CSA ServiceNow Certified System Administrator Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

In ServiceNow’sService Catalog, the display sequence of variables within aCatalog Itemis controlled by theOrder field in the Variable form. TheOrder fielddetermines the position in which the variables appear when a user fills out a catalog item. Lower values appear first, and higher values appear later.

(A) The Default Value field in the Catalog Item form – Incorrect

TheDefault Valuefield sets an initial value for a variable but doesnotcontrol the display sequence. It is used to pre-fill a value when the form loads.

(B) The Sequence field in the Catalog Item form – Incorrect

There isno such fieldcalled "Sequence" in the Catalog Item form. The field that determines the sequence of variables is theOrderfield in the Variable form.

(C) The Order field in the Variable form – Correct

Each variable in a catalog item has anOrder field.

Variables with a lower order number are displayedbeforethose with a higher order number.

If multiple variables have the same order value, ServiceNow orders them based oninternal system processing order.

(D) The Choice field in the Variable form – Incorrect

TheChoice fieldapplies only toMultiple Choice, Select Box, and Radio Buttonvariables, determining the selectable options for users. It doesnotcontrol the display sequence of variables in a catalog item form.

Explanation of Each Option:

It is a best practice to useincremental numbering (e.g., 100, 200, 300, etc.)for order values instead of consecutive numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3). This makes it easier to insert new variables later without having to renumber existing ones.

The order values are respectedunless a layout configuration (e.g., multi-column form layout)changes the positioning.

ServiceNow Docs: Creating and Configuring Service Catalog Variables

https://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Community Best Practices for Service Catalog Variables

https://community.servicenow.com

Additional Notes & Best Practices:References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

ARecord ProducerinServiceNowis atype of Catalog Itemthat allows users to create records intables(such as Incidents, Change Requests, or HR Cases) from theService Catalog. It provides asimplified and user-friendly interfacefor users to submit structured data without needing direct access to the actual form or database tables.

Key Features of a Record Producer:✔Creates task-based recordsin the appropriate table (e.g.,incident,sc_task,problem).

✔Uses a simplified forminstead of the standard form view of a record.

✔Can trigger workflows and business ruleswhen submitted.

✔Maps user inputs to table fieldsviaVariable Mappings.

An employee wants toreport a broken laptopbut does not need to see the fullIncident form.

The IT team creates aRecord Producernamed "Report an IT Issue" in theService Catalog.

The Record Producercollects user input(e.g., issue description, urgency, contact information).

Upon submission, itcreates an Incident record (incidenttable)in ServiceNow.

Example Use Case:

Why the Correct Answer is D:D. A Record Producer is a type of a Catalog Item that allows users to create task-based records from the Service Catalog(Correct)

This is the most accurate description of aRecord Producer.

It allows users tocreate recordsin a specifiedtask table (Incident, Change, Request, etc.)through theService Catalog.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:A. A Record Producer is a type of Catalog Item that is used for Requests, not Services (Incorrect)

Record Producers are not limited to Requests.

They can create various types of records, including Incidents, Change Requests, and HR Cases.

B. A Record Producer creates user records (Incorrect)

A Record Producerdoes not create user records(users are managed in thesys_usertable).

Instead, itcreates task-based recordsin other tables likeincidentorsc_task.

C. A Record Producer is a type of Catalog Item that provides easy ordering by bundling requests (Incorrect)

Order Guides, not Record Producers, handlebundling multiple Catalog Items into a single request.

ARecord Producer creates a single recordin a defined table.

Comparison: Record Producer vs. Other Catalog ItemsFeature

Record Producer

Standard Catalog Item

Order Guide

Creates a record in a ServiceNow table

Yes

No

No

Used to order physical/digital goods

No

Yes

Yes

Can bundle multiple requests

No

No

Yes

Uses a form-based submission

Yes

Yes

Yes

InServiceNow, theLoad Data and Transform Mapprocess is used toimport data from external sources(e.g., CSV, Excel, XML) into the ServiceNow platform. TheMapping Assisttool is a feature within this process that helps administrators visually map fields between thesource data(imported file) and thetarget tablein ServiceNow.

