BIDA® | Final Exam Overview + Study Tips
Congratulations on completing the BIDA® syllabus and beginning your preparation for the BIDA® Final Exam!
There is a 30-day waiting period between final exam attempts, so we encourage you to take ample time to prepare before attempting the final exam. This guide contains:
BIDA® - Final Exam at a Glance
What will I be tested on during the BIDA final exam?
| Exam structure | 65 multiple-choice questions, including 15 questions from 4 case studies, drawn from a randomized question bank. |
| Exam location | The exam is online and does not need to be scheduled. |
| Exam length | 3 hours, timed. |
| Tools Required | Power Query, Power BI, Tableau, SQL, and Jupyter Notebook. |
| Exam content | The exam covers the content from the core and prep courses. Content from elective courses will not be covered. |
| Exam results availability | Candidates will receive their results immediately after completing the exam. |
| Passing score | Candidates will require a score of 70% to pass. |
| Eligibility | The exam can be accessed upon completion of all core courses. |
| Number of attempts | Candidates who do not pass must wait thirty days before retaking the exam. Once passed, final exams cannot be retaken. |
| Retaking the Exam | Candidates who do not pass the exam must wait thirty days before they can attempt it again. An active CFI subscription is required to be eligible for exam retakes. |
| Single Browser Tab | The exam should only be opened in one browser tab. Opening in additional tabs or windows may lead to issues with the exam, including automatic exam failure. |
| How to prepare | Review the course videos, materials, exercises, Qualified Assessments, and case studies. Take the BIDA® Practice Exam. |
| Practice exams | Candidates may take an unlimited number of practice exams before taking the BIDA® Final Exam. |
BIDA® Exam Overview
The BIDA® Final Exam is divided into two primary sections. You must achieve a minimum of 70% to earn a passing score on the Exam.
Exam Breakdown
Section 1: Multiple-Choice Questions
- Section one contains 50 randomized multiple-choice questions
- Similar difficulty level as the qualified exams at the end of each course.
Section 2: Case studies
- Section two contains 15 questions about four case studies
- This section accounts for ~22% of your final exam score
- Each case study is based on one of the following tools:
- Required Case Studies
- Power Query
- Power BI Desktop
- Tableau
- Case Study of Your Choice
- SQL
- Python
- Required Case Studies
Topic Weights*
All questions are weighted equally. Each topic varies in weight, as outlined below.
*Topic weights may vary slightly.
Duration
- The final exam is timed and takes three hours to complete
- You should aim to spend about two minutes on each multiple-choice question
- Roughly 80 minutes should be allocated to answering the case-study questions (it is highly recommended you pre-configure the required tools below before beginning)
Other Important Exam Information
- Answers cannot be changed once submitted, as backward navigation is not allowed
- There is no penalty for incorrect answers
- You can retake the exam after 30 days if your first attempt is unsuccessful
Tools Required to Complete the BIDA® Final Exam
We highly recommend setting up the following tools before beginning your exam. This will allow you to maximize your time spent answering questions.
What tools do I need to take the BIDA® Final exam?
- SQL: Ensure that you have Azure Data Studio installed and can create a new connection using the server details provided in the exam.
- Python: Ensure you have Anaconda installed and can open the provided .ipynb file. file using Jupyter Notebooks. Ensure that you use the same versions of software used to complete any Python-related courses, as newer updates may have compatibility issues.
- Tableau: You will need to be able to open a .twbx file.
- Power BI Desktop: An Excel file (.xlsx) and a Power BI file (.pbix) will be provided. You must be able to import data from the Excel file to complete the analysis.
- Power Query: An Excel file (.xlsx) will be provided, and some problems must be solved using Power Query. Install the Excel add-in if you are running Microsoft Excel 2010/2013 on your machine. For Microsoft Excel 2016 and later, Power Query is a built-in feature located under the Data tab.
Studying & Practicing for the Final Exam
Review Course Materials
- Rewatch video demonstrations
- Review course presentations, exercises, and case studies
- Take detailed notes and organize them by topic using the "notes" feature in the CFI LMS
Take the Practice Exam
The practice exam will contain questions similar to those in the final exam. We recommend focusing heavily on theory questions, which will comprise the majority of the final exam. You can retake the practice exam as many times as you need to feel confident in your mastery of the material.
Other Tips to Consider
- Be sure to sit in a comfortable setting with no distractions.
- Keep a snack and water nearby to stay energized and well-hydrated.
- Ensure that you have a stable network connection.
- You can refresh your browser during a brief outage without losing progress, but the exam counter will not stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will CFI provide me with access to the required applications?
- No. Students must download the required applications independently before enrolling in the BIDA® course or taking the BIDA® final exam. Except for Microsoft Suite, most of the software required can be downloaded for free.
Can I complete the BIDA® program using a MAC computer?
- Yes, you can. We recommend downloading Parallels to use PowerBI and PowerPivot on your MAC device. PowerBI is also available, but with limited functionality, online here. Mac Devices support all other applications required in the BIDA® program.