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Pega Certified System Architect study materials
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Pega Certified System Architect practice questions

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Question 1Digital process automation

In a Pega case type, which element represents a major phase of the work and appears as a step in the case lifecycle bar?

  1. Stage Correct answer.
  2. Assignment
  3. Process
  4. Flow

Explanation

Stages divide a case lifecycle into major phases, and each stage can contain one or more processes. The case lifecycle bar displays stages in order so users can see progress.

Question 2Digital process automation

A data page is configured with Node scope. Which users can share its cached data?

  1. Only the requestor who first loaded it
  2. Only users working on the same case
  3. All requestors on the same node Correct answer.
  4. Only users assigned to the same access group

Explanation

Node-scoped data pages are cached on the Pega node and are available to every requestor processed by that node. This is useful for reference data that is the same for all users on the server.

Question 3Digital process automation

To route an assignment to a shared queue that any member of a group can pick up, which routing option should be selected?

  1. To skilled group
  2. To workbasket Correct answer.
  3. To current user
  4. To worklist

Explanation

A workbasket is a shared queue, and assignments routed to it can be selected by any user who has access to that workbasket. Routing to a worklist places the assignment in one user's personal list.

Question 4Digital process automation

Which rule type evaluates a list of condition rows and returns the result from the first row whose conditions all match?

  1. Decision table Correct answer.
  2. Data transform
  3. When rule
  4. Declare expression

Explanation

A decision table contains rows of conditions and results, and it returns the result of the first row that evaluates to true. Rows are evaluated in order, so row order matters.

Question 5Digital process automation

Which Pega inheritance mechanism derives a class's parent from the class name itself, without an explicit parent reference?

  1. Circumstance inheritance
  2. Multiple inheritance
  3. Pattern inheritance Correct answer.
  4. Directed inheritance

Explanation

Pattern inheritance uses the class name hierarchy, so a class named MyCo-Finance-Claim inherits from MyCo-Finance when no directed parent is specified. Directed inheritance uses an explicit parent class.

Question 6Digital process automation

Which rule associates a user with roles, a portal, and privileges at login?

  1. Access role
  2. Access group Correct answer.
  3. Operator ID
  4. Access policy

Explanation

An access group combines a set of access roles, an application, and a default portal, and it determines what a user can do after login. Each operator ID references one or more access groups.

Question 7Digital process automation

Which UI element groups related fields under a heading inside a section?

  1. Paragraph
  2. Harness
  3. Layout Correct answer.
  4. Flow action

Explanation

Layouts are containers that organize fields and other elements in a section, and a layout can include a header for the group. Sections are placed inside harnesses, which define the overall form.

Question 8Digital process automation

In an SLA, which threshold defines the target time for completing an assignment before it is considered late?

  1. Late
  2. Goal Correct answer.
  3. Deadline
  4. Passed deadline

Explanation

The goal is the target interval for completing the assignment, and the deadline is the later time by which it must be completed. Passed deadline defines repeating intervals after the deadline.

Question 9Digital process automation

In a data transform, what does the Set action do?

  1. It assigns a value to a target property Correct answer.
  2. It changes the case class permanently
  3. It runs a report definition in the background
  4. It creates a new case and routes it

Explanation

The Set action assigns a literal value, another property, or an expression to a target property when the data transform executes. It can be made conditional by attaching a when condition.

Question 10Digital process automation

In a case flow, a decision shape with True and False connectors is used to do what?

  1. Send an email to the customer
  2. Choose a path based on a condition Correct answer.
  3. Split work among multiple users at the same time
  4. Pause the flow until a user submits a form

Explanation

A decision shape evaluates a condition and follows one of its outgoing connectors, such as True or False. This lets the flow take different paths for different case data.

Question 11Digital process automation

By default, Pega uses optimistic locking for cases. What happens when a second user saves a case after another user has already updated it?

  1. The user sees a conflict warning and can review changes Correct answer.
  2. A duplicate case is created automatically
  3. The case is deleted and recreated
  4. The second user's changes overwrite the first user's changes

Explanation

Optimistic locking detects that the case was modified since the second user opened it and prevents a silent overwrite. The user is shown a conflict message and can review or reconcile the changes.

Question 12Digital process automation

A cascading approval shape uses a reporting structure. What approval pattern does it produce?