Load Data:

Data is imported from an external source (e.g., CSV file, Excel spreadsheet, XML data).

The imported data is temporarily stored in astaging table(Import Set Table).

Transform Map:

ATransform Mapdefines how fields in the import set should be mapped to the target table in ServiceNow.

It allows datatransformation, filtering, and scriptingduring the import process.

Mapping Assist:

Mapping Assistis avisual toolthat helps administrators easily map fields between the import set and the target table.

It provides adrag-and-drop interfaceto connect fields.

Helps preventerrors in field mapping, ensuring data integrity.

Understanding the Load Data and Transform Map Process

Why Answer "D" is Correct:✔️"Mapping fields using a Field Map."

TheField Mapis created in theTransform Mapto define how fields from the import set match fields in the target table.

Mapping Assistis used tovisually linkthese fields, making it easier to set up the transformation process.

Why the Other Answers Are Incorrect:A. "Mapping fields using the Import Log."

Incorrectbecause theImport Logtracks the progress of an import job but does not provide field mapping.

The Import Log is used fortroubleshooting errors, not for mapping fields.

B. "Mapping fields using Transform History."

IncorrectbecauseTransform Historytracks past transformations and changes made during imports, but it isnot used for mapping fields.

It is used forauditing and debugging transformations, not field mapping.

C. "Mapping fields using an SLA."

IncorrectbecauseSLAs (Service Level Agreements)are used for tracking and enforcing deadlines on tasks,not for data mapping.

SLAs have no role in theLoad Data and Transform Mapprocess.

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide – Import Sets & Data Transformation

ServiceNow Docs: Transform Maps & Field Mapping(ServiceNow Documentation)

ServiceNow Docs: Mapping Assist Feature

References from the Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

When a user places an order for an item or service from theService Catalogin ServiceNow, the system generates aRequest (REQ). This is a core component ofRequest Managementwithin the IT Service Management (ITSM) module.

User Places an Order:

The user selects an item from theService Catalog(e.g., a laptop, software, or an access request).

The order may consist of multiple items, depending on the selection.

ServiceNow Generates a Request (REQ):

ThisRequest (REQ#)acts as the umbrella record that tracks the order as a whole.

It is stored in thesc_requesttable.

Creation of Requested Items (RITM#):

Each item within the request generates aRequested Item (RITM#), stored in thesc_req_itemtable.

For example, if the user orders a laptop and a software license, two RITM records are created under the same Request.

Tasks (SCTASK#) Are Created:

Each Requested Item (RITM) may trigger one or moreCatalog Tasks (SCTASK#)in thesc_tasktable.

These tasks define the steps required to fulfill the request (e.g., procurement, approval, and configuration).

A. A Change Request– Incorrect. AChange Request (CHG#)is created only if the requested item involves changes to the infrastructure, such as a server upgrade. Not all catalog items require a change request.

B. An Order Guide– Incorrect. AnOrder Guideis a tool within the Service Catalog that helps users order multiple related items at once. However, it does not get generated when an order is placed.

D. An SLA– Incorrect. AService Level Agreement (SLA)may be associated with the request or tasks, but it is not automatically generated when a request is placed.

ServiceNow Product Documentation → Service Catalog → Request Fulfillment

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide → Service Catalog and Request Management

ServiceNow Tables Reference → sc_request, sc_req_item, sc_task

Understanding the Request Process in ServiceNow:Explanation of Incorrect Answers:References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow Role Management, aroleis a collection ofpermissionsthat control what users can see and do within the platform.

Role Hierarchy (Role Inheritance)

Rolescan contain other roles(known asnested roles).

When a user is assigned aparent role, theyinherit all child roleswithin it.

Example:

TheITIL roleincludesincident_managerandproblem_managerroles.

AssigningITILto a userautomatically grants them all the permissions of the included roles.

Roles Are Assigned by Administrators

Typically, roles are assigned by aSystem Administratoror an authorized user.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

ServiceNow usesRBACto control access to applications, records, and actions.

B. Users can click on the Personalize Role feature to try different roles

Incorrectbecause userscannot manually switch rolesunless they have theimpersonation privilege.

