SAS A00-231 Practice Exam Questions & Answers
5 Free Questions
· Last reviewed: September 12, 2026
· Prepared & Reviewed by the ValidExamDumps Editorial Team
Exam Facts
SAS A00-231 Exam Details
Key details for this exam, checked against the published exam outline
36
Practice Questions (Our Bank)
135 minutes
Exam Duration
USD 180
Exam Fee
- Exam Code
- A00-231
- Full Name
- SAS 9.4 Base Programming - Performance-Based Exam
- Issuing Body
- SAS
- Question Format (Our Bank)
- Multiple Choice
Practice Questions
Free A00-231 Practice Questions
Each question shows the correct answer and an explanation of why it is right
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The following SAS program is submitted:
Why does the program produce an error? Select one:
Correct Answer:
C
Explanation
This question tests your ability to identify logic errors in SAS code. The correct answer shows that x equals 2 and y equals 27, indicating a programming error occurred during execution. To answer this, you need to trace through the code step by step, understanding how variables are assigned and how conditional statements work. Simply reading the code without executing it mentally would likely lead to an incorrect answer about expected values.
The following SAS program is submitted:
data work.test;
type='SQL';
if type='SAS' then description='SAS Program';
else description='other'; length description 8;
run;
What occurs when the program is submitted?
Select one:
Correct Answer:
D
Explanation
A SAS library is defined as a collection of one or more SAS files that are referenced and stored as a unit. This is the foundational concept behind LIBNAME statements. Option B correctly describes this relationship. Other options might confuse libraries with individual datasets, file systems, or other storage concepts. Understanding what a library actually is forms the basis for accessing and creating data structures in SAS.
SIMULATION
Scenario:
This project will use data set cert.input08a and cert.input08b. At
any time, you may save your program
as program08 in cert\programs.
Both data sets contain a common numeric variable named ID.
Write a program that will use a SAS DATA Step to:
o Combine data sets cert.input08a and cert.input08b by
matching values of the ID variable.
o Write only observations that are in both data sets to a
new data set named results.match08.
o Write all other non-matching observations from either
data set to a new data set named results.nomatch08.
o Exclude all variables that begin with
"ex" from results.nomatch08.
How many variables (columns) are in _______________ results.nomatch08
Enter your numeric answer in the space below:
Save your program as ______________ program08.sas in folder cert programs
before continuing with the next project.
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation
SAS code that could be used to solve this project:
Proc
sort data=cert.input08a out=work.input08a;
by ID;
run;
proc sort data=cert.input08b out=work.input08b;
by ID;
run;
data results.match08 results.nomatch08 (drop=ex: );
merge work.input08a (in=a) work.input08b (in=b);
by ID;
if a and b then output results.match08;
else output results.nomatch08;
run;
proc contents data=results.match08;
run;
proc contents data=results.nomatch08;
run;
The correct answer is: 5
The following SAS program is submitted:
proc means data=work.schools median;
run;
Assume thatWork.Schoolshas two numeric variables and the following PROC MEANS report is produced:
Which of the following SAS statements completes the program and creates the desired report? Select one:
Correct Answer:
B
Explanation
The PROC TRANSPOSE procedure uses the VAR statement to specify which variables from the input dataset should become observations in the transposed output. The VAR statement is a core component that defines the structure of the transposed result. Without it, PROC TRANSPOSE would try to transpose all numeric variables by default. Other procedure statements like BY, ID, and CLASS have different functions in the transpose process.
SIMULATION
Scenario:
This project will use data set cert.input12. At any time, you may
save your program as program12 in cert\programs.
cert.input12 contains a single observation with two variables:
o salary
o year
Write a SAS program that will:
o Create an output data set results.output12.
o Read cert.input12 as input.
o Increase the salary variable by 5.65% annually until it is
greater than $500,000.
o Increment the year variable by 1 with each annual
increase.
o Create an output data set results.output12 that has one
observation for each value of year. Each observation
should have a year and salary variable.
What is the value of year when the above salary occurs? Enter your numeric answer in the space below.
Correct Answer:
A
Explanation
data results.output12;
set cert.input12;
do until (salary gt 500000);
salary=salary*1.0565;
year+1;
output;
end;
run;
proc print data=results.output 12;
run;
Domain 1: Access and Create Data Structures
20% - 25%
Learn to read data from various sources including CSV, Excel, and SAS datasets using SET statements and PROC IMPORT. Create temporary and permanent SAS datasets through DATA steps and handle file access through LIBNAME statements and the CONTENTS procedure. Work with date and time values by understanding how SAS stores them and using informats and formats to read and display them correctly.
