This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of reporting, sla and imports. 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.
An administrator imports a CSV file into the incident table using an import set. After the import, several records are duplicated. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
The CSV contained duplicate rows.
Why wrong: Duplicate rows in CSV can cause duplicates, but coalesce can mitigate if set.
The target table has an index on the number field.
Why wrong: Indexes improve performance, they do not cause duplication.
The transform map does not have a coalesce field set.
Without coalesce, every row creates a new record.
The import set row limit was exceeded.
Why wrong: Row limit causes truncation, not duplication.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The transform map does not have a coalesce field set.
Option C is correct because the transform map lacks a coalesce field, which is required to match incoming records to existing records in the target table. Without a coalesce field, the import set treats every row as a new record, causing duplicates even if the CSV contains unique data. Coalesce fields define the unique key (e.g., sys_id or number) used to prevent duplicate inserts.
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.
The CSV contained duplicate rows.
Why it's wrong here
Duplicate rows in CSV can cause duplicates, but coalesce can mitigate if set.
The target table has an index on the number field.
Why it's wrong here
Indexes improve performance, they do not cause duplication.
The transform map does not have a coalesce field set.
Why this is correct
Without coalesce, every row creates a new record.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
The import set row limit was exceeded.
Why it's wrong here
Row limit causes truncation, not duplication.
Common exam traps
ServiceNow often tests the misconception that duplicate CSV rows are the root cause, but the real issue is the absence of a coalesce field in the transform map, which controls deduplication logic regardless of source data uniqueness.
Detailed technical explanation
Coalesce fields in a transform map define the unique identifier (e.g., sys_id, number) used to match incoming records to existing target table records. If no coalesce field is set, the import engine defaults to insert-only behavior, creating a new record for every row. This is a common pitfall when importing data from external systems that lack a natural key mapping, leading to unintended duplicates that must be cleaned up manually or via a deduplication script.
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 SNOW-CSA 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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Reporting, SLA and Imports — This question tests Reporting, SLA and Imports — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: The transform map does not have a coalesce field set. — Option C is correct because the transform map lacks a coalesce field, which is required to match incoming records to existing records in the target table. Without a coalesce field, the import set treats every row as a new record, causing duplicates even if the CSV contains unique data. Coalesce fields define the unique key (e.g., sys_id or number) used to prevent duplicate inserts.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This SNOW-CSA practice question is part of Courseiva's free ServiceNow 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 SNOW-CSA exam.
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