Free SAS Certified Specialist: Forecasting and Optimization Using SAS Viya Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the SAS Certified Specialist: Forecasting and Optimization Using SAS Viya practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A new forecasting project detects two variables formatted as SAS dates. How should the time role be established?

   1. A. Keep both variables assigned to the time role.
   2. B. Choose one date variable and assign it the time role.
   3. C. Assign the variable with more distinct values as dependent.
   4. D. Leave the time role unassigned and run the pipeline.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The guide states, "If the system detects multiple time variable candidates, you must choose one of them as the time variable." Select one qualifying date variable; detection does not assign both or remove the need for a time role.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 1, Assigning the Time Variable, p. 8

2. 2What does the Auto-forecasting node do separately for each time series?

   1. A. Reuse a single fixed model without examining the series.
   2. B. Diagnose the series, generate candidates, select a model, and forecast.
   3. C. Import existing predictions and restrict work to forecast overrides.
   4. D. Average all series first and fit one model to the project total.

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The documented per-series task list is: "Diagnoses the statistical characteristics of the time series n Generates a list of appropriate time series models n Selects the model n Generates forecasts". Auto-forecasting diagnoses each series, creates candidates, selects a model, and produces forecasts; it does not merely import predictions or impose one fixed project-total model.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 2, Auto-forecasting, p. 44

3. 3A project should forecast at Country, then Channel, then SKU levels. Which configuration establishes that hierarchy?

   1. A. Set Country, Channel, and SKU as independent variables in any order.
   2. B. Import Country, Channel, and SKU as attributes without BY assignments.
   3. C. Assign them as BY variables ordered Country, Channel, SKU.
   4. D. Create three dependent-variable assignments in that order.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The guide states, "The ordering of the BY variables constructs the forecasting hierarchy." The requested order must therefore be set in the BY-variable hierarchy, not in predictors or target assignments.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 1, Defining the Hierarchy, p. 12

4. 4An active imported Brand attribute identifies a proper subset of series needing an override. Which action targets only the intended Brand values in Overrides?

   1. A. Name a filter Brand without selecting attribute values.
   2. B. Select all Brand values before entering the override.
   3. C. Select the intended Brand values in Filters before entering the override.
   4. D. Leave Filters unselected before entering the override.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The documented procedure says, "Make your selections from the Filters pane on the left." Those selected attribute values define the subset. Naming a filter alone does not select Brand values, while selecting all values or no filters targets a broader set.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 4, Creating Overrides, p. 107, step 2

5. 5Which objective can be used in a linear programming model with continuous decision variables x and y?

   1. A. min z = x*y + 2*y;
   2. B. min z = x**2 + y;
   3. C. min z = 4*x + 7*y;
   4. D. min z = x/y + y;

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The guide states, "A linear programming problem is a linearly constrained problem with a linear objective function." The expression 4*x+7*y has constant coefficients multiplying single variables. Products, squares, and ratios of decision variables are nonlinear.

   Reference: SAS/OR 15.4 User’s Guide: Mathematical Programming — Chapter 5, Overview, p. 26

6. 6Revenue is the numeric quantity to be modeled and forecast in a SAS Visual Forecasting project. Which role should Revenue receive?

   1. A. Time variable
   2. B. BY variable
   3. C. Dependent variable
   4. D. Independent variable

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The guide states, "Dependent variables are the variables that you want to model and forecast." Revenue is the forecast target, so it is dependent rather than a predictor, identifier, or time stamp.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 1, Assigning the Dependent Variable, p. 9

7. 7A forecaster starts a custom workflow with the Base Forecasting template. What must be added before it is a complete forecast pipeline?

   1. A. At least one modeling strategy node
   2. B. A second Data node for model selection
   3. C. An external forecast table for every BY group
   4. D. An override for every forecast horizon period

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The guide states, "This template simply creates a pipeline with a single Data node. You will need to add at least one modeling strategy to complete the pipeline." The Base template is a starting structure for building the custom workflow.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 2, Pipeline Templates Provided by SAS Visual Forecasting — Base Forecasting, p. 81

8. 8A project has assigned time and dependent variables but no BY variables. What additional role assignment is required before using the Hierarchical Forecasting node?

   1. A. Assign at least one BY variable.
   2. B. Assign at least one independent variable.
   3. C. Assign a second dependent variable.
   4. D. Assign a second time variable.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: For the Hierarchical Forecasting node, the guide states, "To use this modeling node, you need at least one BY variable assigned." Additional predictors or time variables do not provide that hierarchy.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 2, Hierarchical Forecasting, p. 45

9. 9An override has been entered for a filter but remains Pending. What happens when it is submitted and no conflicts are found?

   1. A. It becomes Applied; the final forecast uses the resolved override.
   2. B. It stays Pending; the final forecast keeps the statistical value.
   3. C. It becomes Applied; the final forecast keeps the statistical value.
   4. D. It stays Pending; the final forecast uses an unapplied override.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The guide states, "If no conflicts are found, the override’s status is applied and the final forecast shows the override value." Entering an override and applying it through submission are distinct stages.

   Reference: SAS Visual Forecasting: User’s Guide — Chapter 4, Creating Overrides, p. 107

10. 10Given set PRODUCTS, unit-cost parameter c{PRODUCTS}, and quantity variables x{PRODUCTS}, which OPTMODEL objective minimizes total cost?

    1. A. Sum unit cost times quantity: min Total = sum{p in PRODUCTS} (c[p]*x[p]);
    2. B. Sum unit cost plus quantity: min Total = sum{p in PRODUCTS} (c[p]+x[p]);
    3. C. Sum unit cost divided by quantity: min Total = sum{p in PRODUCTS} (c[p]/x[p]);
    4. D. Sum unit cost times squared quantity: min Total = sum{p in PRODUCTS} (c[p]*x[p]**2);

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The transportation example uses "min total_cost = sum{i in O, j in D}c[i,j]*x[i,j];". The same indexed cost-times-quantity structure gives sum{p in PRODUCTS} c[p]*x[p]. Addition, division, and squaring do not represent the specified unit cost.

    Reference: SAS/OR 15.4 User’s Guide: Mathematical Programming — Chapter 5, A Transportation Problem, p. 31