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I completed the Desktop Specialist in June and completed my Data Analyst certification in August. I considered Desktop Specialist an entry level certification and it focuses on the absolute basics of the Tableau Desktop application and how the pieces of the interface interact, including the basic chart types (line, bar, scatter). All questions are multiple choice questions where you select one answer out of 4 or 5 selections. I believe this could be passed by some using Tableau full-time after 6-12 months of usage, I also recommend going through the Exam Outline on the Tableau website point by point to ensure you have all the content covered, I remember at least 3 of the questions I had not used in my practical experience, but I had the answer because it was a specific point I had looked at in the exam outline. As noted in the video, Data Analyst is a next level certification covers the gamut of all the different pieces of workflow that would be required for you to provide a fully functional dashboard report (Tableau Prep to Tableau Deasktop to Tableau Server/Online/Cloud) and the advanced aspects of how to use the dashboarding elements. There are multiple different ways that questions have to be answered, include multiple choice, putting action steps in order using a drag and drop, manually writing portions of code into short text boxes, and a virtual machine that has a Tableau Desktop application that gives you specific instructions on what to do with a dashboard. I believe there were 10 hands-on tasks in the virtual machine and I would say it is about 3 to 4 questions each in difficulty categories of basic, intermediate, and advanced tableau functions. The questions are also phrased using very specific nomenclature so you have to understand the Tableau terms such as dimension, measures, sets, parameters, groups, and hierarchies, without very much additional description, so you need to know those terms and how the different dashboard elements would be affected by them and what would happen if you dragged particular fields or elements to the different cards (colors, marks, size, etc). I have been a full-time Tableau developer for 2 years, put about 4-5 hours into studying prior to the exam and still found it incredibly challenging. The only thing mentioned in the video that I didn't see on the Data Analyst exam was regarding Dynamic Zone Visibility, I did not get a question on that subject, but I could see in being in any rotating set of questions on the exam. I took the exam at a testing center, and was in the room with other people taking different exams, so I also could not speak above a whisper, I also asked the proctor if I could bring in a blank sheet of paper and pen and was refused, I wish that was allowed just to organize your thoughts on some of the harder questions.
This was a very helpful video. Thanks for all your efforts.👍 I have a request. As per latest update the Tableau DA exam does not have any lab questions. Can you please share the possible important areas as per latest Exam format and updates?
Hey! Sorry for the late reply - and thanks for the message. I think all the information stays the same in terms of sections of information you'll need to know - it's just the format of the exam that's slightly different. I found this section pretty helpful when preparing: www.tableau.com/learn/certification/tableau-certified-data-analyst-exam-guide Hope that helps!
Need help with Tableau? Schedule an hour with Ollie: onenumber.biz/office-hours
Ready to master Tableau? Check out our lineup of upcoming classes! onenumber.biz/onenumber-tableau-classes
I completed the Desktop Specialist in June and completed my Data Analyst certification in August.
I considered Desktop Specialist an entry level certification and it focuses on the absolute basics of the Tableau Desktop application and how the pieces of the interface interact, including the basic chart types (line, bar, scatter). All questions are multiple choice questions where you select one answer out of 4 or 5 selections. I believe this could be passed by some using Tableau full-time after 6-12 months of usage, I also recommend going through the Exam Outline on the Tableau website point by point to ensure you have all the content covered, I remember at least 3 of the questions I had not used in my practical experience, but I had the answer because it was a specific point I had looked at in the exam outline.
As noted in the video, Data Analyst is a next level certification covers the gamut of all the different pieces of workflow that would be required for you to provide a fully functional dashboard report (Tableau Prep to Tableau Deasktop to Tableau Server/Online/Cloud) and the advanced aspects of how to use the dashboarding elements. There are multiple different ways that questions have to be answered, include multiple choice, putting action steps in order using a drag and drop, manually writing portions of code into short text boxes, and a virtual machine that has a Tableau Desktop application that gives you specific instructions on what to do with a dashboard. I believe there were 10 hands-on tasks in the virtual machine and I would say it is about 3 to 4 questions each in difficulty categories of basic, intermediate, and advanced tableau functions. The questions are also phrased using very specific nomenclature so you have to understand the Tableau terms such as dimension, measures, sets, parameters, groups, and hierarchies, without very much additional description, so you need to know those terms and how the different dashboard elements would be affected by them and what would happen if you dragged particular fields or elements to the different cards (colors, marks, size, etc). I have been a full-time Tableau developer for 2 years, put about 4-5 hours into studying prior to the exam and still found it incredibly challenging.
The only thing mentioned in the video that I didn't see on the Data Analyst exam was regarding Dynamic Zone Visibility, I did not get a question on that subject, but I could see in being in any rotating set of questions on the exam. I took the exam at a testing center, and was in the room with other people taking different exams, so I also could not speak above a whisper, I also asked the proctor if I could bring in a blank sheet of paper and pen and was refused, I wish that was allowed just to organize your thoughts on some of the harder questions.
Wow Matt! This is such a thoughtful and insightful response! That's so helpful and I think a lot of people will really benefit from that. Thank you!
This was a very helpful video. Thanks for all your efforts.👍
I have a request. As per latest update the Tableau DA exam does not have any lab questions. Can you please share the possible important areas as per latest Exam format and updates?
Hey! Sorry for the late reply - and thanks for the message. I think all the information stays the same in terms of sections of information you'll need to know - it's just the format of the exam that's slightly different. I found this section pretty helpful when preparing:
www.tableau.com/learn/certification/tableau-certified-data-analyst-exam-guide
Hope that helps!