Anaplan Model Building Certification: Practice
Test Bank
Description This 150-question practice bank assesses certification-level Anaplan model-building
knowledge. It covers model design and DISCO structure, lists, modules, line items, time and versions,
formulas and functions, imports and actions, access control, ALM, and performance best practices.
Questions use single-best-answer, multiple-response, and scenario formats to build the applied
reasoning model builders need. It is original practice material, not an official Anaplan exam.
Question 1
A module holds timing flags such as "Is Quarter End" and mapping tables that formulas
across the model reference. End users never interact with it directly. Under the DISCO design
principle, which category does this module belong to?
A. Data B. System C. Input D. Output
Correct Answer: B. System
Rationale: DISCO (Data, Input, System, Calculation, Output) separates modules by function. System
modules hold supporting structures such as flags, mappings, and constants that other modules
consume without user interaction. Data modules store imported data, so A is wrong. Input modules
are where users enter values, so C is wrong. Output modules present results for reporting and
dashboards, so D is wrong.
Key Concept: System modules hold supporting flags and mappings that other modules reference.
Question 2
A module reports month-end inventory units by month. At the quarterly level, the figure must equal
the inventory of the quarter's final month. Which time summary method should the line item
use?
A. Sum B. Average C. Opening Balance D. Closing Balance
Correct Answer: D. Closing Balance
Rationale: Inventory is a stock measure, so its quarterly value should be the balance at the end of
the quarter. Closing Balance returns the last period's value within the summarized time period.
Sum (A) would add up three month-end balances, overstating inventory. Average (B) gives the mean
level, not the ending position. Opening Balance (C) returns the first month's value, which
reflects the quarter's start rather than its end.
Key Concept: Use Closing Balance to summarize stock-type values over time.
Question 3
Which Anaplan object stores the members of a dimension such as Product or Region?
A. List B. Module C. Version D. View
,Correct Answer: A. List
Rationale: Lists hold the members (items) that define dimensions, such as products, regions, or
employees. Modules then use lists as dimensions to organize line items and data. A module (B) holds
line items and cell values, not dimension members. Versions (C) are a special dimension for
scenarios such as Actual and Budget. A view (D) is a saved arrangement of a module's
dimensions for display.
Key Concept: Lists define dimension members; modules store data across those dimensions.
Question 4
A model builder needs a line item that returns Revenue from two periods earlier, using 0 where no
earlier period exists. Which formula achieves this?
A. LEAD(Revenue, 2, 0) B. NEXT(Revenue) C. LAG(Revenue, 2, 0) D. MOVINGSUM(Revenue, 2)
Correct Answer: C. LAG(Revenue, 2, 0)
Rationale: LAG(line item, offset, default) shifts values forward in time. Each period receives the value
from the specified number of periods earlier, and the default is used when no such period exists.
LEAD (A) looks ahead rather than back. NEXT (B) returns the following period's value.
MOVINGSUM (D) sums a window of periods and does not return a single prior value.
Key Concept: LAG retrieves earlier-period values with a default for missing periods.
Question 5
The Sales Data module is dimensioned by SKU, and each SKU has a Product Family property. A
reporting module is dimensioned by Product Family. Which formula in the reporting module
aggregates SKU revenue to each family?
A. Sales Data.Revenue[LOOKUP: SKU.Product Family] B. Sales Data.Revenue[SELECT: SKU.Product
Family] C. Sales Data.Revenue[SUM: SKU.Product Family] D. Sales Data.Revenue[SUM: Product
Family.SKU]
Correct Answer: C. Sales Data.Revenue[SUM: SKU.Product Family]
Rationale: The SUM mapping aggregates many source items (SKUs) into fewer target items (families)
using the SKU list's property that maps each SKU to its family. LOOKUP (A) moves data from a
smaller dimension to a larger one, which is the opposite direction. SELECT (B) retrieves one specific
list item. Option D reverses the mapping reference, and a family cannot map to many SKUs through
a single property.
Key Concept: Use SUM with a mapping property to aggregate to a higher-level dimension.
Question 6
A product sales file is imported into a module. One row contains a product code that does not exist
in the Product list. What is the default outcome?
A. That row is ignored and reported as an import issue, while valid rows load. B. The entire import
fails and no data loads. C. The missing product is automatically created in the Product list. D. The
value is loaded into the first member of the Product list.
,Correct Answer: A. That row is ignored and reported as an import issue, while valid rows load.
