• Home
• Salesforce Exams
• Certified Marketing Cloud Developer

Certified Marketing Cloud Developer Salesforce Practice Test Questions and Exam Dumps

Question No 1:

A developer wants to create an HTML table where rows will alternate background colors between white and red. The developer does not know how many rows will be sent within each email, and decides to use a loop and assigns the RowCount() of the table rows to the variable @numerator. 

What AMPscript logic should be used to determine the background color of each table row within the loop?

A. %%[ IF MOD(@numerator,2) = 1 THEN SET @color = 'Red' ELSE SET @color = 'White' ENDIF ]%%
B. %%[ IF SUBSTRING(DIVIDE(@numerator,2),l) = 1 THEN SET @color = 'Red' ELSE SET @color = 'White' ENDIF ]%%
C. %%[ IF @numerator/2 = 1 THEN SET @color = 'Red' ELSE SET @color = 'White' ENDIF ]%%

Answer: A

Explanation:

The goal of this task is to alternate the background colors of rows in an HTML table between white and red. To achieve this, we need to conditionally set the background color based on whether the row number is odd or even.

Let’s break down the logic options:

Option A:
This AMPscript checks if the row number (@numerator) is odd or even by using the MOD function. The MOD function returns the remainder when dividing @numerator by 2:

• If MOD(@numerator, 2) = 1, the row is odd, and the color is set to 'Red'.

• If MOD(@numerator, 2) = 0, the row is even, and the color is set to 'White'.

This is the most efficient and correct way to alternate colors between rows based on their odd/even status.

Option B:
This option uses a combination of SUBSTRING and DIVIDE, which complicates the logic unnecessarily. The logic for alternating between red and white would be difficult to achieve reliably using this method, and it doesn't align with typical AMPscript functions or syntax for checking odd/even numbers.

Option C:
This option attempts to use @numerator/2 = 1, which would only work correctly for the second row (since @numerator/2 would be equal to 1 when @numerator equals 2). This method would not alternate properly for all rows because it only checks for a specific value (1) instead of checking for odd or even row numbers.

Therefore, Option A is the correct choice, as it efficiently checks whether the row number is odd or even using the MOD function, setting the background color to 'Red' for odd rows and 'White' for even rows.

Question No 2:

A developer is troubleshooting why an API client_id and client_secret are authenticating yet failing to access data from a child business unit. 

What should be checked to validate the installed package can access the child business unit data?

A. The account_id and parent MID are included in the authorization call
B. The Installed Package has access to the selected child business unit
C. The Installed Package has full Enterprise access to all available child business units

Answer: B

Explanation:

When an API client authenticates using a client_id and client_secret, it is primarily validating the identity of the user or application making the request. However, authentication alone does not grant access to all data—particularly when dealing with multiple business units in a platform such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC) or similar multi-business unit environments.

The issue described in the question is that, although the authentication is successful, access to data from a child business unit is failing. This suggests that there may be a problem with how the installed package (which holds the configuration and permissions for API access) is set up in relation to the business units.

Let's review the options:

• A. "The account_id and parent MID are included in the authorization call": This option is generally relevant when you're dealing with multiple accounts or parent-child relationships for data access. However, simply including the account_id and parent MID in the authorization call may not be sufficient for accessing data from a child business unit. This information is important, but it doesn’t necessarily confirm that the installed package has the correct permissions to access the child business unit. Therefore, this is not the most direct solution to the problem.

• B. "The Installed Package has access to the selected child business unit": This is the most accurate solution. The installed package needs to have the appropriate access to the child business unit in order to access the data there. In systems like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, an installed package can be configured to have access to specific business units. If the installed package does not have access to the child business unit, it will authenticate successfully but fail to retrieve any data. Ensuring that the installed package has proper access to the business unit in question is key to solving the issue.

• C. "The Installed Package has full Enterprise access to all available child business units": This option suggests that the installed package should have access to all business units in the organization. While this might be a valid configuration in some cases, it is generally more specific and appropriate to only grant access to the particular business units that are needed. Giving full Enterprise access may not be necessary, especially if the developer only needs access to one specific child business unit. This could also introduce security concerns by allowing access to all child business units indiscriminately.

