DA0-002 Visualization and Reporting Practice Question
A data analyst is tasked with visualizing the distribution of customer ages across different regions. The dataset contains outliers. Which chart type best displays the distribution and highlights outliers?
⚠ Common exam trap
DA0-002 often tests the distinction between charts that show distribution shape (histogram, violin) and charts that explicitly flag outliers (box plot), tempting candidates to choose violin plot for its visual richness.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Box plot
A box plot is purpose-built to display distribution summary statistics—median, quartiles, and whiskers—and explicitly marks outliers as individual points beyond the whiskers. This makes it the best choice when the requirement is to show distribution across regions while highlighting outliers. Grouping box plots by region allows direct comparison of age distributions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Box plot
Why this is correct
A box plot encodes the median, quartiles and whiskers, so the interquartile range shows the distribution's spread while points beyond the whiskers are plotted individually as outliers. This satisfies the stem's dual requirement to display age distribution across regions and highlight outliers.
- ✗
Violin plot
Why it's wrong here
A violin plot shows density shape but its smoothed kernel outline can obscure individual outlier points, and it does not mark them explicitly. It is tempting because it displays distribution across categories. A violin plot suits comparing distribution shapes when outliers are not the focus.
- ✗
Histogram
Why it's wrong here
A histogram bins a single continuous variable and shows frequency distribution, but it does not separate or label individual outliers, and it cannot display regions simultaneously. It is tempting because it visualises distribution. A histogram is correct for one variable's shape when outliers need no highlighting.
- ✗
Bar chart
Why it's wrong here
A bar chart plots aggregated values per category, so it cannot show the spread, shape or individual outlier points of a continuous variable such as age. It is tempting because it compares regions clearly. A bar chart is correct for comparing counts or sums across discrete categories.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every DA0-002 question from scratch — 1,004 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This DA0-002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DA0-002 exam.