  1. Approvals that escalate up the management chain Correct answer.
  2. A parallel review by every member of a work group
  3. A sequential review by every user in the system
  4. A single approval by the case owner's manager

Explanation

Cascading approval with a reporting structure routes the approval to the manager of the case owner, then to that manager's manager, and so on. The process continues up the chain until the configured approval level is reached.

Question 13Digital process automation

What is the purpose of the passed-deadline interval in an SLA?

  1. It defines actions after the deadline is exceeded Correct answer.
  2. It records when the case was created
  3. It assigns the case to a workbasket when the case is created
  4. It sets the target time for completing the assignment

Explanation

Passed-deadline intervals define what happens after the deadline, such as escalating urgency or sending a notification, and they can repeat. The goal and deadline thresholds define the target and required completion times.

Question 14Digital process automation

Which statement describes how a declare expression behaves?

  1. It recalculates the target when sources change Correct answer.
  2. It runs only when a user clicks a button
  3. It stores a fixed value that cannot be changed
  4. It sends a notification when the value changes

Explanation

A declare expression computes a target property from source properties and recalculates that target when the sources change. This keeps derived values consistent without custom procedural code.

Question 15Digital process automation

Which rule type defines a reusable, parameterized query that can supply data to reports, data pages, and landing pages?

  1. List view
  2. Report definition Correct answer.
  3. Activity
  4. Summary view configuration

Explanation

A report definition specifies the class, columns, filters, and parameters for a query and can be reused by other rules. Data pages and list views can reference a report definition as their data source.

Question 16Digital process automation

To define the content and recipient of an email sent from a case, which rule type is used?

  1. Data transform
  2. Flow action
  3. Section
  4. Correspondence Correct answer.

Explanation

A correspondence rule defines the message template, subject, and recipient details used when the system sends an email or other message. A flow shape or activity can then send the correspondence with case data.

Question 17Digital process automation

A case type AutoClaim is built on case type Claim. Which statement is true?

  1. AutoClaim cannot add new stages of its own
  2. AutoClaim inherits Claim's stages and can override them Correct answer.
  3. Claim inherits AutoClaim's stages and processes
  4. Both case types are required to have identical lifecycles

Explanation

When one case type is built on another, it inherits the parent's lifecycle, data model, and other rules and can override or extend them. The child case type can add stages, processes, and properties.

Question 18Digital process automation

A property must be validated both when a user submits a form and when a data transform sets the property. Which approach best meets this requirement?

  1. Add a when rule to the section
  2. Use only an edit validate rule on the property
  3. Configure the UI control as a text input
  4. Call a validate rule from both places Correct answer.

Explanation

A validate rule centralizes validation logic and can be invoked from multiple places, including a flow action and a data transform. Edit validate rules run only for user edits in the UI.

Question 19Digital process automation

Two versions of the same rule are available: one in ruleset version 01-01-05 and one in 01-02-01. Which rule does rule resolution select?

  1. The rule with the most recent update timestamp
  2. The rule in 01-01-05 because it was created first
  3. The rule in the higher ruleset version 01-02-01 Correct answer.
  4. The rule in the ruleset that contains fewer rules

Explanation

Rule resolution prefers the highest available ruleset version when all other factors are equal. Update timestamps do not determine rule selection.

Question 20Digital process automation

A rule has a base version and a circumstanced version for a specific application. When does rule resolution choose the circumstanced version?

  1. Only when the case is in the Review stage
  2. Only when the user holds the CircumstanceAdmin privilege
  3. Only when the base rule is unavailable
  4. When the rule resolution context matches Correct answer.

Explanation

Circumstanced rules are selected when the current application context, such as the application or a property value, matches the circumstance. If the context does not match, the base rule is used.

Question 21Digital process automation

Which access control model uses user attributes such as department and title to permit or deny access to case data?

  1. Optimistic locking
  2. Role-based access control model
  3. Attribute-based access control Correct answer.
  4. Workbasket routing configuration

Explanation

Attribute-based access control evaluates policies against attributes of the user and the data to decide access. Role-based access control instead grants access through roles assigned to the user.

Question 22Digital process automation

A data page loads customer data from a REST service. The source record can change during the day. Which configuration makes the data page refresh when the source data is newer?

