At Softloom IT Training, we’re committed to helping you succeed in the tech world. This guide on Data Analytics Basics – Interview Questions and Answers is designed to give you a clear understanding of the fundamental concepts, tools, and techniques most commonly asked in interviews.
1. What is the primary objective of data analytics?
A) To store data securely
B) To analyze and derive insights from data
C) To create data visualizations only
D) To delete unnecessary data
Answer: B) To analyze and derive insights from data
2. Which of the following is NOT a type of data analytics?
A) Descriptive Analytics
B) Predictive Analytics
C) Prescriptive Analytics
D) Illustrative Analytics
Answer: D) Illustrative Analytics
3. What is the first step in a data analytics process?
A) Data Collection
B) Data Cleaning
C) Data Visualization
D) Data Interpretation
Answer: A) Data Collection
4. Which programming language is widely used for data analytics?
A) Python
B) Java
C) C++
D) PHP
Answer: A) Python
5. Which library in Python is used for data manipulation and analysis?
A) TensorFlow
B) Pandas
C) Matplotlib
D) NumPy
Answer: B) Pandas
6. What does ETL stand for in data analytics?
A) Extract, Transform, Load
B) Extract, Transfer, Load
C) Evaluate, Transform, Learn
D) Encrypt, Transform, Load
Answer: A) Extract, Transform, Load
7. Which of the following is NOT a data visualization tool?
A) Tableau
B) Power BI
C) Google Sheets
D) MySQL
Answer: D) MySQL
8. What is the purpose of data cleaning?
A) To delete all old data
B) To remove inconsistencies and errors from the data
C) To format data for storage
D) To increase the storage space
Answer: B) To remove inconsistencies and errors from data
9. What type of analytics predicts future outcomes based on historical data?
A) Descriptive Analytics
B) Diagnostic Analytics
C) Predictive Analytics
D) Prescriptive Analytics
Answer: C) Predictive Analytics
10. Which SQL command is used to retrieve data from a database?
- A) DELETE
- B) UPDATE
- C) SELECT
- D) INSERT
Answer: C) SELECT
11. What is Big Data?
A) A small amount of structured data
B) A large volume of structured and unstructured data
C) Data that cannot be analyzed
D) A type of database
Answer: B) A large volume of structured and unstructured data
12. Which cloud platform is commonly used for data analytics?
A) AWS
B) Photoshop
C) WhatsApp
D) Adobe Premiere
Answer: A) AWS
13. What is the purpose of a dashboard in data analytics?
A) To store data securely
B) To visually present key data insights
C) To delete unnecessary data
D) To execute SQL queries
Answer: B) To visually present key data insights
14. Which of the following is a key characteristic of structured data?
A) It is stored in a predefined format
B) It cannot be analyzed
C) It is unorganized
D) It does not require databases
Answer: A) It is stored in a predefined format
15. What is the primary role of a data analyst?
A) To write machine learning algorithms
B) To extract, clean, and analyze data for business insights
C) To develop software applications
D) To manage cloud servers
Answer: B) To extract, clean, and analyze data for business insights
16. What is the key benefit of data analytics for businesses?
A) Helps in making data-driven decisions
B) Reduces the need for human employees
C) Eliminates the need for storage systems
D) Prevents all types of cyber threats
Answer: A) Helps in making data-driven decisions
17. What is the primary function of SQL in data analytics?
A) To create dashboards
B) To extract and manipulate data from databases