Sample question from this domain above:
Q2
Domain 2: Manage Data
35% - 40%
Sort and deduplicate data using PROC SORT and manipulate datasets through conditional processing with IF-THEN/ELSE statements and DO loops. Create and modify variables using assignment statements, rename operations, and attributes like LABEL, FORMAT, and LENGTH. Use advanced techniques like first. and last. processing, RETAIN, SUM statements, and PROC TRANSPOSE to restructure and aggregate data by groups.
Sample questions from this domain above:
Q3Q5
Domain 3: Error Handling
15% - 20%
Identify and resolve programming logic errors using PUTLOG statements to inspect variable values and trace execution. Recognize syntax errors including misspelled keywords, unmatched quotation marks, missing semicolons, and invalid options. Learn to read SAS log messages to diagnose problems and use temporary variables N and ERROR to debug DATA steps.
Sample question from this domain above:
Q1
Domain 4: Generate Reports and Output
15% - 20%
Create list reports with PROC PRINT by selecting and ordering variables, calculating totals, and identifying observations using VAR, SUM, WHERE, ID, and BY statements. Generate summary tables and frequency analysis with PROC FREQ and PROC MEANS using options like CLASS, OUTPUT, and WAYS. Use PROC FORMAT for custom formats, ODS statements to create HTML, PDF, RTF, XLSX, and PPTX output, and the EXPORT procedure to save data in formats like CSV and Excel.
Sample question from this domain above:
Q4
FAQ
A00-231 Exam FAQ
Common questions about the exam itself
What makes the A00-231 performance-based exam different from traditional multiple-choice certification tests?
During your exam, coding challenges are presented and you write SAS programs to answer questions about your results. This means you will be writing actual SAS code and seeing the output, not just selecting answers from multiple choices. The exam tests your practical ability to solve real programming problems within the time limit.
What prior experience or training do I need before attempting the A00-231 exam?
SAS does not publish formal prerequisites for the A00-231 exam. However, candidates should have a working knowledge of SAS Base programming fundamentals, including DATA steps, procedures, and the SAS language syntax. Many candidates prepare by completing SAS training courses available through learn.sas.com or gaining hands-on experience in a professional setting.
How long should I expect to spend preparing for the A00-231 exam?
Preparation time varies based on your existing SAS experience. Candidates with minimal background typically need 2 to 3 months of consistent study, while those with job experience may require less. Working through the official content guide, practice exams, and hands-on coding exercises is the most effective approach.
What happens if I fail the A00-231 exam? Can I retake it?
SAS allows you to retake the exam, but the specific retake policy including waiting periods between attempts is not published on the official exam page. Contact SAS directly or check with your exam provider Pearson VUE for current retake and rescheduling rules.
How long is the A00-231 certification valid after I pass?
SAS does not publicly specify a validity period for the Base Programming Specialist credential on their official exam pages. Some SAS certifications carry renewal requirements, but the specific policy for A00-231 is not clearly stated in published materials.
Which SAS job roles does the Base Programming Specialist credential map to?
The A00-231 credential validates skills expected of a SAS Base Programming Specialist. This typically aligns with entry to intermediate level data analyst or programmer roles that involve reading data, creating reports, and manipulating datasets using SAS Base tools.
What is the relationship between the A00-231 and the A00-233 delta exam?
The delta exam is available only to people who earned the old SAS Base Programmer for SAS 9.4 credential. The A00-233 is a shorter exam for those who already hold the previous Base Programmer credential, while A00-231 is the full exam for new candidates.
Which objective area of A00-231 is typically the most challenging for candidates?
The Manage Data domain, which accounts for 35-40% of the exam weight, is often considered the most challenging because it requires mastery of multiple techniques including conditional logic, loops, variable manipulation, and data restructuring. Strong practice with DO loops, PROC TRANSPOSE, and first./last. processing is essential.
How much time am I given to complete the A00-231 exam?
Exam Duration: 135 minutes to complete the exam. This gives you 2 hours and 15 minutes to work through approximately 40 questions of varying types, including multiple-choice and performance-based coding challenges.
What is the passing score for the A00-231 exam?
SAS does not publish the official passing score on their public exam pages. The information available from third-party sources suggests a passing score in the range of 700-725 out of 1000, but this should be verified directly with SAS or Pearson VUE at the time of registration.
