WGU Objective Assessment (OA) Actual Exam
2026 | Course-Specific Questions & Verified
Answers | Competency-Based Exam
Q001: A mid-size retailer’s 2026 Q2 dashboard shows a 12 % drop in repeat-purchase
rate. The CRM analyst segments data and learns that customers who bought
eco-friendly SKUs have the steepest decline. Which next step best applies the
business-analysis process?
Options:
A. Immediately cut the eco-line to save cost
B. Survey the eco-segment to validate drivers of dissatisfaction - CORRECT
C. Increase ad spend across all segments
D. Lower prices on non-eco SKUs
(Correct Answer: B)
Q002: A WGU IT student writes a Python UDF that transforms Unix-time stamps into
local datetime. The function is embedded in an AWS Glue job processing 5 TB daily.
Which change best aligns the code with big-data best practices?
Options:
A. Import datetime inside the UDF to keep logic together
B. Vectorize the conversion with PyArrow and cache the result - CORRECT
C. Cast the column to string and use str.split()
D. Run the UDF in a for-loop for readability
(Correct Answer: B)
Q003: A community hospital’s 2026 strategic plan sets a goal to reduce 30-day
readmissions for heart-failure patients by 15 %. Which structure-outcome measure pair
best supports a balanced-scorecard perspective?
Options:
A. Structure: EHR uptime ≥ 99 %; Outcome: Patient satisfaction top-box ≥ 90 %
B. Structure: Nurse-to-patient ratio 1:4 on HF unit; Outcome: HF 30-day readmission rate
- CORRECT
,C. Structure: Number of board-certified cardiologists; Outcome: Average LOS
D. Structure: Cafeteria revenue; Outcome: Staff turnover
(Correct Answer: B)
Q004: A WGU teacher-candidate designs a 6th-grade math lesson on proportional
reasoning. Diagnostic data show half the class struggles with fractions. Which UDL
principle offers the most appropriate initial adjustment?
Options:
A. Offer only auditory lecture to minimize cognitive load
B. Provide fraction-bar manipulatives and interactive simulations - CORRECT
C. Skip the diagnostic and proceed with grade-level pacing
D. Assign twice as many practice problems for homework
(Correct Answer: B)
Q005: A fintech startup’s 2026 microservice averages 250 ms response time. During
beta testing, 95th-percentile latency spikes to 900 ms under 1 000 concurrent users.
Which performance-tuning tactic best applies systems-thinking?
Options:
A. Add more UI animations to distract users
B. Horizontally scale stateless containers and implement non-blocking I/O - CORRECT
C. Increase logging level to DEBUG in production
D. Store session state on the client device
(Correct Answer: B)
Q006: A state agency uses a Kirkpatrick model to evaluate a new cybersecurity
awareness program. Level 3 (behavior) data show no change in phishing-click rates
three months post-training. Which evaluation conclusion is most valid?
Options:
A. The program failed; abandon it
B. Level 4 results (ROI) are irrelevant now
C. Reinforcers and job-aids should be added; re-measure - CORRECT
D. Revert to voluntary training only
(Correct Answer: C)
Q007: A WGU business student analyzes a 2026 SaaS income statement. Subscription
revenue is $18 M, COGS is $5 M, and operating expenses are $10 M. Which metric best
assess operational efficiency?
Options:
,A. Gross profit margin = 72 % - CORRECT
B. Current ratio = 1.2
C. ROA = 5 %
D. Debt-to-equity = 0.4
(Correct Answer: A)
Q008: A healthcare quality team applies DMAIC to reduce medication-administration
errors. In the Measure phase, they discover barcode overrides occur 4 % of the time.
Which tool best validates the measurement system?
Options:
A. Gantt chart
B. Gage R&R study - CORRECT
C. SWOT matrix
D. Fishbone diagram
(Correct Answer: B)
Q009: A WGU IT capstone project requires a zero-trust architecture for a remote clinic.
Which control best exemplifies the “never trust, always verify” tenet for user access?
