Maps and Visualization
Visualization questions check whether you can choose symbology and labeling that communicate accurately and know which settings live where. Start with the map vs scene distinction: maps are 2D and scenes are 3D (local or global). A layout is a separate container that references a map or scene through a map frame; changing the map updates the layout.
Know the symbology families: single symbol, unique values (categorical), graduated colors/symbols (numeric classes), and proportional symbols (size by value). Classification method matters: equal interval splits the value range evenly, quantile puts equal counts per class, natural breaks (Jenks) minimizes within-class variance, and standard deviation highlights outliers. The trap: switching methods changes the story even with identical data, and a legend built on quantile classes can mislead readers about magnitude.
Labeling vs annotation: labels are dynamic and driven by label classes and expressions; annotation is stored text you can edit individually. Understand label placement, conflict/weight ranking, and scale ranges. Definition queries filter what a layer draws without altering the source; display filters and scale ranges control visibility.
Rule of thumb
Match the visual variable to the data type: color hue for categories, color value or size for ordered numbers, and never use size for nominal categories.
Traps: confusing a definition query with a selection (selection is temporary, definition query persists in the layer), expecting a symbology change to alter attribute values, and forgetting that layer draw order and transparency affect readability.