C. A role is granted to a user by the System Administrator

Partially correct, butnot the best answerbecause rolescan also be assigned via groupsor automated processes, not just by a System Administrator.

D. Each user has a role in the ServiceNow platform

Incorrectbecause not all usersmust have a role.

Example:A self-service user can access the systemwithouthaving any specific role.

ServiceNow Docs: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)https://docs.servicenow.com/en-US/bundle/utah-platform-administration/page/administer/roles/reference/r_RBAC.html

ServiceNow CSA Official Training Guide (User & Role Management)

Key Characteristics of Role Assignment:Why the Other Options Are Incorrect?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:This confirms thatroles can contain other roles, and when a user is assigned a role, they inherit all roles within it.

When a new table is created inServiceNowby extending another table, it followstable inheritanceprinciples. This means the newly created table (child table) receives all the fields from its parent table. Additionally, the new table can includecustom fieldsthat are unique to itself.

Here’s how inheritance works in ServiceNow when a table is extended:

Fields Inheritance:

The child table automatically inherits all fields from its parent table.

These inherited fieldscannot be removedfrom the child table but can be modified or overridden.

The child table can also have additionalcustom fieldsthat do not exist in the parent table.

Business Rules, Client Scripts, and UI Policies:

Unlike fields, these components arenot automatically inherited.

However, they can still affect the child tableif they are defined on the parent table using conditions that include the child table.

To apply them specifically to the child table, they need to beexplicitly definedfor the new table.

Access Control Rules (ACLs):

ACLs are not automatically inherited.

Each table in ServiceNow has its own set ofAccess Control Rules, which must be explicitly configured for the child table if different permissions are required.

Database Structure:

The child table creates aone-to-one relationshipwith the parent table, meaningall fields in the parent are available in the child table.

The new table is stored as a separate entity but references the parent table’s structure.

The child tableinherits all fieldsfrom the parent table.

The child table can also have its owncustom fields.

Business Rules, Client Scripts, UI Policies, and ACLs arenot automatically inherited, meaning options B and D are incorrect.

The tabledoes not archivethe parent table (making option A incorrect).

ServiceNow Product Documentation – Table Inheritance:https://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Fundamentals – Table Relationships

ServiceNow Developer Portal – Extending Tables

ServiceNow Best Practices – Access Controls & Security Rules

Why Option C is Correct?References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow,UI Policiesallow administrators todynamically control form fieldsbased on conditions without using scripts. With UI Policies, you can change thebehaviorof a field by making it:

Read-only→ The user canviewthe field butcannot edit it.

Mandatory→ The field becomesrequired, and the usermustfill it out before submitting the form.

Hidden→ The field isremoved from visibilityon the form.

Explanation of Each Option:A. Read-only–Correct

A UI Policy can make a fieldread-only, meaning users canseethe field butcannot modifyits value.

Example: A field likeRequest Number (REQ0001)is typicallyread-onlyafter submission.

B. Write-only–Incorrect

ServiceNowdoes nothave a "write-only" field setting in UI Policies.

If a field iseditable, users canboth read and write; if it’s hidden or read-only, writing is not possible.

C. Necessary–Incorrect

There isno "Necessary"field state in ServiceNow UI Policies.

If the intent is to make a field required, the correct term is"Mandatory".

D. Mandatory–Correct

UI Policies can make a fieldmandatory, requiring the user toenter a valuebefore submitting the form.

Example: AnIncident Descriptionfield might be mandatory before an incident is submitted.

E. Empty–Incorrect

UI Policiescannot directly enforce an "empty" state. However, adefault valuecould be cleared using aclient script, but this isnot a UI Policy feature.

F. Hidden–Correct

UI Policies canhide a field, making it invisible on the form.

Example: A"Manager Approval"field may be hiddenuntila certain condition (e.g., request cost > $1000) is met.

Final Answer:Read-only

Mandatory

Hidden

ServiceNow Docs – UI Policies and UI Policy Actionshttps://docs.servicenow.com

ServiceNow Learning – Form Configuration & UI Policies

ServiceNow Developer Portal – Controlling Form Behavior with UI Policies

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow, when working with forms (such as Incident, Change, or Task forms), users can perform different actions tosave records. The two key operations in this context areInsertandUpdate.