Options:
A. Single-factor VPN login
B. Just-in-time privileged access with conditional policies - CORRECT
C. Shared service account for nurses
D. Static firewall rules at the perimeter
(Correct Answer: B)
Q010: A district implements competency-based grading in 2026. A 7th-grade student
demonstrates mastery of ratios but not yet proportional relationships. Which
progression policy aligns with CBE principles?
Options:
A. Advance to the next unit anyway to keep pace
B. Allow targeted re-learning and reassess until mastery is met - CORRECT
C. Average the scores and issue a C
D. Require summer school for all students
(Correct Answer: B)
Q011: A marketing analyst runs a multiple-regression model to predict 2026 Q3 sales.
VIF values for three predictors exceed 8. Which action best addresses the analytic
issue?
, Options:
A. Increase sample size
B. Remove or combine highly correlated predictors - CORRECT
C. Transform the dependent variable
D. Switch to logistic regression
(Correct Answer: B)
Q012: A WGU cybersecurity student reviews NIST SP 800-53 controls. Which control
family best maps to ensuring that cryptographic keys can be revoked after employee
termination?
Options:
A. Access Control (AC)
B. Audit (AU)
C. System and Communications Protection (SC)
D. Identification and Authentication (IA) - CORRECT
(Correct Answer: D)
Q013: A nonprofit CFO debates whether to lease or buy a $200 k outreach van in 2026.
The lease rate is 5 % APR, three-year term, $0 residual; the buy option uses a 4 % loan.
Which analytic approach best supports the decision?
Options:
A. Payback period
B. Net present value (NPV) analysis of cash flows - CORRECT
C. Accounting rate of return
D. Simple ROI
(Correct Answer: B)
Q014: A WGN nursing student conducts an evidence-based-practice project on fall
prevention. The team rates the evidence using the Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP model.
Which source is considered Level I?
Options:
A. Expert opinion from clinical nurse specialist
B. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials - CORRECT
C. Single qualitative descriptive study
D. Quality-improvement report
(Correct Answer: B)
2026 | Course-Specific Questions & Verified
Answers | Competency-Based Exam
Q001: A mid-size retailer’s 2026 Q2 dashboard shows a 12 % drop in repeat-purchase
rate. The CRM analyst segments data and learns that customers who bought
eco-friendly SKUs have the steepest decline. Which next step best applies the
business-analysis process?
Options:
A. Immediately cut the eco-line to save cost
B. Survey the eco-segment to validate drivers of dissatisfaction - CORRECT
C. Increase ad spend across all segments
D. Lower prices on non-eco SKUs
(Correct Answer: B)
Q002: A WGU IT student writes a Python UDF that transforms Unix-time stamps into
local datetime. The function is embedded in an AWS Glue job processing 5 TB daily.
Which change best aligns the code with big-data best practices?
Options:
A. Import datetime inside the UDF to keep logic together
B. Vectorize the conversion with PyArrow and cache the result - CORRECT
C. Cast the column to string and use str.split()
D. Run the UDF in a for-loop for readability
(Correct Answer: B)
Q003: A community hospital’s 2026 strategic plan sets a goal to reduce 30-day
readmissions for heart-failure patients by 15 %. Which structure-outcome measure pair
best supports a balanced-scorecard perspective?
Options:
A. Structure: EHR uptime ≥ 99 %; Outcome: Patient satisfaction top-box ≥ 90 %
B. Structure: Nurse-to-patient ratio 1:4 on HF unit; Outcome: HF 30-day readmission rate
- CORRECT
,C. Structure: Number of board-certified cardiologists; Outcome: Average LOS
D. Structure: Cafeteria revenue; Outcome: Staff turnover
(Correct Answer: B)
Q004: A WGU teacher-candidate designs a 6th-grade math lesson on proportional
reasoning. Diagnostic data show half the class struggles with fractions. Which UDL
principle offers the most appropriate initial adjustment?