Rationale: When a module import cannot match a dimension member, Anaplan skips that row and
flags the problem, while matched rows continue to load. The import does not fail outright (B).
Members are not created during a module import (C). List members are created by importing into
the list itself. Anaplan never reassigns unmatched data to an arbitrary member (D), which would
corrupt the data.
Key Concept: Unmatched dimension members cause rows to be skipped and reported.
Question 7
Regional managers should see and edit only their own region's data in a shared planning
module, and each user belongs to one region. Which feature best enforces this restriction?
A. Line item subsets B. Dashboard visibility settings C. Version switchover D. Selective Access on the
Region list
Correct Answer: D. Selective Access on the Region list
Rationale: Selective Access restricts which list members a user can see or edit, based on access
settings tied to the list and the user's role. Line item subsets (A) group line items for calculation
purposes and have no security function. Dashboard visibility (B) hides the page but not the
underlying data. Version switchover (C) concerns how actual and forecast data are handled across
time.
Key Concept: Selective Access controls user access to specific list members.
Question 8
A model needs a line item that shows the running total of monthly Revenue from the first period of
the timeline through each month. Which function should be used?
A. MOVINGSUM(Revenue, 12) B. CUMULATE(Revenue) C. PREVIOUS(Revenue) D. SUM(Revenue)
Correct Answer: B. CUMULATE(Revenue)
Rationale: CUMULATE returns a running total across time, adding each period's value to the
sum of all earlier periods. MOVINGSUM (A) totals only a fixed window, here 12 periods, so it does
not accumulate from the start. PREVIOUS (C) returns only the prior period's value. SUM (D) is
not a standalone time-accumulation function; it is used with mappings to aggregate across lists.
Key Concept: CUMULATE produces a running total from the start of the timeline.
Question 9
Select TWO practices that help reduce model size and improve performance.
A. Apply each line item only to the dimensions it needs. B. Use text format for flags to simplify
formulas. C. Set the summary method to None where summarized values are not meaningful. D.
Apply every dimension in a module to all line items for consistency.
Correct Answer: A, C. Apply each line item only to the dimensions it needs; set summary to None
where summaries are not meaningful.
, Rationale: Limiting each line item's Applies To avoids storing unnecessary cells, and unneeded
summary calculations consume memory and calculation time. Both choices reduce size and
recalculation. Text flags (B) are larger and slower than Boolean, which is the better format for flags.
Applying every dimension to every line item (D) inflates cell counts and calculation load, the
opposite of good design.
Key Concept: Minimize dimensionality and unnecessary summaries to protect performance.
Question 10
A finance team wants to compare Actual, Budget, and Forecast figures side by side in the same
module. Which Anaplan feature supports this?
A. Subsets B. Line item subsets C. Time ranges D. Versions
Correct Answer: D. Versions
Rationale: Versions are a built-in dimension that lets a module hold multiple scenarios, such as
Actual, Budget, and Forecast, with the same structure. Subsets (A) are smaller selections of a list, not
scenarios. Line item subsets (B) group line items for dimensioning. Time ranges (C) limit the periods
a module covers, not the scenarios.
Key Concept: Versions provide scenario comparison within a module.
Question 11
A company runs several planning models that all need the same imported product, customer, and
transaction data. Which design approach best supports this?
A. Import the data separately into each planning model B. Use a data hub model to store and
prepare the data, then feed each planning model C. Store all the data in a single dashboard D.
Replace imports with manual entry in each model
Correct Answer: B. Use a data hub model to store and prepare the data, then feed each planning
model
Rationale: A data hub centralizes data storage and transformation in one model. Planning models
then import only what they need, which reduces duplication, keeps data consistent, and keeps
planning models smaller. Importing separately (A) duplicates effort and risks inconsistency. A
dashboard (C) is a presentation layer, not a data store. Manual entry (D) is error-prone and does not
scale.
Key Concept: A data hub centralizes shared data for reuse across models.
Question 12
A budget module must show cumulative spend within each fiscal year, resetting at the start of the
next fiscal year. Which function fits?
A. CUMULATE(Spend) B. MOVINGSUM(Spend, 12) C. YEARTODATE(Spend) D. PREVIOUS(Spend)
Correct Answer: C. YEARTODATE(Spend)
Rationale: YEARTODATE accumulates values from the start of the fiscal year and resets when a new
year begins, which matches the requirement. CUMULATE (A) keeps accumulating through the whole
Test Bank
Description This 150-question practice bank assesses certification-level Anaplan model-building
knowledge. It covers model design and DISCO structure, lists, modules, line items, time and versions,
formulas and functions, imports and actions, access control, ALM, and performance best practices.