Creates a new record in the database.

Saves the record and exits the form(returns to the list view or the previous screen).

The form is cleared after inserting the record.

It doesnotmodify an existing record; instead, it generates anew record with a new unique sys_id.

Example:

A user creates a newIncident, fills in details, and clicksInsert.

The systemsaves the new Incident and exitsto the list view.

Saves changes to an existing record.

Remains on the form after saving.

It doesnot create a new record; itmodifies the existing recordin place.

Example:

A user opens an existing Incident, changes the Priority, and clicksUpdate.

The systemsaves the changes but keeps the user on the form.

1. Insert Operation (Correct Description in Option C)2. Update Operation (Correct Description in Option C)

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:A. Insert creates a new record and Update saves changes, both remain on the form (Incorrect)

Insert does not remain on the form; it exits after creating a new record.

B. Insert creates a new record and Update saves changes, both exit the form (Incorrect)

Update does not exit the form; it remains on the form after saving.

D. Insert saves changes and remains on the form, Update saves changes and exits the form (Incorrect)

Insert exitsafter creating a new record.

Update remains on the form, not exits.

Insert and Stay: This is avariation of Insert, whichcreates a new record but keeps the form openfor additional edits.

Submit vs. Insert:

Submitis typically used when submitting a form for workflow processing (e.g., Service Catalog Requests).

Insertexplicitly saves a record as a new entry.

Additional Notes:

Example Scenario in Incident Management:Action

Result

Click "Insert"

Creates anewIncident andexitsthe form.

Click "Update"

Saves changes to theexistingrecord andstays on the form.

InServiceNow,Rolesare used to control access toApplications and Moduleswithin the platform. ARoleis a set of permissions that define what actions a user can perform and which records they can access.

Grant Access to Applications and Modules:

If a userdoes not have the required role, theycannot see or accessan application/module.

Control Record-Level and Field-Level Access:

SomeAccess Control Rules (ACLs)depend on roles topermit or restrictdata visibility.

Assign Multiple Roles to a User:

A user can havemultiple rolesbased on job responsibilities.

Example Roles in ServiceNow:

admin– Full access to all system features.

itil– Can manage incidents, problems, and changes.

catalog_admin– Manages the Service Catalog.

asset– Manages assets and CI records.

Key Functions of Roles in Access Control:

Navigate to:All → Users and Groups → Users

Open a user record

Scroll to the Roles related list

Click Edit and add roles

How to Assign Roles to Users:

A. Access Control Rules– Incorrect.

Access Control Rules (ACLs)definerecord-level and field-levelsecurity, but they donot control access to applications and modulesdirectly.

B. UI Policies– Incorrect.

UI Policiescontrol the visibility and behavior of form fields,not module or application access.

D. Assignment Rules– Incorrect.

Assignment Rulesautomatically assigntasks(e.g., Incidents, Requests) to groups or users, but theydo not control access.

Explanation of Incorrect Answers:

ServiceNow Product Documentation → Roles and Permissions

ServiceNow CSA Study Guide → User and Role Management

ServiceNow Knowledge Base → Controlling Access to Applications and Modules

References from Certified System Administrator (CSA) Documentation:

InServiceNow, aRecordrepresents all thedata saved within a particular form. Each record corresponds to a single entry in atableand contains multiplefieldsstoring different pieces of information.

ARecordis asingle instanceof data stored in a ServiceNowtable.

When a user fills out and submits aform, arecord is createdor updated in the respective table.

Each record has a uniqueSys ID(a 32-character identifier).

Example:

AnIncidentrecord contains fields such asNumber,Caller,Short Description, andPriority.

AChange Requestrecord contains fields likeChange Number,Requested By, andAssignment Group.

A. Fields

Fieldsare individualdata pointswithin a record.

Example: TheCallerandPriorityfields in anIncidentrecord.

B. Form

AFormis auser interfaceto enter and display data, but it does not store data itself.

It is just a way tointeract with records.

D. Lists

AListdisplaysmultiple recordsfrom a table, but each row in a list represents asingle record.

Lists are used for filtering, sorting, and searching records but do not represent a single data entry.

