Just Passed the Tableau Data Analyst Exam – Here’s What You Need to Know
Having just completed the Tableau Certified Data Analyst Exam, I’ve put together a list of helpful tips and resources based on my experience.
How does the exam go:
- Questions: 60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions
- Time Limit: 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes)
- Passing Score: 65%
Key subjects covered in the Exam:
The exam is broken into four key domains. Here's what each section covers, along with the percentage of questions you can expect from each:
1)Connect to and Transform Data: 24%
This section tests how well you can connect to different data sources (Excel, databases, web data) and prepare the data for analysis using Tableau Prep or Tableau Desktop.
Key skills:
- Using the Data Interpreter
- Splitting and pivoting fields
- Handling nulls and messy data
- Performing basic data transformations and calculations
2)Explore and Analyse Data: 41%
This is the largest and most important section of the exam. It checks your ability to ask questions of the data, create insights, and solve business problems.
Key areas:
- Deep understanding of calculation functions:
- Logical (
IF,CASE), String (LEFT,LEN), Date (DATEDIFF,NOW), Aggregates, Table Calculations, and LOD expressions (FIXED,INCLUDE,EXCLUDE)
- Logical (
- Applying filters, sorts, and groups
- Know the Filter Order of Operations
- Use Groups, Sets, and Bins to segment data
- Performing advanced analytics:
- Trend lines, Forecasting, Clustering
- Writing and debugging Table Calculations
3)Create Content: 26%
How well you can build effective, interactive dashboards and visualizations. It covers best practices in data visualization, choosing the right chart types, formatting views, and adding interactivity using actions, filters, and parameters. You also need to understand how to design visuals that communicate insights clearly and efficiently.
This section evaluates your ability to design meaningful and interactive dashboards that communicate insights clearly and efficiently.
Key skills:
- Choosing the right visualization type
- Applying best practices for dashboard layout and design
- Adding interactivity using filters, actions, and parameters
- Formatting and organizing your dashboard for clarity.
4)Publish and Manage Content on Tableau Server and Tableau Cloud: 9%
This section checks your ability to share your work securely and effectively.
Key tasks:
- Publishing workbooks and data sources
- Managing permissions and user access
- Setting up data refresh schedules
- Navigating Tableau Server or Tableau Cloud environments
My Tips for each Domain
1. Connect to and Transform Data – 24%
Tip #1: Know your data sources
Be comfortable connecting to different file types — Excel, CSV, databases, Google Sheets, web data, and more. Understand the difference between live vs extract connections.
Tip #2: Practice data cleaning in Tableau Prep AND Desktop
You may be tested on both tools. In Tableau Prep, get familiar with clean steps, pivot, split, join, and union. In Tableau Desktop, learn how to use Data Interpreter, rename fields, and clean data in the Data Source tab.
Tip #3: Understand joins, unions, and relationships
Know the difference between inner, left, right, and outer joins, and when to use relationships instead of physical joins in the data model.
Tip #4: Practice creating calculated fields
You’ll need to create fields like IF, CASE, ISNULL, DATEPART, etc., as part of your data prep.
2. Explore and Analyze Data – 41%
Tip #1: Master calculation types
Be confident with:
- Row-level vs aggregate calculations
- String, date, logical, and numeric functions
- Level of Detail (LOD) expressions:
FIXED,INCLUDE,EXCLUDE - Table Calculations:
INDEX,RANK,WINDOW_SUM, etc.
Tip #2: Learn the filter order of operations
Filtering is not just about dragging fields — context filters, dimension filters, measure filters, and table calculations all occur in a specific order that affects results.
Tip #3: Practice using sets, groups, and bins
- Groups: Combine similar dimension members manually
- Sets: Create dynamic or fixed subsets of your data
- Bins: Break continuous measures into intervals
Tip #4: Understand advanced features
- Use trend lines, forecasts, and clusters properly
- Know when and how to use parameters for interactivity or calculations
3. Create Content – 26%
Tip #1: Learn to build dashboards with purpose
The exam doesn’t just test your ability to place charts on a canvas — it tests whether your dashboards are clear, purposeful, and actionable.
Tip #2: Understand chart types
Know when to use:
- Bar/Line charts (comparison over time)
- Maps (spatial analysis)
- Scatter plots (correlation)
- Highlight tables and heat maps (intensity or variation)
Tip #3: Add interactivity with dashboard actions
Practice filter actions, highlight actions, and URL actions. Understand how parameters can be used to drive dynamic behavior.
Tip #4: Use layout containers and formatting tools
Make your dashboard clean and user-friendly using vertical/horizontal containers, padding, and consistent fonts/colors.
4. Publish and Manage Content – 9%
Tip #1: Know how to publish to Tableau Server / Cloud
Understand the process of publishing a workbook, selecting data sources, and managing extract refreshes.
Tip #2: Understand permissions and access control
You should know:
- How to grant or restrict access to content
- What user roles mean in Tableau Server/Cloud
- How to manage projects, folders, and workbooks
Tip #3: Learn about scheduling and data freshness
Know how to:
- Schedule data extract refreshes
- Set up subscriptions and alerts
Tip #4: Explore the web editing and sharing features
Practice editing dashboards in the web interface, sharing links, and embedding dashboards for broader access.
Helpful Resources to use:
1)Salesforce: Tableau Data Analyst Certification Prep
It’s extremely helpful for understanding the topics within each domain and includes practice questions to give you a feel for the types of questions you’ll encounter on the exam.
https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/cert-prep-tableau-data-analyst
2) Tableau Certified Data Analyst Exam GPT
Created by Will Sutton, this excellent resource is based on the official exam study guide and relevant Tableau help pages. It allows you to generate practice questions with answers, identify areas where you need improvement, and get clear explanations with practical examples for the topics you find challenging.
Final Tips
- Know the Exam Structure Cold
You’ll face 60 multiple-choice and multiple-select questions in 90 minutes , so time management is key. Don’t get stuck on one question. Mark it and come back if needed.
- Prioritize Domain 2 – Explore and Analyze Data
This domain makes up 41% of the exam — mastering it gives you the best shot at passing. Focus on:Calculated fieldsTable calculationsLOD expressionsParametersFilter order of operationsSets, groups, and bins
- Understand When to Use Tableau Prep vs. Desktop
Be able to differentiate when you'd clean or reshape data in Tableau Prep (e.g. joins, pivots, flow building) vs. in Tableau Desktop (e.g. splits, renaming fields, calculations).
- Practice End-to-End Projects
Simulate real scenarios: connect to messy data → clean/prepare it → analyze it → build a dashboard → publish it. This reflects the full exam workflow and reinforces every domain.
- Don’t Overlook Domain 4 ( Easy Points)
While Publish and Manage Content is only 9%, it's an area where you can grab quick points if you understand publishing workbooks, permissions, refresh schedules, and subscriptions.
- Don’t Just Memorize – Understand the “Why”
The exam often gives business scenario questions (e.g. "Which type of calculation would best solve this?"). You’ll do best if you understand the logic behind the tools, not just how to use them.
- Review Tableau’s Order of Operations
This is often tested indirectly — especially with filters, table calcs, and LOD expressions. Knowing what Tableau evaluates first will help avoid mistakes in logic.
- Be Comfortable Working Without a Data Source
You won’t have access to Tableau during the exam — so visualize menus, calculations, and tool behavior in your head. The exam tests conceptual and applied knowledge, not hands-on usage.
- Stay Calm and Confident
Many questions are scenario-based but solvable with clear thinking. Even if you don’t know the answer, eliminate obviously wrong options and make the best logical choice.