SPLK-1002 Advanced Searching and Statistics Practice Question
Exhibit
index=web sourcetype=access_combined | stats count by status, uri_path | eval status_group=case(status>=500,"5xx", status>=400,"4xx", status>=300,"3xx", status>=200,"2xx") | timechart span=1h count by status_group
Refer to the exhibit. This search returns an error. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Splunk often tests the misconception that `stats` preserves `_time` by default, leading candidates to overlook that `timechart` requires an explicit time field in the result set.
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 timechart command requires a _time field which is not present after stats
The error occurs because the `stats` command removes the `_time` field from the events, and `timechart` requires a valid `_time` field to create time-based buckets. Without `_time`, `timechart` cannot generate the time axis, resulting in a search error. This is a common pitfall when chaining `stats` before `timechart` without preserving the time field.
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 timechart command requires a _time field which is not present after stats
Why this is correct
Stats does not preserve _time unless explicitly used in a by clause.
- ✗
The eval command cannot be used before timechart
Why it's wrong here
Eval is perfectly valid before timechart.
- ✗
The status_group field is not available after timechart because it was created in eval
Why it's wrong here
status_group is available before timechart, so timechart can use it.
- ✗
The stats command aggregates data, so timechart cannot use the aggregated count field
Why it's wrong here
Timechart can use aggregated fields, but the issue is missing _time.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SPLK-1002 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Splunk 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 SPLK-1002 exam.