The best approach in this case is to ensure that the installed package has access to the specific child business unit where the data is located. Access permissions are typically configured in the platform settings, and it’s crucial to confirm that the installed package is correctly set up to interact with the desired business unit.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Question No 3:

Northern Trail Outfitters wants to trigger a receipt email via the SOAP API whenever a customer makes a purchase. Their developer wrote the call using the TriggeredSendDefinition object and the Create method, but no emails have been sent during his initial testing. 

Which object and method should the developer use?

A. TriggeredSendDefinition object and Update method
B. TriggeredSend object and Create method
C. TriggeredSend object and Update method

Answer: C

Explanation:

In Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC), triggered emails are typically sent based on specific actions, like a purchase or a form submission. These emails are defined and managed using the TriggeredSend feature in the SOAP API. Understanding the right combination of objects and methods is key to ensuring the functionality works as intended.

Here is a breakdown of the components involved:

• TriggeredSendDefinition: This object is used to define a triggered send. It holds information about the triggered send, such as the email definition (which email template to use) and the trigger condition (e.g., a purchase).

• TriggeredSend: This is the object used to initiate the actual sending of the email. Once the TriggeredSendDefinition is created and activated, the TriggeredSend object is used to send the email based on the defined trigger conditions.

• Create and Update methods: These methods are used to either create a new object or update an existing one. The key is knowing when to use each.

Now, let's address the options:

• A. TriggeredSendDefinition object and Update method
  The TriggeredSendDefinition object is used to define the trigger, but the Update method is not the correct choice for initiating the actual email sending. The Update method is generally used to modify an existing definition, not to trigger the email.

• B. TriggeredSend object and Create method
  The Create method on the TriggeredSend object is not used when the email definition is already set up. This method would typically be used if a new TriggeredSend object needs to be created, but that’s not the case here. Since the email definition is already in place, using this method wouldn’t work as expected in this context.

• C. TriggeredSend object and Update method
  This is the correct answer. Once a TriggeredSendDefinition is created and activated, the TriggeredSend object is used to trigger the email. If no emails have been sent, it is likely because the TriggeredSend object hasn’t been updated or triggered properly. The Update method is used on the TriggeredSend object to initiate the sending of the email based on the previously defined trigger.

To summarize, the developer should use the TriggeredSend object with the Update method to properly trigger the receipt email whenever a customer makes a purchase. The Update method will ensure that the email is sent using the existing trigger definition.

Question No 4:

A developer wants to use the RaiseError AMPscript function when a subscriber does not have the necessary data to build an email. 

Which outcome is possible using this function?

A. The email is not sent to the particular subscriber.
B. An error message is sent to the From Address used in the email.
C. The send is retried.

Answer: A

Explanation:

AMPscript is a scripting language used within Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC) for personalizing email content and performing various other tasks. The RaiseError function in AMPscript is used to trigger an error intentionally during the email send process if certain conditions are not met. It can be useful when the data required to properly personalize or construct an email is missing or incorrect.

When a developer includes the RaiseError function in their AMPscript, they can set a condition that causes an error to occur if certain subscriber data is missing. This action helps prevent sending an email that might have incomplete or incorrect information, ensuring the quality of the communication.

Now, let's analyze the possible outcomes of using the RaiseError function:

Option A: The email is not sent to the particular subscriber.
This is the correct outcome when the RaiseError function is triggered. When the RaiseError function is executed, it stops the email send process for that specific subscriber, preventing the email from being sent. This is because the error indicates that critical data is missing, which would prevent the email from being properly constructed. The subscriber will not receive the email under these circumstances.

Option B: An error message is sent to the From Address used in the email.
This is not the correct outcome of using the RaiseError function. When an error is raised using RaiseError, it does not send an error message to the From Address. Instead, it halts the email send process for the subscriber in question, and the error is logged for diagnostic purposes, not delivered to the sender's inbox.

Option C: The send is retried.
This is also not the expected outcome. If an error is raised using the RaiseError function, the email will not be retried for that subscriber. The send process stops for that particular recipient, and the email is not delivered, but there is no automatic retry mechanism for the email send in this case. The email will fail for that specific subscriber, and the error is logged for troubleshooting purposes.

