Quiz / Skill Check
Q1. Which visual is best suited to show a trend over time, such as monthly revenue?
Type: Multiple Choice
- Pie chart
- Line chart
- Card
- Matrix
Correct Answer: Line chart
Why: Line charts plot values along a continuous axis (like dates), making upward or downward trends easy to see. Pie charts compare parts of a whole at a single point in time, cards show one number, and matrices are best for cross-tabulated detail rather than trend shape.
Q2. A matrix visual can show subtotals and lets you drill down through a hierarchy (e.g., branch → specialization), while a plain table visual cannot.
Type: True/False
Correct Answer: True
Why: Matrix visuals support row/column grouping with expandable and collapsible subtotals, similar to a pivot table. Table visuals display flat rows without that hierarchical drill capability.
Q3. Name one formatting choice you can apply to a KPI card to make it instantly communicate whether a metric is good or bad (e.g., a high no-show rate).
Type: Short Answer
Correct Answer: Conditional formatting — e.g., setting the card’s background or font color to change (such as turning red) when the value crosses a threshold.
Why: Conditional formatting rules (Format pane > Callout value > Conditional formatting) let a card visually flag out-of-range results without the viewer needing to read the number and interpret it themselves.
Q4. When choosing a visual for “total cost by treatment type,” why is a clustered bar chart a reasonable choice?
Type: Multiple Choice
- Bar charts can only display one category at a time
- It clearly ranks and compares a numeric value (cost) across several discrete categories (treatment types)
- Bar charts are required whenever a card visual is on the same page
- It automatically calculates the average instead of the sum
Correct Answer: It clearly ranks and compares a numeric value (cost) across several discrete categories (treatment types)
Why: Bar and column charts excel at comparing a measure across a handful of distinct categories, letting the viewer quickly see which treatment types cost the most in total. Horizontal bars are often used when category labels (like treatment names) are long, since the labels stay easier to read.