Free Practice Questions for ServiceNow CSA Exam

In ServiceNow,metricsare essential tools used to track and measure key performance indicators (KPIs) related to IT Service Management (ITSM) processes. They help organizations assess how effectively they are meeting their objectives by collecting data over time.

Definition of a Metric:

Ametricin ServiceNow refers to a method of measuring and evaluating the performance and effectiveness ofIT service management processesover time.

It allows organizations to track changes in records and measure how long specific conditions exist within a workflow.

Key Characteristics of a Metric:

It is used toassess process performanceandevaluate efficiencywithin IT services.

It providesquantifiable datato analyze trends and improvements in Service Management.

Common use cases include trackingincident resolution times,change request approvals, andSLA compliance.

Understanding ServiceNow Metrics:Why Answer "C" is Correct:✔️"A metric is used to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of IT service management processes."

This definition aligns precisely with how ServiceNow definesmetrics—theytrack, measure, and analyzethe efficiency of various ITSM processes over time.

Metrics help organizations understand service performance trends and make data-driven decisions.

Why the Other Answers Are Incorrect:A. "A metric is a report gauge used on homepages to display real-time data."

Incorrectbecausegaugesare UI elements thatvisualizedata from reports or metrics but are not themselves metrics. Metricscollect and measuredata, whereasgaugesdisplay the information.

B. "A metric is a time measurement used to report the effectiveness of workflows and SLAs."

Incorrectbecause whiletime-based metricsexist (e.g., tracking how long an incident stays in a particular state), metrics in ServiceNow arebroaderand not limited to time measurement alone.

D. "A metric is a comparative measurement used to report the effectiveness of workflows and SLAs."

Incorrectbecause metrics are not necessarilycomparative; they areabsolute measuresof process effectiveness. Metrics provideraw performance data, which can later be compared or analyzed over time.

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Reporting & Performance Analytics

ServiceNow Docs: Metrics Definition & Configuration(ServiceNow Docs - Metrics)

ServiceNow Performance Analytics & Reporting Overview

References from the Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow, knowledge articles can bemarked for reviewusing the"Flag article"feature. This allows users toindicate issuessuch as outdated content, incorrect information, or necessary updates.

Users can flag an articleif they believe it needs review or corrections.

The flagged article appears in theKnowledge Management Dashboard, where knowledge managers can track flagged articles.

Knowledge managers or owners canreview flagged articlesand make necessary updates or retire them if needed.

How the "Flag Article" Feature Works:

B. Review→ No such option exists in ServiceNow for marking an article for review. However, knowledge managers can schedule article reviews manually.

C. Bookmark→ Used tosavefrequently accessed articles for personal reference but does not indicate that the article needs a review.

D. On Hold→ Applies to workflows or approvals but is not a method for marking an article for review.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

ServiceNow Documentation:Flagging a Knowledge Article

CSA Exam Guide:Covers theFlag Articlefunction as a key feature in Knowledge Management.

Reference from CSA Documentation:Thus, the correct answer is:

A. Flag article

In ServiceNow’sService Catalog, variables are used to capture user input when they request catalog items. These variables allow for dynamic and customized data collection for different service requests.

Among the options provided, the three validvariable typesthat can be added to aService Catalog Itemare:

Multiple Choice:

This variable type presents users with multiple predefined options, but only allows them to selectoneanswer.

Example: "What type of laptop do you need?" with options:MacBook, Windows Laptop, Chromebook.

Select Box:

Similar to Multiple Choice but presented in a drop-down format, making it useful when space needs to be conserved in a form.

Example: "Select your department" with a drop-down list ofIT, HR, Finance, etc.

Checkbox:

A simpleTrue/Falsevariable that allows users to check a box to indicate a selection.

Example: "Do you need an external monitor?" (Checkbox can be checked for 'Yes' or left unchecked for 'No').

Option A (True/False, Multiple Choice, and Ordered)

True/Falseis not a variable type in the Service Catalog. ServiceNow usesCheckboxfor Boolean (Yes/No) values instead.

Orderedisnot a valid Service Catalog variable type.

Option B (True/False, Checkbox, and Number List)

True/False is incorrect(ServiceNow uses "Checkbox" instead).

