Quick Answer
The answer is First Normal Form (1NF). This is correct because a first normal form violation occurs when a table contains repeating groups, which means storing multiple values of the same type across separate columns—like Phone1, Phone2, and Phone3 for a single customer. 1NF demands that every column hold only atomic, indivisible values, and that no column or set of columns repeats to store multiple instances of the same attribute. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this concept often appears in questions about database design flaws, where a table with fields such as Contact1, Contact2, or multiple address columns is a classic trap for 1NF violations. A common memory tip is to think of 1NF as “one value per cell, no repeating columns”—if you see a table with numbered suffixes like Phone1, Phone2, you know it’s breaking 1NF. To fix it, you would move the repeating data into a separate child table with one row per phone number per customer.
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of database fundamentals. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A database table contains repeating groups of fields for multiple phone numbers per customer. Which normal form is being violated?
Second Normal Form
Why wrong: This violation is about repeating groups, not partial dependencies.
Third Normal Form
Why wrong: Transitive dependencies are not the issue here.
First Normal Form
Repeating groups violate 1NF.
No violation
Why wrong: Repeating groups are a clear violation of 1NF.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
First Normal Form
First Normal Form (1NF) requires that each column in a table contains atomic (indivisible) values and that there are no repeating groups of columns. Storing multiple phone numbers per customer in a single row, such as Phone1, Phone2, Phone3, violates 1NF because it creates a repeating group of fields. To comply with 1NF, the phone numbers should be stored in a separate child table with one row per phone number per customer.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Second Normal Form
Why it's wrong here
This violation is about repeating groups, not partial dependencies.
Third Normal Form
Why it's wrong here
Transitive dependencies are not the issue here.
First Normal Form
Why this is correct
Repeating groups violate 1NF.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
No violation
Why it's wrong here
Repeating groups are a clear violation of 1NF.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that repeating groups are a violation of Second or Third Normal Form, but the trap is that repeating groups are the defining characteristic of a First Normal Form violation, not a higher normal form.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, repeating groups violate the atomicity rule of 1NF, which is the foundation of relational database design. In practice, this violation leads to update anomalies (e.g., changing a single phone number requires scanning multiple columns) and query complexity (e.g., searching for a specific phone number across multiple columns). A normalized design would use a separate Phone table with a foreign key to the Customer table, allowing each phone number to be stored as a single row.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the FC0-U61 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
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FAQ
Database Fundamentals — This question tests Database Fundamentals — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: First Normal Form — First Normal Form (1NF) requires that each column in a table contains atomic (indivisible) values and that there are no repeating groups of columns. Storing multiple phone numbers per customer in a single row, such as Phone1, Phone2, Phone3, violates 1NF because it creates a repeating group of fields. To comply with 1NF, the phone numbers should be stored in a separate child table with one row per phone number per customer.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This FC0-U61 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 FC0-U61 exam.
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