- A
The SLA schedule is set to 24x7 but the incident was created outside business hours.
Why wrong: The schedule affects elapsed time counting, not the start condition.
- B
The SLA definition has a pause condition that triggers on state change.
Why wrong: A pause condition halts an active SLA, it does not prevent starting.
- C
The incident's category is not 'network'.
The SLA condition includes 'category = network', so if the incident's category is different, the SLA will not start.
- D
The SLA definition is on the 'task' table instead of 'incident'.
Why wrong: 'task' is the parent table, so SLA on 'task' applies to incidents.
SNOW-CSA Reporting, SLA and Imports Practice Question
This SNOW-CSA practice question tests your understanding of reporting, sla and imports. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 SLA definition is configured to start when an incident's state changes to 'In Progress'. However, the SLA is not starting for incidents that are moved to 'In Progress'. The incident's assignment group is 'IT Support' and the SLA condition includes an additional filter: 'category = network'. 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.
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
The incident's category is not 'network'.
The SLA condition includes an additional filter requiring 'category = network'. If the incident's category is not set to 'network', the SLA will not start regardless of the state change to 'In Progress'. This is because SLA conditions in ServiceNow are evaluated as a whole; all conditions must be met for the SLA to begin.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The SLA schedule is set to 24x7 but the incident was created outside business hours.
Why it's wrong here
The schedule affects elapsed time counting, not the start condition.
- ✗
The SLA definition has a pause condition that triggers on state change.
Why it's wrong here
A pause condition halts an active SLA, it does not prevent starting.
- ✓
The incident's category is not 'network'.
Why this is correct
The SLA condition includes 'category = network', so if the incident's category is different, the SLA will not start.
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 SLA definition is on the 'task' table instead of 'incident'.
Why it's wrong here
'task' is the parent table, so SLA on 'task' applies to incidents.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overlook the additional filter condition and assume the state change alone should start the SLA, ignoring that all conditions in the SLA definition must be satisfied simultaneously.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In ServiceNow, SLA definitions use condition builder logic where all conditions (e.g., state = 'In Progress' AND category = 'network') must be true for the SLA to start. The condition is evaluated at the time of the state change; if the category field is empty or different, the SLA will not trigger. This is distinct from SLA schedules, which only affect elapsed time calculations, not start conditions.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Reporting, SLA and Imports — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SNOW-CSA question test?
Reporting, SLA and Imports — This question tests Reporting, SLA and Imports — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The incident's category is not 'network'. — The SLA condition includes an additional filter requiring 'category = network'. If the incident's category is not set to 'network', the SLA will not start regardless of the state change to 'In Progress'. This is because SLA conditions in ServiceNow are evaluated as a whole; all conditions must be met for the SLA to begin.
What should I do if I get this SNOW-CSA question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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