Number List is not a valid Service Catalog variable type.

Option C (Number List, Single Line Text, and Reference)

Number List is not a valid variable type.

Single Line Text and Reference are valid variables but were not all correct in this case.

ServiceNow Docs: Service Catalog Variableshttps://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-it-service-management/page/product/service-catalog-management/concept/c_ServiceCatalogVariables.html

ServiceNow CSA Official Training Guide (Service Catalog & Request Management)

Why the other options are incorrect?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

TheConfiguration Management Database (CMDB)in ServiceNow is a centralized repository that stores information aboutConfiguration Items (CIs), which can includeboth tangible and intangible business assets.

Tangible assets: Physical devices like servers, network components, and workstations.

Intangible assets: Software, applications, cloud services, licenses, and business services.

Relationships and Dependencies: CMDB maintains the relationships between CIs to help with impact analysis, change management, and troubleshooting.

What is Stored in the CMDB?CMDB plays a crucial role inIT Service Management (ITSM), ensuring that organizations haveaccurate and up-to-dateasset data for better decision-making.

(A) The CMDB contains data about tangible and intangible business assets – Correct

TheCMDB tracks and manages both physical (tangible) and virtual (intangible) assets.

Examples oftangible assets: Servers, routers, desktops, mobile devices.

Examples ofintangible assets: Cloud services, software applications, business services.

(B) The CMDB contains the Business Rules that direct the intangible, configurable assets used by a company – Incorrect

Business Rules are not stored in the CMDB.

Business Rules in ServiceNow are part of the platform’s automation framework and control system behavior but donotdefine configuration items.

(C) The CMDB archives all Service Management PaaS equipment metadata and usage statistics – Incorrect

TheCMDB does not function as an archive; it maintains real-time, active data about CIs.

Usage statistics are stored in performance analytics and reporting tools, not in the CMDB.

(D) The CMDB contains ITIL process data pertaining to configuration items – Incorrect

While CMDBsupports ITIL processes, it doesnot store ITIL process datadirectly.

ITIL process data (e.g., incident, problem, change records) is stored inITSM modules, not in the CMDB itself.

CMDBdoes contain CI relationshipsthatsupportITIL processes likeIncident, Problem, and Change Management.

Explanation of Each Option:

CI Classes & Hierarchy: ServiceNow CMDB uses a hierarchical structure with variousCI Classes(e.g.,cmdb_ci,cmdb_ci_server,cmdb_ci_database).

CMDB Health Dashboard: Ensures data accuracy withcompleteness, compliance, and correctnessmetrics.

Relationship Management: CIs in the CMDB are linked to show dependencies, which iscrucial for impact analysisin change and incident management.

Discovery & Service Mapping: ServiceNow’sDiscovery and Service Mappingtools helpautomate CI data collection.

Additional Notes & Best Practices:

ServiceNow Docs: CMDB Overview

https://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Community: Best Practices for CMDB Data Accuracy

https://community.servicenow.com

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow,all tablesin the database are recorded in amaster tablecalled[sys_db_object]. This table stores metadata about each table in the system, including itsname, label, and other attributes.

Stores a record for every table in the ServiceNow instance.

Tracks essential table properties, such as thetable name, label, and whether it is an extension of another table.

Helps administratorsview, modify, or create new tablesin ServiceNow.

Used inTable Administration and Custom Table Development.

A. [sys_master_db]–

This tabledoes not existin ServiceNow.

C. [sys_master_object]–

There is no such table named "sys_master_object" in ServiceNow.

D. [sys_object_db]–

This tabledoes not existin ServiceNow.

The correct name issys_db_object.

Navigate toSystem Definition→Tables.

Search for the tablesys_db_object.

Open the table to see records representing all tables in the instance.

ServiceNow Docs: Understanding Tables and Fieldshttps://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-administration/page/administer/metadata/concept/c_TablesAndFields.html

ServiceNow CSA Official Training Guide (System Data and Tables Overview)

Key Functions of [sys_db_object]:Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?How to View the [sys_db_object] Table in ServiceNow?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:This confirms that[sys_db_object]is themaster tablethat contains a record for every table in the ServiceNow database.