Questions use single-best-answer, multiple-response, and scenario formats to build the applied
reasoning model builders need. It is original practice material, not an official Anaplan exam.
Question 1
A module holds timing flags such as "Is Quarter End" and mapping tables that formulas
across the model reference. End users never interact with it directly. Under the DISCO design
principle, which category does this module belong to?
A. Data B. System C. Input D. Output
Correct Answer: B. System
Rationale: DISCO (Data, Input, System, Calculation, Output) separates modules by function. System
modules hold supporting structures such as flags, mappings, and constants that other modules
consume without user interaction. Data modules store imported data, so A is wrong. Input modules
are where users enter values, so C is wrong. Output modules present results for reporting and
dashboards, so D is wrong.
Key Concept: System modules hold supporting flags and mappings that other modules reference.
Question 2
A module reports month-end inventory units by month. At the quarterly level, the figure must equal
the inventory of the quarter's final month. Which time summary method should the line item
use?
A. Sum B. Average C. Opening Balance D. Closing Balance
Correct Answer: D. Closing Balance
Rationale: Inventory is a stock measure, so its quarterly value should be the balance at the end of
the quarter. Closing Balance returns the last period's value within the summarized time period.
Sum (A) would add up three month-end balances, overstating inventory. Average (B) gives the mean
level, not the ending position. Opening Balance (C) returns the first month's value, which
reflects the quarter's start rather than its end.
Key Concept: Use Closing Balance to summarize stock-type values over time.
Question 3
Which Anaplan object stores the members of a dimension such as Product or Region?
A. List B. Module C. Version D. View
,Correct Answer: A. List
Rationale: Lists hold the members (items) that define dimensions, such as products, regions, or
employees. Modules then use lists as dimensions to organize line items and data. A module (B) holds
line items and cell values, not dimension members. Versions (C) are a special dimension for
scenarios such as Actual and Budget. A view (D) is a saved arrangement of a module's
dimensions for display.
Key Concept: Lists define dimension members; modules store data across those dimensions.
Question 4
A model builder needs a line item that returns Revenue from two periods earlier, using 0 where no
earlier period exists. Which formula achieves this?
A. LEAD(Revenue, 2, 0) B. NEXT(Revenue) C. LAG(Revenue, 2, 0) D. MOVINGSUM(Revenue, 2)
Correct Answer: C. LAG(Revenue, 2, 0)
Rationale: LAG(line item, offset, default) shifts values forward in time. Each period receives the value
from the specified number of periods earlier, and the default is used when no such period exists.
LEAD (A) looks ahead rather than back. NEXT (B) returns the following period's value.
MOVINGSUM (D) sums a window of periods and does not return a single prior value.
Key Concept: LAG retrieves earlier-period values with a default for missing periods.
Question 5
The Sales Data module is dimensioned by SKU, and each SKU has a Product Family property. A
reporting module is dimensioned by Product Family. Which formula in the reporting module
aggregates SKU revenue to each family?
A. Sales Data.Revenue[LOOKUP: SKU.Product Family] B. Sales Data.Revenue[SELECT: SKU.Product
Family] C. Sales Data.Revenue[SUM: SKU.Product Family] D. Sales Data.Revenue[SUM: Product
Family.SKU]
Correct Answer: C. Sales Data.Revenue[SUM: SKU.Product Family]
Rationale: The SUM mapping aggregates many source items (SKUs) into fewer target items (families)
using the SKU list's property that maps each SKU to its family. LOOKUP (A) moves data from a
smaller dimension to a larger one, which is the opposite direction. SELECT (B) retrieves one specific
list item. Option D reverses the mapping reference, and a family cannot map to many SKUs through
a single property.
Key Concept: Use SUM with a mapping property to aggregate to a higher-level dimension.
Question 6
A product sales file is imported into a module. One row contains a product code that does not exist
in the Product list. What is the default outcome?
A. That row is ignored and reported as an import issue, while valid rows load. B. The entire import
fails and no data loads. C. The missing product is automatically created in the Product list. D. The
value is loaded into the first member of the Product list.
,Correct Answer: A. That row is ignored and reported as an import issue, while valid rows load.
