ISACA · DataSci-Fund
Validates foundational knowledge of data science, covering data management, the data science process, and data science concepts including data analysis, visualization, management systems, and the ability to extract meaningful insights for informed business decisions.
Practice Questions
591
≈ 3 practice exams
Duration
120 minutes
Passing Score
65%
Difficulty
FoundationalLast Updated
Feb 2026
Use this DataSci-Fund practice exam to prepare for Data Science Fundamentals Certificate with realistic questions, detailed explanations, and focused study modes. The practice bank includes 591 questions for ISACA DataSci-Fund, so you can review the exam steadily instead of relying on one long cram session.
As you practice, pay extra attention to patterns in your missed answers. Start with short sessions to identify weak areas, then move into timed quizzes once your accuracy is consistent.
The explanations are especially useful when you want to connect exam wording to the responsibilities and scenarios described in the official certification guidance. Use the free preview first, then unlock the full question bank when you are ready to build a complete study routine.
The ISACA Data Science Fundamentals Certificate is an entry-level credential offered as part of ISACA's IT Certified Associate (ITCA) framework, which comprises five foundational badges covering computing, networking, cybersecurity, software development, and data science. This certificate validates a candidate's foundational knowledge and applied skills in data science, including data analysis, data visualization, data management systems, and the ability to extract meaningful insights to support informed business decisions. The exam blends traditional multiple-choice knowledge questions with performance-based questions delivered inside a live virtual lab environment, making it a practical, hands-on assessment rather than a purely theoretical one.
The credential covers three core domains: Data Management (42%), Data Science Process (33%), and Data Science Concepts (25%). Candidates demonstrate competency across data characteristics, data types, data structures, common statistical methods, key performance indicators, and data governance practices. As an ISACA-backed certificate, it carries the weight of a globally recognized professional organization known for IT governance, audit, and assurance credentials.
This certificate is designed for students, recent graduates, and early-career IT professionals who are looking to establish or formalize foundational knowledge in data science. It is particularly well-suited for individuals with up to one or two years of IT experience who want to validate their skills and differentiate themselves in the job market. Professionals seeking to transition into data-focused roles such as data analyst, junior data scientist, business intelligence analyst, or IT associate will find this credential a strong starting point.
Teams and organizations looking to upskill staff in data literacy and data-driven decision-making also benefit from this certificate. Because there are no prerequisites, it is accessible to career changers and those new to IT who want a structured, vendor-neutral introduction to data science concepts and processes.
ISACA requires no formal prerequisites to register for the Data Science Fundamentals Certificate exam. Candidates can register at any time without needing to demonstrate prior certifications, degrees, or professional experience. This open-access approach makes the certificate truly entry-level and accessible to anyone beginning their data science journey.
That said, candidates benefit most from a basic familiarity with computing concepts and general IT fundamentals before attempting the exam. Prior exposure to spreadsheet tools, basic statistics, or introductory programming concepts — while not required — will help candidates engage more effectively with the performance-based lab questions and the Data Science Process domain content.
The Data Science Fundamentals exam consists of 60 questions and must be completed within 120 minutes. It is delivered as a computer-based, remotely proctored exam, meaning candidates take it online under live supervision without visiting a physical testing center. The exam blends two question formats: traditional multiple-choice knowledge questions and performance-based questions administered within a live virtual lab environment, where candidates must demonstrate hands-on skills rather than simply recall facts.
Candidates must earn a score of 65% or higher to pass. Exam registration is continuous with no fixed deadlines, and eligibility is valid for 12 months from the date of registration. Testing appointments can be scheduled as early as 48 hours after payment. The exam fee is $120 USD for ISACA members and $144 USD for non-members. Candidates may reschedule without penalty up to 48 hours before their scheduled appointment.
Earning the Data Science Fundamentals Certificate signals to employers that a candidate has verified, vendor-neutral foundational knowledge in one of the most in-demand areas of technology. As part of ISACA's broader ITCA framework, the credential is recognized across approximately 130 IT occupations and is associated with over 210 specialized skills tracked in the labor market. For entry-level professionals, it provides a competitive differentiator in job postings where data literacy is increasingly expected even in non-specialist roles.
ISACA certifications broadly are associated with significant salary premiums — ISACA's own research and Foote Partners' IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index have consistently ranked ISACA credentials among the highest-paying in the industry. While the Data Science Fundamentals Certificate targets foundational roles such as data analyst, business intelligence associate, or IT generalist, it also serves as a stepping stone toward more advanced data science and governance certifications. Combined with ISACA's global reputation, this credential provides both immediate career differentiation and a structured pathway for long-term professional development in data-driven roles.
5 sample questions with answers and explanations. The full bank has 591 questions, enough for 3 full-length practice exams.
Preview — answers shown1. A SQL query must rank employees by salary within each department, showing consecutive ranks even when salaries are tied. Which window function should be used? (Select one!)
Explanation
DENSE_RANK assigns consecutive ranks without gaps, producing sequences like 1,2,2,3,4 for tied values. This meets the requirement for consecutive ranks with ties. RANK produces gaps after ties (1,2,2,4,5), violating the consecutive requirement. ROW_NUMBER assigns unique sequential numbers without recognizing ties. NTILE divides rows into specified number of groups, not ranking by values.
2. A data quality assessment reveals that the Customer_Age column contains values ranging from -5 to 250 years. Which data quality dimension is primarily affected? (Select one!)
Explanation
Validity measures whether data conforms to defined rules and constraints. Ages of -5 and 250 violate reasonable domain constraints for customer age, making the data invalid. Completeness measures missing values, not invalid values. Consistency measures agreement across systems or time periods. Uniqueness measures duplicate records. While invalid data affects overall quality, the primary dimension violated is validity through constraint violations.
3. A data analyst needs to identify the most frequently occurring value in a customer satisfaction dataset containing ratings from 1 to 5. Which measure of central tendency should be used? (Select one!)
Explanation
Mode represents the most frequently occurring value in a dataset and is the appropriate measure for identifying which satisfaction rating appears most often. Arithmetic mean calculates the average but does not identify frequency. Geometric mean is used for rates of change and growth calculations. Median identifies the middle value when sorted but not the most frequent value.
4. A data analyst writes a SQL query using COALESCE(Commission, Bonus, 0) to calculate total compensation. An employee has Commission=NULL, Bonus=NULL. What value does COALESCE return? (Select one!)
Explanation
COALESCE returns the first non-NULL value from the list of arguments. Since Commission is NULL and Bonus is NULL, COALESCE returns the third argument, which is 0. This function is specifically designed to handle multiple NULL values by returning the first non-NULL alternative. COALESCE never returns NULL if any non-NULL value exists in the argument list. It does not return empty strings for numeric operations and does not error when all except the last argument are NULL.
5. A database contains customer records where the Product_ID column references products that may no longer exist in the Products table. Which database concept has been violated? (Select one!)
Explanation
Referential integrity ensures that foreign key values must match existing primary key values in the referenced table. When Product_ID references non-existent products, referential integrity is violated. Entity integrity requires primary keys to be unique and non-null. Domain integrity ensures values fall within valid ranges or sets. Data consistency is a broader concept encompassing multiple integrity types.
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