Options:
A. Offer only auditory lecture to minimize cognitive load
B. Provide fraction-bar manipulatives and interactive simulations - CORRECT
C. Skip the diagnostic and proceed with grade-level pacing
D. Assign twice as many practice problems for homework
(Correct Answer: B)
Q005: A fintech startup’s 2026 microservice averages 250 ms response time. During
beta testing, 95th-percentile latency spikes to 900 ms under 1 000 concurrent users.
Which performance-tuning tactic best applies systems-thinking?
Options:
A. Add more UI animations to distract users
B. Horizontally scale stateless containers and implement non-blocking I/O - CORRECT
C. Increase logging level to DEBUG in production
D. Store session state on the client device
(Correct Answer: B)
Q006: A state agency uses a Kirkpatrick model to evaluate a new cybersecurity
awareness program. Level 3 (behavior) data show no change in phishing-click rates
three months post-training. Which evaluation conclusion is most valid?
Options:
A. The program failed; abandon it
B. Level 4 results (ROI) are irrelevant now
C. Reinforcers and job-aids should be added; re-measure - CORRECT
D. Revert to voluntary training only
(Correct Answer: C)
Q007: A WGU business student analyzes a 2026 SaaS income statement. Subscription
revenue is $18 M, COGS is $5 M, and operating expenses are $10 M. Which metric best
assess operational efficiency?
Options:
,A. Gross profit margin = 72 % - CORRECT
B. Current ratio = 1.2
C. ROA = 5 %
D. Debt-to-equity = 0.4
(Correct Answer: A)
Q008: A healthcare quality team applies DMAIC to reduce medication-administration
errors. In the Measure phase, they discover barcode overrides occur 4 % of the time.
Which tool best validates the measurement system?
Options:
A. Gantt chart
B. Gage R&R study - CORRECT
C. SWOT matrix
D. Fishbone diagram
(Correct Answer: B)
Q009: A WGU IT capstone project requires a zero-trust architecture for a remote clinic.
Which control best exemplifies the “never trust, always verify” tenet for user access?
Options:
A. Single-factor VPN login
B. Just-in-time privileged access with conditional policies - CORRECT
C. Shared service account for nurses
D. Static firewall rules at the perimeter
(Correct Answer: B)
Q010: A district implements competency-based grading in 2026. A 7th-grade student
demonstrates mastery of ratios but not yet proportional relationships. Which
progression policy aligns with CBE principles?
Options:
A. Advance to the next unit anyway to keep pace
B. Allow targeted re-learning and reassess until mastery is met - CORRECT
C. Average the scores and issue a C
D. Require summer school for all students
(Correct Answer: B)
Q011: A marketing analyst runs a multiple-regression model to predict 2026 Q3 sales.
VIF values for three predictors exceed 8. Which action best addresses the analytic
issue?
, Options:
A. Increase sample size
B. Remove or combine highly correlated predictors - CORRECT
C. Transform the dependent variable
D. Switch to logistic regression
(Correct Answer: B)
Q012: A WGU cybersecurity student reviews NIST SP 800-53 controls. Which control
family best maps to ensuring that cryptographic keys can be revoked after employee
termination?
Options:
A. Access Control (AC)
B. Audit (AU)
C. System and Communications Protection (SC)
D. Identification and Authentication (IA) - CORRECT
(Correct Answer: D)
Q013: A nonprofit CFO debates whether to lease or buy a $200 k outreach van in 2026.
The lease rate is 5 % APR, three-year term, $0 residual; the buy option uses a 4 % loan.
Which analytic approach best supports the decision?
Options:
A. Payback period
B. Net present value (NPV) analysis of cash flows - CORRECT
C. Accounting rate of return
D. Simple ROI
(Correct Answer: B)
Q014: A WGN nursing student conducts an evidence-based-practice project on fall
prevention. The team rates the evidence using the Johns Hopkins Nursing EBP model.
Which source is considered Level I?
Options:
A. Expert opinion from clinical nurse specialist
B. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials - CORRECT
C. Single qualitative descriptive study
D. Quality-improvement report
(Correct Answer: B)