Key Concepts:Why Other Options Are Incorrect?

ServiceNow Data Model - Records and Tables

Understanding Records and Forms

Forms vs. Records vs. Fields

ServiceNow Forms and Records

References from ServiceNow CSA Documentation:Final Verification:Answer is 100% correct and aligned with official ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA) documentation.

The Dependency View provides a visual representation of the relationships between configuration items (CIs) in ServiceNow. It allows you to see how CIs are connected and how changes to one CI may impact others.

To display reminder messages or alerts to users as they interact with forms in ServiceNow, Client Scripts are used. Specifically, an onSubmit Client Script can be configured to display a message or perform validation just before the form is submitted by the user. This script runs on the client (browser) and can prevent submission or prompt the user with informational messages.

Business Rules execute on the server and cannot directly interact with the user interface in real-time. Policies and Data Policies enforce data consistency but do not provide user messages or reminders during form submission.

Therefore, the Client Script is the correct mechanism to display a reminder message dynamically as the incident is submitted.

In ServiceNow, lists allow users to view, filter, and group records dynamically. If you want to group records based on a particular column (e.g.,Category), you can use the"Group By"functionality.

A. On list Context Menu, select Group By > Category

TheList Context Menu(right-clicking anywhere in the list header) provides an option to group records by a specific column.

Selecting"Group By > Category"organizes records into expandable sections based on the selected field.

This is one of the quickest ways to group records in a list.

E. On the Category column title, click Context menu > Group By Category

Each column header in a list has its ownColumn Context Menu(accessible by clicking the three-line menu or right-clicking the column title).

Clicking“Group By Category”on theCategory columnwill instantly rearrange the list based on the values in that column.

B. On the Filter Menu, select Group By > Category

TheFilter Menuis used for setting up filters and conditions, but it doesnotprovide a "Group By" option.

It allows users to filter records but does not change the list structure.

C. Click Group On icon, select Category

There isno"Group On" icon in ServiceNow lists.

Grouping is done through context menus, not a dedicated "Group On" button.

D. On Navigator Filter, type tablename.group.category and press enter

TheApplication Navigator Filteris used for searching applications, modules, and tables—not for modifying list views.

Entering something likeincident.group.categorywill not perform a grouping action on a list.

Application Scope is the architectural boundary that protects the integrity of applications within a shared ServiceNow instance.

Protection: It ensures that a script or configuration in one application (like "Global") cannot inadvertently or maliciously modify the data or schema of a different Scoped Application (like "HR Service Delivery") without explicit permission.

Runtime Access Tracking: When an application is in a private scope, the system enforces "Cross-scope privileges."

ACLs vs. Scope: While Access Control Rules (ACLs) restrict which users can see data, Application Scope restricts which applications (code/scripts) can access data.

By default, ServiceNow encrypts data in transit using industry-standard Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. This ensures that any data transmitted between the client and the ServiceNow platform, or between ServiceNow and integrated systems, is encrypted and protected from interception or tampering.

While ServiceNow also offers options for data at rest encryption and customer-managed encryption keys, these features often require additional configuration or subscription services. Encryption of data in use (while data is being processed in memory) is a more advanced concept and not provided by default.

Thus, encryption of data in transit is the baseline encryption feature included automatically in all ServiceNow instances.

In ServiceNow Access Control Lists (ACLs), the wildcards used to define rules follow a specific syntax: table_name.field_name.

1. The Wildcard (*):

The asterisk * represents "all" or "the rest."

incident.*: This is a field-level ACL. It applies to every field on the incident table that does not have a specific ACL defined for it. For example, if you have an ACL for incident.short_description and an ACL for incident.*, the .* rule covers everything else (Priority, State, Caller, etc.).

2. The Record Level (None):

incident.None (often displayed just as incident): This is a record-level ACL. It grants access to the row (the record itself). A user needs access to the record (incident.None) and the field (incident.*) to view or edit data.

3. Why other options are incorrect:

A & B: These use invalid syntax (<==>, .all) that does not exist in the ServiceNow ACL definitions.

C: This appears to be a syntactical error or a distractor. The pipe symbols (|) are not used in ACL name definitions.