C) To generate images
D) To perform statistical calculations
Answer: B) To extract and manipulate data from databases
18. Which of the following is an example of unstructured data?
A) Excel spreadsheet
B) SQL database records
C) Video files
D) JSON files
Answer: C) Video files
19. Which tool is commonly used for statistical analysis in data analytics?
A) R
B) Photoshop
C) Illustrator
D) Google Chrome
Answer: A) R
20. What is a KPI in data analytics?
A) Key Performance Indicator
B) Knowledge Processing Index
C) Key Programming Interface
D) Known Predictive Input
Answer: A) Key Performance Indicator
21. What does a correlation analysis in data analytics measure?
A) The relationship between two variables
B) The total size of a dataset
C) The time required for data processing
D) The number of rows in a table
Answer: A) The relationship between two variables
22. What is an outlier in data analytics?
A) A missing data point
B) A data point that significantly deviates from other observations
C) A duplicate data entry
D) A common data value
Answer: B) A data point that significantly deviates from other observations
23. Which type of data visualization is best for showing trends over time?
A) Pie Chart
B) Line Chart
C) Scatter Plot
D) Histogram
Answer: B) Line Chart
24. What is Data Mining?
A) Extracting useful patterns and knowledge from large datasets
B) Collecting raw data
C) Deleting irrelevant data
D) Encrypting data for security
Answer: A) Extracting useful patterns and knowledge from large datasets
25. What is the purpose of A/B testing in data analytics?
A) To compare two versions of a webpage or application
B) To analyze historical trends
C) To test for outliers in a dataset
D) To predict future trends
Answer: A) To compare two versions of a webpage or application
26. Which technique reduces the number of dimensions in a dataset?
A) Regression Analysis
B) Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
C) Data Encryption
D) Data Duplication
Answer: B) Principal Component Analysis (PCA)
27. Which term describes the process of breaking down data into smaller subsets?
A) Data Aggregation
B) Data Sampling
C) Data Mining
D) Data Merging
Answer: B) Data Sampling
28. What is a Data Warehouse?
A) A central repository for storing structured data
B) A temporary data storage unit
C) A physical building storing hard drives
D) A type of relational database
Answer: A) A central repository for storing structured data
29. What is Machine Learning in the context of data analytics?
A) Using algorithms to allow computers to learn from data
B) Manually analyzing data sets
C) Creating PowerPoint presentations
D) Organizing Excel files
Answer: A) Using algorithms to allow computers to learn from data
30. What is sentiment analysis in data analytics?
A) Analyzing customer opinions and emotions from text data
B) Storing customer feedback
C) Organizing survey responses
D) Removing duplicate text data
Answer: A) Analyzing customer opinions and emotions from text data
31. What is data profiling in analytics?
A) Creating graphs for reports
B) Evaluating the quality and structure of data
C) Encrypting sensitive data
D) Collecting survey responses
Answer: B) Evaluating the quality and structure of data
32. What is the role of metadata in data analytics?
A) It is the final report
B) It stores backup files
C) It provides information about other data (e.g., format, source)
D) It is a type of data visualization
Answer: C) It provides information about other data (e.g., format, source)