In summary, the correct behavior of the RaiseError function in AMPscript is that the email will not be sent to the subscriber if necessary data is missing, preventing potential issues with incomplete or incorrect email content. Therefore, the correct answer is:

Question No 5:

A developer created an email using the @subjectLine variable as the subject line. Due to revisions, the developer declared @subjectLine in multiple locations throughout the email, including:
• %%[ SET @subjectLine = 'Enjoy 10% off today' ] %% was declared at the top of the HTML body
• %%[ SET @subjectLine = 'Enjoy 15% off today' ]%% was declared in the top of the Text body
• %%[ SET @subjectLine = 'Enjoy 5% off today' ] %% was declared at the bottom of the HTML body
• %%[ SET @subjectLine = 'Enjoy 20% off today' ]%% was declared within the Subject Line

Which subject line will be used at the time of deployment?

A. Enjoy 10% off today
B. Enjoy 20% off today
C. Enjoy 15% off today

Answer: B

Explanation:

When a developer uses the @subjectLine variable in an email, the subject line value is dynamically assigned using AMPscript (%%[ SET @subjectLine = 'value' ]%%) at various points in the email. In this case, the developer has declared multiple values for the @subjectLine variable in different parts of the email (HTML body, Text body, and within the subject line itself).

In Marketing Cloud, the order of the execution and context where the AMPscript is used is key to determining which value will actually be used for the subject line during deployment.

Here's how the priority works:

• Subject Line context: If @subjectLine is declared in the subject line itself using AMPscript (as in the fourth declaration within the Subject Line), this value takes precedence over any other values declared later in the email. It is specifically designated for the subject line, which means that it will override any other variables or values set in the body of the email.

• Other declarations: Even though there are other SET statements for the @subjectLine variable, they are declared either in the HTML body or in the text version of the email. However, those will be overridden by the subject line definition itself because the subject line has the highest precedence.

• Conclusion: Since the subject line value is set to "Enjoy 20% off today" in the Subject Line context, this will be the final value used in the email deployment, regardless of other changes made in the body of the email.

Therefore, the subject line used at deployment will be "Enjoy 20% off today", making B the correct answer.

Question No 6:

A developer needs to find all subscribers on the Customers data extension who made a purchase in the last 30 days. Purchase data is on the Orders data extension which contains a column called 'PurchaseDate'. Contacts are identified in both data extensions by a column called 'ContactKey', and the Orders data extension can contain many instances of the same subscriber. 

Which SQL keyword should the developer use to achieve the desired result?

A. OUTER JOIN
B. INNER JOIN
C. ORDER BY PurchaseDate ASC

Answer: B

Explanation:

To solve this problem, the developer is tasked with identifying subscribers in the Customers data extension who have made a purchase in the last 30 days based on data from the Orders data extension. To achieve this, the SQL query needs to match subscribers from both data extensions on the ContactKey column, while ensuring the condition that the PurchaseDate falls within the last 30 days is met.

Let’s evaluate each of the options in the context of this SQL query:

A. OUTER JOIN:
An OUTER JOIN is typically used when you want to retrieve all records from one table, even if there is no match in the other table. In the case of an OUTER JOIN, you would still get customers listed from the Customers data extension, even if they haven’t made any purchases in the last 30 days. However, in this scenario, the developer only wants to find subscribers who made a purchase in the last 30 days. Using an OUTER JOIN would not efficiently restrict the result to only those customers who have recent purchases. Therefore, this option is not appropriate for the desired result.

B. INNER JOIN:
An INNER JOIN is the correct choice in this case because it returns only the rows where there is a match in both tables. Since the developer is looking for subscribers who have made purchases in the last 30 days, the INNER JOIN will ensure that only customers who have a corresponding record in the Orders data extension (i.e., those who made a purchase) are included in the results. Additionally, the query would need to apply a filter on the PurchaseDate to ensure it is within the last 30 days. This makes INNER JOIN the best fit for the scenario.