InServiceNow, theNumber Maintenanceapplication is used toconfigure and modify numbering formats for specific tables. This application allows administrators to control how records are numbered across different modules.

Customization of Number Formats

Administrators can defineprefixes, number sequences, and suffixesfor records in different tables.

Example:INC0001001forIncidents,REQ0002001forRequests.

Resetting or Adjusting Number Sequences

You can manually adjust the numbering sequence if needed.

Example: Resetting incident numbering to start from a specific value.

Supports Multiple Tables

Works for standard tables likeIncidents, Problems, Requests, Change Requests, etc.

Can also be configured forcustom tables.

Application Navigation

Path:

Go toAll → System Definition → Number Maintenance

Locate the table and modify its numbering settings.

Key Features of Number Maintenance:Why Option A (Number Maintenance) is Correct?"Number Maintenance" is the official ServiceNow application for managing number formats per table.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect?B. System Maintenance– Incorrect; no such module in ServiceNow manages numbering formats.

C. Table Maintenance– Incorrect; this does not exist as an application in ServiceNow.

D. Record Maintenance– Incorrect; not a valid ServiceNow feature for modifying number formats.

ServiceNow Docs – Number Maintenance Configurationhttps://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Learning – Customizing Numbering Schemes

ServiceNow System Definition – Number Format Best Practices

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

AService Catalog workflowin ServiceNow is a structured sequence of automated activities designed to manage and fulfill catalog requests. These workflows are essential in handlingapprovals, tasks, notifications, and process automationfor requests submitted through theService Catalog.

Drives Complex Fulfillment Processes:

When a user submits a catalog request, the workflow determines how it should be processed.

It automates the required steps, such asapprovals, task assignments, and record updates.

Different items in the catalog may require different workflows based on the request type.

Sends Notifications to Defined Users or Groups:

Service Catalog workflows includeemail and in-platform notificationsto keep users informed.

Notifications can be triggered at different stages, such as request submission, approval, fulfillment, and closure.

Example:If an item requires managerial approval, the workflow sends an approval request notification to the designated approver.

Approval and Task Automation:

Workflows can createapproval stepsfor request items before they proceed to fulfillment.

They can also generatetasksfor fulfillment teams based on predefined conditions.

Integration with Flow Designer and Other Automation Tools:

In newer ServiceNow versions,Flow Designeris often used instead of traditional workflows, but the core purpose remains the same.

Workflows can integrate withSLA (Service Level Agreements), script actions, and record updates.

Key Functions of a Service Catalog Workflow:Why Option C is Correct?"Drives complex fulfillment processes"→ Correct, as workflows automate and manage Service Catalog request fulfillment.

"Sends notifications to defined users or groups"→ Correct, since notifications are an integral part of ServiceNow workflows.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect?Option A:Incorrect – While workflows include tasks and approvals, they do not "generate item variable types." Variables are defined within catalog items, not workflows.

Option B:Incorrect – Workflowscan send notifications, making this statement false.

Option D:Incorrect – Similar to Option A, workflows do not generate "item variable types." Instead, they focus on fulfillment processes and notifications.

ServiceNow Product Documentation – Service Catalog Workflowshttps://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Learning – Service Catalog and Workflow Automation

ServiceNow Developer Portal – Flow Designer & Workflow Automation

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow, afilter conditionconsists of three primary components:

Field– The specific column (attribute) in a table that you want to filter by.

Example:State,Priority,Category,Created Date

Operator– Defines the comparison condition between theFieldand theValue.

Example:is, is not, contains, starts with, greater than, less than

Value– The actual data that the filter is looking for.

Example:High (for Priority), New (for State), IT Support (for Category)

Example of a Filter Condition in ServiceNow:If you want to filter Incident records where theStateisNew, the filter condition would be:

Field:State

Operator:is

Value:New

A. Table–

A table is where data is stored, but it isnota component of a filter condition.

Filters are appliedona table but do not include the table itself in the condition.