33. What is the benefit of data visualization in analytics?
A) Helps identify patterns and insights quickly
B) Replaces the need for data cleaning
C) Prevents data loss
D) Encrypts data automatically
Answer: A) Helps identify patterns and insights quickly
34. Which Excel function is commonly used to analyze trends?
A) SUM
B) AVERAGE
C) TREND
D) CONCATENATE
Answer: C) TREND
35. What is a data report?
A) A type of database
B) A visual display of data only
C) A structured summary or analysis of data
D) An unorganized document
Answer: C) A structured summary or analysis of data
36. In data analytics, what does filtering data mean?
A) Deleting all old data
B) Encrypting the data
C) Displaying only the records that meet specific conditions
D) Grouping data into categories
Answer: C) Displaying only the records that meet specific conditions
37. What is a data model?
A) A blueprint that defines how data is connected and stored
B) A machine learning technique
C) A graph showing trends
D) An Excel formula
Answer: A) A blueprint that defines how data is connected and stored
38. What does data aggregation mean?
A) Splitting data into multiple columns
B) Combining data to produce summary statistics
C) Encrypting data
D) Removing data duplicates
Answer: B) Combining data to produce summary statistics
39. Which feature in Power BI allows for interactive filtering of data?
A) Dataflow
B) Power Query
C) Slicers
D) Tables
Answer: C) Slicers
40. What is the main goal of using dashboards in analytics?
A) To write SQL queries
B) To store raw data
C) To present key performance indicators in a visual format
D) To format spreadsheets
Answer: C) To present key performance indicators in a visual format
41. Which of the following is a benefit of using Python in data analytics?
A) It’s only used for web development
B) It has powerful libraries for data manipulation and visualization
C) It does not support statistical operations
D) It cannot connect to databases
Answer: B) It has powerful libraries for data manipulation and visualization
42. Which of the following is a common file format for exporting data?
A) MP4
B) TXT
C) CSV
D) EXE
Answer: C) CSV
43. What is a pivot table used for in Excel?
A) To create animations
B) To encrypt data
C) To summarize and analyze large datasets
D) To delete duplicate entries
Answer: C) To summarize and analyze large datasets
44. What does a scatter plot show?
A) Relationship between two numerical variables
B) Distribution of data in categories
C) Text data trends
D) Time-based changes
Answer: A) Relationship between two numerical variables
45. Which Python library is mainly used for data visualization?
A) Flask
B) OpenCV
C) Matplotlib
D) TensorFlow
Answer: C) Matplotlib
46. What is the difference between a bar chart and a histogram?
A) Bar chart shows relationships; histogram shows frequency distribution
B) Histogram uses categories; bar chart uses continuous data
C) Both are exactly the same
D) Histogram uses pie slices
Answer: A) Bar chart shows relationships; histogram shows frequency distribution
47. Which step comes after data collection in the data analytics lifecycle?
A) Data deletion
B) Data visualization
C) Data cleaning
D) Model deployment
Answer: C) Data cleaning
48. Which function in Excel is used to count numeric values in a range?
A) COUNTIF
B) SUM
C) COUNT
D) COUNTA
Answer: C) COUNT
49. In SQL, which clause is used to group rows with the same values?
A) WHERE
B) JOIN
C) ORDER BY
D) GROUP BY
Answer: D) GROUP BY
50. What is the main role of exploratory data analysis (EDA)?
A) To build machine learning models
B) To visualize, summarize, and understand data patterns
C) To deploy data pipelines
D) To remove all null values
Answer: B) To visualize, summarize, and understand data patterns
51. What is a data-driven decision?
A) A decision based on personal opinion
B) A decision based on visualizations only
C) A decision made after analyzing relevant data
D) A random decision made quickly
Answer: C) A decision made after analyzing relevant data
52. What does data normalization mean in analytics?
A) Removing missing values
B) Converting data into a common format or scale
C) Creating graphs from raw data
D) Changing text data to numbers
Answer: B) Converting data into a common format or scale
53. Which Excel function is used to look up a value in a table?
A) MATCH
B) VLOOKUP
C) SUMIF
D) COUNTBLANK
Answer: B) VLOOKUP
54. What is the role of Power Query in Excel or Power BI?
A) To create pivot charts
B) To write SQL queries
C) To clean, transform, and load data
D) To draw diagrams
Answer: C) To clean, transform, and load data
55. Which chart is best to show the composition of a whole?
A) Line Chart
B) Scatter Plot
C) Pie Chart
D) Histogram
Answer: C) Pie Chart
56. What is a relational database?
A) A database that stores video files
B) A database that shows only relationships
C) A database structured to recognize relationships between tables
D) A non-digital way of organizing information
