patterns. Scatter plots show relationships between two numerical variables, not frequency distributions of a single variable.
3. A data analyst writes a query using window functions to rank employees by salary within each department. The query returns gaps in rank numbers after tied values. Which window function is being used? (Select one!)
AROW_NUMBER()
BNTILE()
CRANK()
DDENSE_RANK()
Explanation
RANK() creates gaps in rank numbers after ties. For example, if two employees tie for rank 1, the next rank will be 3, skipping 2. DENSE_RANK() does not create gaps and would assign ranks 1, 1, 2 in the same scenario. ROW_NUMBER() never produces ties and assigns unique sequential numbers. NTILE() divides rows into a specified number of groups and does not create ranking gaps in the traditional sense.
4. A data analyst uses Databricks Assistant to debug a query that returns an error. The Assistant provides an explanation and suggests a fix. Which keyboard shortcut opens the inline Databricks Assistant in the SQL Editor? (Select one!)
ACtrl+D
BCtrl+Shift+Space
CCtrl+Shift+A
DAlt+A
Explanation
Ctrl+Shift+Space is the keyboard shortcut to open Databricks Assistant inline in the SQL Editor. This AI-powered tool can generate SQL from natural language, debug errors with automatic diagnosis, explain complex queries, and provide autocomplete suggestions based on schema metadata. Ctrl+Shift+A is not the correct shortcut. Alt+A does not trigger the Assistant. Ctrl+D is typically used for other editor functions.
5. A SaaS company connects Fivetran to Databricks to replicate data from their production MySQL database. Which Databricks feature provides the automated setup workflow for this integration? (Select one!)
APartner Connect
BDatabricks Marketplace
CDelta Sharing
DUnity Catalog External Locations
Explanation
Partner Connect provides automated integration workflows with third-party tools like Fivetran, Airbyte, and other data integration platforms. It automatically provisions SQL warehouses, creates service principals, and configures authentication for seamless setup. Databricks Marketplace is for discovering and accessing external datasets, not for setting up data replication tools. Delta Sharing enables secure data sharing across organizations but does not facilitate third-party tool integration. Unity Catalog External Locations manage cloud storage access but do not automate partner tool configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Data Analyst Associate exam cost?
Databricks charges $200 per attempt. A retake costs the same and must wait 14 days.
How many questions are on the exam?
Forty-five scored multiple-choice questions in 90 minutes. Unscored items may appear, with extra time added.
What is the passing score?
Databricks does not publish one. Its FAQ says scores are set statistically and may change, so the commonly quoted 70% is unconfirmed.
What topics are covered?
Nine sections: the platform, managing data, importing data, executing queries, analyzing queries, dashboards, AI/BI Genie spaces, data modeling, and securing data. Databricks does not publish weights.
How long is the certification valid?
Two years. To recertify you take the full exam that is live at that time.
Can I take it online?
Yes. It is proctored online or at a test center through Kryterion, with no test aids allowed.
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