C. ORDER BY PurchaseDate ASC:
The ORDER BY clause is used for sorting the results of the query. While it can be useful for arranging the results by the PurchaseDate (in ascending order), it does not help to filter or join the tables. The goal of the query is to identify subscribers who made a purchase in the last 30 days, and sorting the results does not contribute to this objective. Therefore, this option is not relevant to the desired outcome.

In summary, the INNER JOIN keyword (B) is the appropriate choice because it will ensure that only customers with matching purchase records in the Orders data extension are returned, and further conditions can be added to filter purchases made in the last 30 days.

Question No 7:

A developer built a complex dynamic email with many data variants. Rather than create test data manually, they want to use a subset of live data to validate the dynamic aspects of the email. 

Which SQL function should be used to collect a representative sample from a larger data set?

A. OVER
B. NTILE
C. HAVING

Answer: B

Explanation:

When working with large data sets, particularly when testing dynamic aspects of a system like an email that may involve different data variants, it's crucial to collect a representative sample from the full data set. The goal is to select a subset that reflects the overall structure and diversity of the larger dataset without needing to manually create test cases.

SQL provides a number of functions to manipulate and query data, and in this context, the goal is to choose a method that efficiently segments or samples the data. Let’s examine the options provided:

• A. OVER: The OVER function in SQL is typically used in window functions, which allow the user to perform calculations across a set of table rows that are related to the current row. The OVER clause itself does not provide a means to sample or segment data. It’s more for cumulative sums, ranking, or moving averages over a set of rows. While useful for a variety of analytics tasks, it doesn’t specifically help in sampling a data set for test purposes.

• B. NTILE: The NTILE function is a window function that is designed to divide a result set into a specified number of roughly equal parts, or "tiles." It is often used to split data into quartiles, deciles, or any other number of groups. This function would be useful when you want to create a representative sample from a larger set by breaking it into smaller chunks, ensuring the sample reflects the distribution of data. By using NTILE, the developer can assign rows to different tiles and extract a representative sample from one or more of these tiles.

• C. HAVING: The HAVING clause is used in SQL to filter results based on the conditions applied to aggregates (such as COUNT, SUM, AVG, etc.). It is often used in conjunction with GROUP BY to filter the results of aggregate functions. While useful for filtering groups of data based on certain criteria, HAVING is not designed for selecting a sample or partitioning data. It’s more for restricting the results of grouped queries based on aggregate conditions, making it unsuitable for this use case.

Given the need to collect a representative sample from a larger data set, NTILE is the appropriate function. By using NTILE, the developer can divide the data into smaller parts and select a representative subset for testing the dynamic aspects of the email. This is far more efficient and scalable than manually creating test data.

In summary, the NTILE function helps create partitions or "tiles" of data, making it ideal for collecting a sample of data from a larger dataset to validate different variants of a dynamic email, ensuring the sample reflects the full range of data.

Question No 8:

A developer is leveraging the SOAP API to dynamically display Profile and Preference Attributes in a custom profile center. 

Which method could be used to support the dynamic functionality?

A Configure
B Extract
C Describe

Answer: C

Explanation:

When a developer uses the SOAP API to interact with a system like a Profile Center, the method selected must allow dynamic retrieval and interaction with data structures, such as Profile and Preference Attributes, that can be used in the custom profile display.

Option A: Configure
The "Configure" method typically relates to modifying or setting up configurations in a system. This might involve setting preferences, creating new profiles, or adjusting user-specific settings. However, for dynamically retrieving and displaying attributes, this method does not seem directly relevant. It focuses more on applying or managing configurations rather than retrieving dynamic data.

Option B: Extract
"Extract" is another valid method but generally refers to pulling out specific data based on predefined queries or fixed parameters. While it may work in some contexts, it is not the best fit for dynamic functionality where the profile and preference attributes need to be dynamically displayed. The "Extract" method is typically used to retrieve bulk data or specific records rather than providing flexible access to attributes in real-time.

Option C: Describe
The "Describe" method is used to retrieve metadata or the structure of an object, such as attributes, fields, or relationships within a system. It allows the developer to dynamically access the details of Profile and Preference Attributes, including data types, required fields, and available options. In the context of a custom profile center, using the "Describe" method would enable the dynamic display of profile and preference attributes because it can return detailed metadata about the available attributes in real-time. This makes it highly suited for displaying such attributes dynamically based on the current configuration and user data.