ServiceNow Docs: Filtering Data in Lists and Reportshttps://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-user-interface/page/use/using-lists/concept/filtering-lists.html

ServiceNow CSA Official Training Guide (Filtering and Searching Data)

Why the Other Option is Incorrect?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:This confirms thatField, Operator, and Valueare the three core components of a filter condition.

InServiceNow, aDictionary Overrideallows an administrator tocustomize the properties of a fieldin achild tablewithout modifying the field in the parent table.

This is particularly useful intable inheritance scenarios, where a child tableinherits fields from a parent tablebut needs different behavior for certain fields.

Modify field properties(e.g.,mandatory,read-only,default value) inextended tables.

Preserve inheritancewhile allowing exceptions for specific child tables.

Avoid modifying the original dictionary definitionof a field at the parent table level.

Key Functions of Dictionary Overrides:Example of Dictionary Override in Action:Consider theTask Table (task), which is aparent tablefor many modules likeIncident, Change, and Problem.

TheTask Tablehas apriorityfield.

If theIncident Table (incident)needs to override thepriorityfield tomake it mandatory, an administrator can create aDictionary Overridefor thepriorityfield in theincidenttable.

Thepriorityfield in other child tables (e.g.,change_request,problem) remainsunaffected.

(A) A Dictionary Override is an incoming customer update in an Update Set which applies to the same objects as a newer local customer update – Incorrect

This definition describesUpdate Set Collisions, not Dictionary Overrides.

Update Set Collisions occur whenan update set applies changes to an object that has been modified locally.

(B) A Dictionary Override is the addition, modification, or removal of anything that could have an effect on IT services – Incorrect

This describesChange Management in ITSM, which tracks changes to IT services.

Dictionary Overrides specificallymodify field propertiesin extended tables.

(C) A Dictionary Override is a task within a workflow that requests an action before the workflow can continue – Incorrect

This describesApproval Actions in Workflows, not Dictionary Overrides.

Workflow approvalspauseexecution until an action is completed, but Dictionary Overrides donotfunction this way.

(D) A Dictionary Override sets field properties in extended tables – Correct

This is the correct definition.

Dictionary Overrides allow admins tocustomize field behavior in child tableswhile maintaining inheritance from parent tables.

Explanation of Each Option:

Use Dictionary Overrides sparinglyto avoid unnecessary complexity.

Always test changes in a sub-production environmentbefore applying them in production.

Document overrides properlyto help future administrators understand why an override was applied.

Use the "Dictionary Entry" (sys_dictionary) tableto view and manage dictionary overrides.

Additional Notes & Best Practices:

ServiceNow Docs: Dictionary Overrides Overview

https://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Community: Best Practices for Dictionary Overrides

https://community.servicenow.com

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

In ServiceNow, aroleis arecord stored in the sys_user_role tablethat defines a set ofpermissionsfor users. Roles determine what users cansee and dowithin the platform by granting access to applications, modules, and specific functionalities.

Stored in thesys_user_roletable.

Assignpermissionsto users and groups.

Define access toapplications, modules, and records.

Can beinheritedby users throughgroup membership.

Used inAccess Control Rules (ACLs)to restrict or allow access to records.

Key Features of Roles in ServiceNow:Common Roles in ServiceNow:Role Name

Description

admin

Full system access, including configuration and security settings.

itil

Allows access to IT Service Management (ITSM) modules like Incident, Change, and Problem.

catalog_admin

Manages the Service Catalog.

knowledge_manager

Manages the Knowledge Base.

Roles arestored as recordsin thesys_user_roletable.

Each role grantsspecific permissionsto users.

Users can have multiple roles assigned to them.

B. A role is one record in the Role [user_sys_role] table – Incorrect

The correct table name issys_user_role, not "user_sys_role".

C. A role is a persona used in Live Feed Chat – Incorrect

Live Feed is a collaboration tool, butroles are not personas for chat.

D. A role is a set of modules for a particular application – Incorrect

Rolesgrant accessto modules, but they arenotthe modules themselves.

ServiceNow Docs: User Roles & Permissions

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Role-Based Access Control

ServiceNow Product Documentation: sys_user_role Table

Why "A. A role is one record in the Role [sys_user_role] table" is the Correct Answer?Explanation of Incorrect Options:References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation: