WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1
Normalization and Database Design - 2026/2027
Performance Assessment Preparation - Verified Answers
EXAM INSTRUCTIONS: This comprehensive 115-question examination covers all nine competency
domains of the WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 Normalization and Database Design performance assessment,
aligned with the 2026/2027 curriculum. Questions test recall of normal form definitions, application of
normalization techniques (1NF, 2NF, 3NF), ERD development, DDL implementation, and analysis of design
trade-offs. Each question has ONE correct answer (A, B, C, or D). After each question, the correct answer
and a detailed rationale citing normalization rules, dependency analysis, design principles, and rubric
alignment are provided. Total exam length: 115 questions across 9 sections. Recommended completion
time: 2.5 hours.
SECTION 1: VHT2 Task 1 Requirements and Rubric Analysis
Task structure, deliverables, competencies, and evaluation criteria for VHT2 Task 1.
Q1: Which of the following BEST describes the primary deliverables required for WGU C170 VHT2
Task 1?
A. Only a completed multiple-choice exam and a written essay.
B. An entity-relationship diagram (ERD), a normalized database design (through 3NF), DDL (CREATE
TABLE) statements, and documentation justifying normalization decisions aligned to the rubric.
[CORRECT]
C. A working application with a graphical user interface and populated sample data.
D. Only SQL SELECT queries demonstrating data retrieval from an existing database.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: VHT2 Task 1 requires students to: (1) interpret a business scenario and identify data requirements;
(2) normalize the unnormalized data through 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF; (3) create an ERD showing entities, attributes,
relationships, and cardinality; (4) write DDL (CREATE TABLE) statements implementing the normalized design;
(5) document and justify all normalization decisions per the rubric. Options A, C, and D do not match the
performance assessment structure. WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 emphasizes the complete database design
lifecycle from analysis through implementation.
Q2: When evaluating a VHT2 Task 1 submission, the evaluator will primarily assess whether the
student has demonstrated competency in:
A. Memorizing SQL syntax without application.
B. Normalizing data to 3NF, designing a correct ERD, implementing DDL with appropriate constraints, and
justifying design decisions per the rubric criteria. [CORRECT]
C. Writing the most complex SQL queries possible.
D. Using advanced database administration tools.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The VHT2 Task 1 rubric evaluates competency in: (1) accurate normalization through 3NF with
correct dependency identification; (2) ERD development with proper entities, attributes, relationships, cardinality,
and notation; (3) DDL implementation with correct data types, primary keys, foreign keys, and constraints; (4)
documentation justifying each normalization step and design decision. Options A, C, and D focus on irrelevant
aspects. The rubric emphasizes correctness and justification, not complexity.
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,WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
Q3: A student submitting VHT2 Task 1 must include normalization documentation that
demonstrates progression from unnormalized data through 3NF. The PRIMARY purpose of this
documentation is to:
A. Increase the page count of the submission.
B. Show the evaluator the reasoning behind each normalization step, proving the student understands
dependency identification (partial, transitive) and normal form rules. [CORRECT]
C. Replace the ERD deliverable.
D. Provide sample data for testing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normalization documentation proves the student understands WHY each step was taken - identifying
functional dependencies, explaining how repeating groups are eliminated (1NF), partial dependencies resolved
(2NF), and transitive dependencies removed (3NF). This justification is critical for evaluator approval on first
attempt. Without documentation, the evaluator cannot verify the student's understanding. The ERD and DDL are
separate required deliverables.
Q4: Which competency is NOT explicitly assessed in the VHT2 Task 1 rubric?
A. Identifying functional dependencies in unnormalized data.
B. Decomposing tables to achieve 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF.
C. Developing an ERD with correct cardinality and notation.
D. Writing complex stored procedures and triggers for business logic automation. [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: VHT2 Task 1 assesses normalization (1NF-3NF), ERD development, DDL implementation, and
documentation - NOT advanced database programming like stored procedures, triggers, or application logic.
Those topics belong to other courses or tasks. The rubric focuses on database DESIGN competency, not
implementation of business logic. Students should not spend time on stored procedures for this task.
Q5: The VHT2 Task 1 rubric criterion for 'Normalization' most directly evaluates whether the
student has:
A. Used the most advanced normal form possible (BCNF, 4NF, 5NF).
B. Correctly identified and eliminated repeating groups (1NF), partial dependencies (2NF), and transitive
dependencies (3NF), with each step documented and justified. [CORRECT]
C. Created the fewest possible tables to simplify the design.
D. Used denormalization for performance optimization.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rubric requires correct normalization THROUGH 3NF - not beyond. The student must
demonstrate: (1) 1NF - atomic values, no repeating groups, primary key identified; (2) 2NF - 1NF plus no partial
dependencies (only relevant with composite keys); (3) 3NF - 2NF plus no transitive dependencies. Each step
must be documented with the dependency analysis that justified it. BCNF/4NF/5NF are beyond the rubric scope.
Denormalization is the opposite of the task's goal.
Q6: For the ERD deliverable in VHT2 Task 1, the evaluator expects to see all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. All entities with appropriate attributes.
B. Primary keys clearly marked for each entity.
C. Relationships with correct cardinality notation (e.g., Crow's Foot).
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,WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
D. Sample INSERT statements populating each table with test data. [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The ERD deliverable must show entities, attributes (with PKs marked), relationships, and cardinality
using proper notation (Crow's Foot or Chen). Sample INSERT statements and test data are NOT part of the ERD
deliverable - they belong to testing (if required) or are unnecessary for the ERD itself. The ERD is a design
artifact, not a data population script. Including unnecessary elements wastes time and may confuse the
evaluator.
Q7: When writing DDL (CREATE TABLE) statements for VHT2 Task 1, which of the following is
REQUIRED by the rubric?
A. Only table names and column names without constraints.
B. Correct data types, PRIMARY KEY constraints, FOREIGN KEY constraints with referential integrity,
and other appropriate constraints (NOT NULL, UNIQUE, CHECK, DEFAULT) matching the normalized
design. [CORRECT]
C. Only SELECT statements demonstrating data retrieval.
D. Application code in Python or Java connecting to the database.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DDL deliverable must implement the normalized design with: (1) correct data types for each
column; (2) PRIMARY KEY constraints; (3) FOREIGN KEY constraints with referential integrity (including
cascade rules where appropriate); (4) additional constraints (NOT NULL, UNIQUE, CHECK, DEFAULT) as
justified by business rules. The DDL must match the ERD and normalized tables exactly. SELECT statements
and application code are not part of the DDL deliverable.
Q8: A student is unsure whether to include surrogate keys (e.g., IDENTITY/AUTO_INCREMENT
integers) or natural keys (e.g., SSN, email) in their VHT2 Task 1 design. The BEST approach is to:
A. Always use natural keys to avoid artificial identifiers.
B. Choose keys based on business requirements, document the rationale (surrogate keys avoid issues
with changing natural keys; natural keys have business meaning), and ensure the choice aligns with
normalization principles. [CORRECT]
C. Always use surrogate keys because they are shorter.
D. Avoid specifying primary keys to keep the design flexible.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Both surrogate and natural keys have valid use cases. Surrogate keys (system-generated integers)
are stable, short, and avoid issues when natural keys change. Natural keys (like email) have business meaning
but may change and are often longer. The rubric expects students to make a justified choice and document it.
There is no single 'always correct' answer - the key is demonstrating understanding through documentation.
Q9: Which documentation element is MOST critical for demonstrating competency in the VHT2
Task 1 normalization process?
A. A table of contents listing all deliverables.
B. For each normal form transition (UNF→1NF→2NF→3NF), a clear explanation of the dependency
identified and the decomposition performed, with the resulting table structures shown. [CORRECT]
C. A glossary of database terminology.
D. A cover letter introducing the student.
Correct Answer: B
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 - Latest 2026/2027 Page 3
, WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
Rationale: The most critical documentation is the step-by-step normalization justification: for each transition,
identify the specific dependency (repeating group, partial dependency, transitive dependency), explain the
decomposition rule applied, and show the resulting tables. This proves understanding to the evaluator.
Glossaries, cover letters, and tables of contents are supplementary but do not demonstrate normalization
competency.
Q10: A common pitfall in VHT2 Task 1 submissions that leads to non-passing evaluations is:
A. Using too many colors in the ERD diagram.
B. Failing to identify transitive dependencies (skipping or incorrectly performing 3NF), resulting in tables
that still have non-key attributes dependent on other non-key attributes. [CORRECT]
C. Including too many business rules in the documentation.
D. Using both Crow's Foot and Chen notation in the same ERD.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most common pitfall is incomplete or incorrect 3NF - students often identify partial dependencies
(2NF) correctly but miss transitive dependencies (non-key → non-key). For example, if Employee table has
EmpID → DeptID → DeptName, DeptName is transitively dependent on EmpID through DeptID, violating 3NF.
The evaluator will mark this as not meeting competency. The other options are minor stylistic issues that do not
affect competency evaluation.
SECTION 2: Business Scenario Interpretation and Data Requirements
Business rules, data elements, source documents, and requirement extraction from narratives.
Q11: A business scenario states: 'Each customer may place multiple orders. Each order contains
one or more products. Each product belongs to exactly one category. Each order is handled by
one sales representative.' When interpreting this narrative, the student should identify which set of
entities?
A. Customer, Order, Product, Category, Sales Representative (5 entities with relationships: Customer 1:M
Order, Order M:N Product, Product M:1 Category, Order M:1 Sales Representative) [CORRECT]
B. Only Customer and Order (2 entities).
C. Only Order and Product (2 entities).
D. Customer, Order, and Product with no relationships specified.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The narrative identifies 5 entities: Customer (places orders), Order (contains products), Product
(belongs to category), Category (groups products), Sales Representative (handles orders). Relationships:
Customer 1:M Order (each customer may place multiple orders); Order M:N Product (each order contains
multiple products, each product can be in multiple orders - requires associative entity OrderLine/OrderDetail);
Product M:1 Category (each product belongs to one category); Order M:1 Sales Representative (each order
handled by one rep). WGU C170 VHT2 emphasizes extracting ALL entities from the narrative.
Q12: When extracting data requirements from a business scenario, a 'business rule' is BEST
defined as:
A. A SQL statement that queries the database.
B. A constraint or policy that governs how data is stored, accessed, or related (e.g., 'A customer must
have a unique email address,' 'An order cannot be placed without a valid payment method'). [CORRECT]
C. A programming loop that processes records.
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 - Latest 2026/2027 Page 4
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1
Normalization and Database Design - 2026/2027
Performance Assessment Preparation - Verified Answers
EXAM INSTRUCTIONS: This comprehensive 115-question examination covers all nine competency
domains of the WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 Normalization and Database Design performance assessment,
aligned with the 2026/2027 curriculum. Questions test recall of normal form definitions, application of
normalization techniques (1NF, 2NF, 3NF), ERD development, DDL implementation, and analysis of design
trade-offs. Each question has ONE correct answer (A, B, C, or D). After each question, the correct answer
and a detailed rationale citing normalization rules, dependency analysis, design principles, and rubric
alignment are provided. Total exam length: 115 questions across 9 sections. Recommended completion
time: 2.5 hours.
SECTION 1: VHT2 Task 1 Requirements and Rubric Analysis
Task structure, deliverables, competencies, and evaluation criteria for VHT2 Task 1.
Q1: Which of the following BEST describes the primary deliverables required for WGU C170 VHT2
Task 1?
A. Only a completed multiple-choice exam and a written essay.
B. An entity-relationship diagram (ERD), a normalized database design (through 3NF), DDL (CREATE
TABLE) statements, and documentation justifying normalization decisions aligned to the rubric.
[CORRECT]
C. A working application with a graphical user interface and populated sample data.
D. Only SQL SELECT queries demonstrating data retrieval from an existing database.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: VHT2 Task 1 requires students to: (1) interpret a business scenario and identify data requirements;
(2) normalize the unnormalized data through 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF; (3) create an ERD showing entities, attributes,
relationships, and cardinality; (4) write DDL (CREATE TABLE) statements implementing the normalized design;
(5) document and justify all normalization decisions per the rubric. Options A, C, and D do not match the
performance assessment structure. WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 emphasizes the complete database design
lifecycle from analysis through implementation.
Q2: When evaluating a VHT2 Task 1 submission, the evaluator will primarily assess whether the
student has demonstrated competency in:
A. Memorizing SQL syntax without application.
B. Normalizing data to 3NF, designing a correct ERD, implementing DDL with appropriate constraints, and
justifying design decisions per the rubric criteria. [CORRECT]
C. Writing the most complex SQL queries possible.
D. Using advanced database administration tools.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The VHT2 Task 1 rubric evaluates competency in: (1) accurate normalization through 3NF with
correct dependency identification; (2) ERD development with proper entities, attributes, relationships, cardinality,
and notation; (3) DDL implementation with correct data types, primary keys, foreign keys, and constraints; (4)
documentation justifying each normalization step and design decision. Options A, C, and D focus on irrelevant
aspects. The rubric emphasizes correctness and justification, not complexity.
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 - Latest 2026/2027 Page 1
,WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
Q3: A student submitting VHT2 Task 1 must include normalization documentation that
demonstrates progression from unnormalized data through 3NF. The PRIMARY purpose of this
documentation is to:
A. Increase the page count of the submission.
B. Show the evaluator the reasoning behind each normalization step, proving the student understands
dependency identification (partial, transitive) and normal form rules. [CORRECT]
C. Replace the ERD deliverable.
D. Provide sample data for testing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normalization documentation proves the student understands WHY each step was taken - identifying
functional dependencies, explaining how repeating groups are eliminated (1NF), partial dependencies resolved
(2NF), and transitive dependencies removed (3NF). This justification is critical for evaluator approval on first
attempt. Without documentation, the evaluator cannot verify the student's understanding. The ERD and DDL are
separate required deliverables.
Q4: Which competency is NOT explicitly assessed in the VHT2 Task 1 rubric?
A. Identifying functional dependencies in unnormalized data.
B. Decomposing tables to achieve 1NF, 2NF, and 3NF.
C. Developing an ERD with correct cardinality and notation.
D. Writing complex stored procedures and triggers for business logic automation. [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: VHT2 Task 1 assesses normalization (1NF-3NF), ERD development, DDL implementation, and
documentation - NOT advanced database programming like stored procedures, triggers, or application logic.
Those topics belong to other courses or tasks. The rubric focuses on database DESIGN competency, not
implementation of business logic. Students should not spend time on stored procedures for this task.
Q5: The VHT2 Task 1 rubric criterion for 'Normalization' most directly evaluates whether the
student has:
A. Used the most advanced normal form possible (BCNF, 4NF, 5NF).
B. Correctly identified and eliminated repeating groups (1NF), partial dependencies (2NF), and transitive
dependencies (3NF), with each step documented and justified. [CORRECT]
C. Created the fewest possible tables to simplify the design.
D. Used denormalization for performance optimization.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The rubric requires correct normalization THROUGH 3NF - not beyond. The student must
demonstrate: (1) 1NF - atomic values, no repeating groups, primary key identified; (2) 2NF - 1NF plus no partial
dependencies (only relevant with composite keys); (3) 3NF - 2NF plus no transitive dependencies. Each step
must be documented with the dependency analysis that justified it. BCNF/4NF/5NF are beyond the rubric scope.
Denormalization is the opposite of the task's goal.
Q6: For the ERD deliverable in VHT2 Task 1, the evaluator expects to see all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. All entities with appropriate attributes.
B. Primary keys clearly marked for each entity.
C. Relationships with correct cardinality notation (e.g., Crow's Foot).
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,WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
D. Sample INSERT statements populating each table with test data. [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The ERD deliverable must show entities, attributes (with PKs marked), relationships, and cardinality
using proper notation (Crow's Foot or Chen). Sample INSERT statements and test data are NOT part of the ERD
deliverable - they belong to testing (if required) or are unnecessary for the ERD itself. The ERD is a design
artifact, not a data population script. Including unnecessary elements wastes time and may confuse the
evaluator.
Q7: When writing DDL (CREATE TABLE) statements for VHT2 Task 1, which of the following is
REQUIRED by the rubric?
A. Only table names and column names without constraints.
B. Correct data types, PRIMARY KEY constraints, FOREIGN KEY constraints with referential integrity,
and other appropriate constraints (NOT NULL, UNIQUE, CHECK, DEFAULT) matching the normalized
design. [CORRECT]
C. Only SELECT statements demonstrating data retrieval.
D. Application code in Python or Java connecting to the database.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The DDL deliverable must implement the normalized design with: (1) correct data types for each
column; (2) PRIMARY KEY constraints; (3) FOREIGN KEY constraints with referential integrity (including
cascade rules where appropriate); (4) additional constraints (NOT NULL, UNIQUE, CHECK, DEFAULT) as
justified by business rules. The DDL must match the ERD and normalized tables exactly. SELECT statements
and application code are not part of the DDL deliverable.
Q8: A student is unsure whether to include surrogate keys (e.g., IDENTITY/AUTO_INCREMENT
integers) or natural keys (e.g., SSN, email) in their VHT2 Task 1 design. The BEST approach is to:
A. Always use natural keys to avoid artificial identifiers.
B. Choose keys based on business requirements, document the rationale (surrogate keys avoid issues
with changing natural keys; natural keys have business meaning), and ensure the choice aligns with
normalization principles. [CORRECT]
C. Always use surrogate keys because they are shorter.
D. Avoid specifying primary keys to keep the design flexible.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Both surrogate and natural keys have valid use cases. Surrogate keys (system-generated integers)
are stable, short, and avoid issues when natural keys change. Natural keys (like email) have business meaning
but may change and are often longer. The rubric expects students to make a justified choice and document it.
There is no single 'always correct' answer - the key is demonstrating understanding through documentation.
Q9: Which documentation element is MOST critical for demonstrating competency in the VHT2
Task 1 normalization process?
A. A table of contents listing all deliverables.
B. For each normal form transition (UNF→1NF→2NF→3NF), a clear explanation of the dependency
identified and the decomposition performed, with the resulting table structures shown. [CORRECT]
C. A glossary of database terminology.
D. A cover letter introducing the student.
Correct Answer: B
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 - Latest 2026/2027 Page 3
, WGU C170 VHT2 TASK 1 - NORMALIZATION & DATABASE DESIGN (2026/2027) Performance Assessment Preparation
Rationale: The most critical documentation is the step-by-step normalization justification: for each transition,
identify the specific dependency (repeating group, partial dependency, transitive dependency), explain the
decomposition rule applied, and show the resulting tables. This proves understanding to the evaluator.
Glossaries, cover letters, and tables of contents are supplementary but do not demonstrate normalization
competency.
Q10: A common pitfall in VHT2 Task 1 submissions that leads to non-passing evaluations is:
A. Using too many colors in the ERD diagram.
B. Failing to identify transitive dependencies (skipping or incorrectly performing 3NF), resulting in tables
that still have non-key attributes dependent on other non-key attributes. [CORRECT]
C. Including too many business rules in the documentation.
D. Using both Crow's Foot and Chen notation in the same ERD.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most common pitfall is incomplete or incorrect 3NF - students often identify partial dependencies
(2NF) correctly but miss transitive dependencies (non-key → non-key). For example, if Employee table has
EmpID → DeptID → DeptName, DeptName is transitively dependent on EmpID through DeptID, violating 3NF.
The evaluator will mark this as not meeting competency. The other options are minor stylistic issues that do not
affect competency evaluation.
SECTION 2: Business Scenario Interpretation and Data Requirements
Business rules, data elements, source documents, and requirement extraction from narratives.
Q11: A business scenario states: 'Each customer may place multiple orders. Each order contains
one or more products. Each product belongs to exactly one category. Each order is handled by
one sales representative.' When interpreting this narrative, the student should identify which set of
entities?
A. Customer, Order, Product, Category, Sales Representative (5 entities with relationships: Customer 1:M
Order, Order M:N Product, Product M:1 Category, Order M:1 Sales Representative) [CORRECT]
B. Only Customer and Order (2 entities).
C. Only Order and Product (2 entities).
D. Customer, Order, and Product with no relationships specified.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The narrative identifies 5 entities: Customer (places orders), Order (contains products), Product
(belongs to category), Category (groups products), Sales Representative (handles orders). Relationships:
Customer 1:M Order (each customer may place multiple orders); Order M:N Product (each order contains
multiple products, each product can be in multiple orders - requires associative entity OrderLine/OrderDetail);
Product M:1 Category (each product belongs to one category); Order M:1 Sales Representative (each order
handled by one rep). WGU C170 VHT2 emphasizes extracting ALL entities from the narrative.
Q12: When extracting data requirements from a business scenario, a 'business rule' is BEST
defined as:
A. A SQL statement that queries the database.
B. A constraint or policy that governs how data is stored, accessed, or related (e.g., 'A customer must
have a unique email address,' 'An order cannot be placed without a valid payment method'). [CORRECT]
C. A programming loop that processes records.
WGU C170 VHT2 Task 1 - Latest 2026/2027 Page 4