Therefore, to support the dynamic functionality of displaying Profile and Preference Attributes in a custom profile center, the "Describe" method is the most appropriate choice. It facilitates the discovery of available attributes and their metadata, enabling the system to adapt to varying conditions and user-specific requirements without needing to hard-code each attribute's retrieval process.

In conclusion, the Describe method is the most suitable for this dynamic functionality.

Question No 9:

Northern Trail Outfitters is using a mobile campaign to collect email addresses of interested subscribers. Using AMPscript's API functions they will send a confirmation email when an email is texted into their short code. 

Which object is required to successfully create a TriggeredSend object?

A. TriggeredSendDefinition
B. Attribute
C. Contact

Answer: A

Explanation:

In Salesforce Marketing Cloud, the TriggeredSend object is used to send emails based on specific triggers or events, such as when a subscriber texts an email address to a short code. The creation and management of a TriggeredSend object involves referencing a TriggeredSendDefinition, which defines the properties of the triggered email send.

A. TriggeredSendDefinition is the correct answer because it is the object required to define and configure a triggered email send. This object specifies details such as the email to be sent, the audience, and the conditions that trigger the send. When using the API to initiate a triggered send, you must reference a TriggeredSendDefinition that has already been created in the system. This object serves as a blueprint for the email campaign triggered by a specific event, such as the action of texting into a short code.

B. Attribute refers to the individual pieces of subscriber data or custom fields that are associated with a contact, but it is not directly responsible for creating a TriggeredSend object. While attributes can be used in the context of a triggered send to personalize the content, they are not the core object needed to define the trigger.

C. Contact is a subscriber or customer in Marketing Cloud. While contacts are necessary to send triggered emails to, they are not the object used to create the TriggeredSend itself. The contact data is essential for targeting, but the TriggeredSendDefinition is the actual object required to create a TriggeredSend object.

Therefore, the correct answer is A, as the TriggeredSendDefinition object is essential for successfully creating a triggered send in this scenario. It sets up the trigger conditions and defines the email message to be sent when the event occurs.

Question No 10:

A data extension needs to be configured to retain data for six months. What is the appropriate way to add data retention to the data extension?

A. Update the data extension configuration.
B. Import a file to overwrite the rows with six months of data.
C. Run a query to overwrite the rows with six months of data.

Answer: A

Explanation:

Data retention is a critical aspect of managing data in platforms like Salesforce Marketing Cloud, ensuring that data storage complies with business requirements, privacy regulations, or other governance policies. When configuring data retention for a data extension, it’s important to use the built-in functionality to define how long data should be kept in the system.

For data retention to be configured properly in a data extension, it is necessary to modify the data extension configuration itself, specifically by setting up a retention policy. This retention policy will automatically delete data older than the specified timeframe, in this case, six months. By defining the retention period at the data extension level, the platform will ensure that any data beyond the set period is automatically removed, which reduces the risk of data bloat and maintains storage efficiency.

Here's an explanation of the options:

• A. Update the data extension configuration – This is the correct option. The proper way to manage data retention is to configure it within the data extension settings itself. Salesforce Marketing Cloud, for instance, allows users to set a data retention policy during the creation or editing of a data extension. This ensures that any records older than six months will be automatically deleted, following the defined retention period.
  
  

• B. Import a file to overwrite the rows with six months of data – This option is incorrect because importing a file to overwrite the data only replaces the current data with new data from the file. It doesn’t apply a retention policy or ensure that data older than six months is deleted. The purpose of the import here would only be to update or refresh the data in the data extension, not manage retention.
  
  

• C. Run a query to overwrite the rows with six months of data – This option is also incorrect for a similar reason to option B. Running a query to overwrite the rows might allow for the insertion or modification of data, but it doesn't establish a retention policy. While queries can be useful for manipulating data, they are not designed for automated data removal based on time.

Therefore, the most efficient and correct method for configuring data retention in a data extension is to update the data extension configuration with the appropriate retention period, ensuring the platform automatically handles data removal after six months.

The correct answer is A.