Answer: C) A database structured to recognize relationships between tables
57. What does a histogram represent?
A) Relationship between two variables
B) Frequency distribution of a single numerical variable
C) Comparison of different categories
D) Timeline of events
Answer: B) Frequency distribution of a single numerical variable
58. In Power BI, what does DAX stand for?
A) Data Analysis Expressions
B) Data Aggregation X-factor
C) Data Access Exchange
D) Digital Analytics Extension
Answer: A) Data Analysis Expressions
59. In SQL, which keyword is used to sort the result set?
A) SORT
B) ORDER
C) GROUP
D) ORDER BY
Answer: D) ORDER BY
60. What is the purpose of a JOIN operation in SQL?
A) To delete columns
B) To merge data from two or more tables
C) To filter rows
D) To count unique values
Answer: B) To merge data from two or more tables
61. Which of the following best describes data lineage?
A) The historical flow of data through systems
B) A type of data encryption
C) A method of data collection
D) A predictive analytics technique
Answer: A) The historical flow of data through systems
62. Which component is essential for real-time data processing?
A) PowerPoint
B) Batch jobs
C) Streaming data platforms like Apache Kafka
D) Excel macros
Answer: C) Streaming data platforms like Apache Kafka
63. What does the term “data silo” refer to?
A) An external data storage unit
B) A centralized database
C) Isolated data that is not easily accessible across departments
D) Data that is normalized
Answer: C) Isolated data that is not easily accessible across departments
64. Which metric is commonly used to evaluate classification models?
A) R-squared
B) Accuracy
C) RMSE
D) Mean
Answer: B) Accuracy
65. In analytics, what is a ‘measure’?
A) A qualitative data type
B) A calculated numeric value, often used in aggregations
C) A data label
D) A file format
Answer: B) A calculated numeric value, often used in aggregations
66. What is the role of a data dictionary?
A) Stores encrypted passwords
B) Describes the structure, fields, and metadata of data
C) Organizes pie charts
D) Runs SQL queries
Answer: B) Describes the structure, fields, and metadata of data
67. Which of the following is NOT a data preprocessing step?
A) Data cleaning
B) Feature scaling
C) Model evaluation
D) Encoding categorical variables
Answer: C) Model evaluation
68. What does OLAP stand for?
A) Online Link Analysis Platform
B) Operational Level Analysis Process
C) Online Analytical Processing
D) Outer Loop Analytical Program
Answer: C) Online Analytical Processing
69. What is data latency?
A) Time delay in transmitting or processing data
B) The size of a dataset
C) The average data value
D) The speed of data transfer in Mbps
Answer: A) Time delay in transmitting or processing data
70. In time series forecasting, which model is commonly used?
A) Naive Bayes
B) ARIMA
C) PCA
D) Decision Tree
Answer: B) ARIMA
71. Which tool is best suited for working with large datasets in a distributed environment?
A) Excel
B) MySQL
C) Apache Spark
D) Notepad++
Answer: C) Apache Spark
72. Which function in Python’s NumPy is used to compute the standard deviation?
A) numpy.sum()
B) numpy.dev()
C) numpy.std()
D) numpy.mean()
Answer: C) numpy.std()
73. What is a common reason to use a heatmap in analytics?
A) To show page load speeds
B) To visualize the correlation or intensity of data values
C) To show textual data
D) To analyze videos
Answer: B) To visualize correlation or intensity of data values
74. Which of the following defines “data granularity”?
A) The source of the data
B) The cost of storing data
C) The level of detail or depth of data
D) The format used to store data
Answer: C) The level of detail or depth of data
75. In data analysis, which method is best for detecting seasonal patterns?
A) Regression analysis
B) K-Means clustering
C) Time series decomposition
D) Linear interpolation
Answer: C) Time series decomposition
76. What does the term “data governance” refer to?
A) Creating charts and graphs
B) Managing permissions in Excel
C) Policies and standards for managing data assets
D) Data model deployment
Answer: C) Policies and standards for managing data assets
77. What is the primary output of a regression model?
A) Categories
B) Class labels
C) Continuous numerical values
D) Frequency distributions
Answer: C) Continuous numerical values
78. Which function is used in Python’s Pandas to merge two DataFrames?
A) join_df()
B) pandas.concat()
C) pandas.merge()
D) combine_df()
Answer: C) pandas.merge()
79. In data visualization, what is a treemap used for?
A) Comparing categorical variables over time
B) Displaying hierarchical data using nested rectangles
C) Showing outliers in datasets
D) Mapping geospatial data
Answer: B) Displaying hierarchical data using nested rectangles
80. What is the F1 score in classification models?
A) The percentage of correct predictions
B) The harmonic mean of precision and recall
C) The variance of predictions
D) The maximum likelihood estimate
Answer: B) The harmonic mean of precision and recall
