DA0-002 Visualization and Reporting Practice Question
A data analyst needs to visualize the distribution of customer ages in a dataset containing 10,000 records. The analyst wants to see the shape of the distribution and identify any outliers. Which chart type is most appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
DA0-002 often tests histogram vs. box plot — candidates pick box plot because the question mentions outliers, forgetting the question also asks for distribution shape, which only a histogram reveals.
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
✓
Histogram
A histogram is most appropriate because it displays the full shape of a continuous distribution (e.g., normal, skewed, bimodal) across bins, and the tails of the histogram make extreme values visually apparent. With 10,000 records, binning ages reveals both the overall distribution shape and where outliers fall at the extremes. Box plots also show outliers, but they compress the distribution into five summary statistics and hide the shape.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Line chart
Why it's wrong here
A line chart plots values against a continuous sequence, implying trend over time, so it misrepresents a static age distribution and hides outliers among 10,000 records. It is tempting because it reveals patterns across ordered data, and would be correct for showing a metric's movement over months or years.
- ✓
Histogram
Why this is correct
A histogram bins continuous age values into intervals, directly revealing distribution shape, skew and modality across 10,000 records. Outliers appear as isolated bars at the extremes, which a box plot would only summarise. It satisfies the stem's dual requirement: seeing overall shape and spotting outliers.
- ✗
Box plot
Why it's wrong here
A box plot summarises median, quartiles and outliers but does not display the shape of a distribution across 10,000 ages; it compresses the data into five statistics. It is tempting because it highlights outliers well, and would be correct when comparing distributions across several groups rather than showing one distribution's shape.
- ✗
Pie chart
Why it's wrong here
A pie chart shows parts of a whole as proportional slices, so it cannot reveal the shape of an age distribution or flag outliers across 10,000 records. It is tempting because it displays category composition clearly, and would be correct for showing proportions such as market share by segment.
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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.