Rationale: When a module import cannot match a dimension member, Anaplan skips that row and
flags the problem, while matched rows continue to load. The import does not fail outright (B).
Members are not created during a module import (C). List members are created by importing into
the list itself. Anaplan never reassigns unmatched data to an arbitrary member (D), which would
corrupt the data.
Key Concept: Unmatched dimension members cause rows to be skipped and reported.
Question 7
Regional managers should see and edit only their own region's data in a shared planning
module, and each user belongs to one region. Which feature best enforces this restriction?
A. Line item subsets B. Dashboard visibility settings C. Version switchover D. Selective Access on the
Region list
Correct Answer: D. Selective Access on the Region list
Rationale: Selective Access restricts which list members a user can see or edit, based on access
settings tied to the list and the user's role. Line item subsets (A) group line items for calculation
purposes and have no security function. Dashboard visibility (B) hides the page but not the
underlying data. Version switchover (C) concerns how actual and forecast data are handled across
time.
Key Concept: Selective Access controls user access to specific list members.
Question 8
A model needs a line item that shows the running total of monthly Revenue from the first period of
the timeline through each month. Which function should be used?
A. MOVINGSUM(Revenue, 12) B. CUMULATE(Revenue) C. PREVIOUS(Revenue) D. SUM(Revenue)
Correct Answer: B. CUMULATE(Revenue)
Rationale: CUMULATE returns a running total across time, adding each period's value to the
sum of all earlier periods. MOVINGSUM (A) totals only a fixed window, here 12 periods, so it does
not accumulate from the start. PREVIOUS (C) returns only the prior period's value. SUM (D) is
not a standalone time-accumulation function; it is used with mappings to aggregate across lists.
Key Concept: CUMULATE produces a running total from the start of the timeline.
Question 9
Select TWO practices that help reduce model size and improve performance.
A. Apply each line item only to the dimensions it needs. B. Use text format for flags to simplify
formulas. C. Set the summary method to None where summarized values are not meaningful. D.
Apply every dimension in a module to all line items for consistency.
Correct Answer: A, C. Apply each line item only to the dimensions it needs; set summary to None
where summaries are not meaningful.
, Rationale: Limiting each line item's Applies To avoids storing unnecessary cells, and unneeded
summary calculations consume memory and calculation time. Both choices reduce size and
recalculation. Text flags (B) are larger and slower than Boolean, which is the better format for flags.
Applying every dimension to every line item (D) inflates cell counts and calculation load, the
opposite of good design.
Key Concept: Minimize dimensionality and unnecessary summaries to protect performance.
Question 10
A finance team wants to compare Actual, Budget, and Forecast figures side by side in the same
module. Which Anaplan feature supports this?
A. Subsets B. Line item subsets C. Time ranges D. Versions
Correct Answer: D. Versions
Rationale: Versions are a built-in dimension that lets a module hold multiple scenarios, such as
Actual, Budget, and Forecast, with the same structure. Subsets (A) are smaller selections of a list, not
scenarios. Line item subsets (B) group line items for dimensioning. Time ranges (C) limit the periods
a module covers, not the scenarios.
Key Concept: Versions provide scenario comparison within a module.
Question 11
A company runs several planning models that all need the same imported product, customer, and
transaction data. Which design approach best supports this?
A. Import the data separately into each planning model B. Use a data hub model to store and
prepare the data, then feed each planning model C. Store all the data in a single dashboard D.
Replace imports with manual entry in each model
Correct Answer: B. Use a data hub model to store and prepare the data, then feed each planning
model
Rationale: A data hub centralizes data storage and transformation in one model. Planning models
then import only what they need, which reduces duplication, keeps data consistent, and keeps
planning models smaller. Importing separately (A) duplicates effort and risks inconsistency. A
dashboard (C) is a presentation layer, not a data store. Manual entry (D) is error-prone and does not
scale.
Key Concept: A data hub centralizes shared data for reuse across models.
Question 12
A budget module must show cumulative spend within each fiscal year, resetting at the start of the
next fiscal year. Which function fits?
A. CUMULATE(Spend) B. MOVINGSUM(Spend, 12) C. YEARTODATE(Spend) D. PREVIOUS(Spend)
Correct Answer: C. YEARTODATE(Spend)
Rationale: YEARTODATE accumulates values from the start of the fiscal year and resets when a new
year begins, which matches the requirement. CUMULATE (A) keeps accumulating through the whole
