CPA ISC: Data management, databases and data analytics
Blueprint I.B · Area I, Information Systems and Data Management · 35–45% of ISC
Ten ISC questions on data management, databases and data analytics, untimed, with a reason for every answer option.
Or take the full ISC mock examWhat is the main purpose of normalizing a relational database?
Data management, databases and data analytics on CPA ISC
This part of Area I tests how data is stored, governed and analyzed: relational databases and keys, SQL queries, data warehouses and lakes, the data life cycle, and analytics techniques.
- Blueprint groups
- I.B
- Share of the section
- Area I, Information Systems and Data Management: 35–45%
- Our drill
- 10 questions from 18 on this topic, untimed, with a reason for every option; one free attempt, unlimited with a pass
What to know
- A primary key uniquely identifies each record; a foreign key references another table's primary key; referential integrity prevents orphan records.
- Normalization reduces redundancy and update anomalies.
- SQL WHERE filters rows before grouping; HAVING filters groups after aggregation; INNER JOIN keeps only matching rows, and a LEFT JOIN with IS NULL finds unmatched records.
- ETL extracts data from sources, transforms (cleanses and standardizes) it and loads it into a warehouse; a data lake holds raw data in native format.
- Analytics types: descriptive (what happened), diagnostic (why), predictive (what will happen), prescriptive (what to do).
- Record counts, control totals and hash totals verify that transferred data is complete and accurate.
Test yourself on data management, databases and data analytics
Ten ISC questions on data management, databases and data analytics, untimed, with a reason for every answer option.
Or take the full ISC mock examCommon questions
How much of the ISC section is data management, databases and data analytics?
It sits in Blueprint Area I (I.B). The AICPA weights whole areas, not single topics; see the area’s range on the ISC page. Our 82-question mock draws each area at the middle of its range.
Are these real ISC questions?
No. The AICPA does not release live exam questions. These are original practice questions written to the published 2027 CPA Exam Blueprints, with a reason for every answer option and the standard or code section behind the key.
More ISC topics
- Information systems, IT general controls and change managementdrill
- Security controls and threatsdrill
- Frameworks, confidentiality, privacy and incident responsedrill
- Planning and performing SOC engagementsdrill
- SOC reports and opinionsdrill
ISC full mock exam: 4 hours, 5 testletsISC task-based simulations
Blueprint and exam facts checked November 2026: AICPA: Learn what is tested on the CPA Exam (Blueprints effective January 1, 2027) · AICPA: CPA Exam score release and testing windows · NASBA: CPA Exam FAQ · Virginia Board of Accountancy: CPA Exam fees.
Original independent practice questions written to the AICPA CPA Exam Blueprints. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AICPA or NASBA.