  1. Replace the data page with a report definition
  2. Disable caching entirely for the data page
  3. Configure a reload-if-older-than freshness check Correct answer.
  4. Set the scope to Requestor and the reload strategy to Once

Explanation

A reload-if-older-than strategy lets the data page compare a timestamp and reload only when the source is newer. This balances freshness with performance.

Question 23Digital process automation

How does a standard agent process queued items in Pega?

  1. It runs only during case creation
  2. It runs on the server at scheduled intervals Correct answer.
  3. It runs in the user's browser as part of the UI
  4. It runs only when a user logs in to the application

Explanation

A standard agent runs on the Pega node and periodically reads items from its queue to process them asynchronously. It does not depend on a user session.

Question 24Digital process automation

A case must record both the customer who reported an issue and the agent who is handling it. Which feature associates these participants with the case?

  1. Access roles
  2. Data pages
  3. Work parties Correct answer.
  4. Class groups

Explanation

Work parties store the people and organizations connected to a case, along with their roles, such as Customer or Agent. Flows and correspondence can then use those roles to route work and address messages.

Question 25Digital process automation

Which feature lets users locate cases by filtering on status, work queue, and date range?

  1. Pulse
  2. Case search Correct answer.
  3. Tags
  4. Data transform

Explanation

Case search provides filterable access to cases across work queues and case types, using criteria such as status and dates. Pulse is a social feed, and tags are labels on posts.

Question 26Digital process automation

Which Pega entity is a group of operators who share a common set of assignments and reports?

  1. Operator ID
  2. Work group Correct answer.
  3. Access group
  4. Work queue

Explanation

A work group organizes operators for routing and reporting, and assignments can be routed to the group's worklist. Access groups control security, work queues are routing destinations, and an operator ID represents one user.

Question 27Digital process automation

Which rule type evaluates condition rows and returns the result associated with the first row that matches?

  1. When rule
  2. Decision tree
  3. Decision table Correct answer.
  4. Map value

Explanation

Decision tables evaluate rows in order and return the result from the first row whose conditions are satisfied. Decision trees use a branching hierarchy, when rules return Boolean values, and map values translate one value into another.

Question 28Digital process automation

Which rule type evaluates a Boolean condition and is commonly used to control whether a UI element is displayed?

  1. Data transform
  2. Validate rule
  3. Decision table
  4. When rule Correct answer.

Explanation

When rules return true or false and are referenced in visibility conditions and flows. Validate rules check data, decision tables return results based on rows, and data transforms modify pages.

Question 29Digital process automation

Which flow shape creates a task that appears in a user's worklist?

  1. Assignment Correct answer.
  2. Utility
  3. Decision
  4. Subprocess

Explanation

An assignment shape creates an assignment for a user or work queue and presents it in the appropriate worklist. A subprocess calls another flow, a decision branches based on conditions, and a utility performs automated processing.

Question 30Digital process automation

Which rule type defines a reusable portion of a user interface, such as a set of related fields?

  1. Harness
  2. Section Correct answer.
  3. Portal
  4. Flow action

Explanation

Sections are reusable UI rules that can be included in harnesses and flow actions. A harness defines the overall page frame, a flow action defines assignment processing, and a portal defines the user's landing experience.

Question 31Digital process automation

Which case feature allows users to upload and associate documents with a case?

  1. Pulse
  2. Attachment Correct answer.
  3. Tag
  4. Correspondence

Explanation

Attachments store files linked to a case and make them available to users processing the case. Pulse is a social feed, tags are keywords, and correspondence generates email content.

Question 32Digital process automation

Which rule type runs a background task at a specified time or recurring interval?

  1. Data page
  2. Queue processor
  3. Job scheduler Correct answer.
  4. Activity

Explanation

Job schedulers trigger background tasks on a defined schedule or interval. Queue processors handle queued items asynchronously, activities are procedural rules, and data pages load data.

Question 33Digital process automation

Which rule type is used to call an external REST service from a Pega application?

  1. Service REST
  2. Connect REST Correct answer.
  3. Data transform
  4. Connect SOAP

Explanation

Connect REST is an outbound integration rule that invokes an external REST API. Service REST exposes Pega as an API, Connect SOAP calls SOAP services, and data transforms manipulate page data.

Question 34Digital process automation

Which case life cycle element can be configured with entry criteria that must be satisfied before the case enters it?

  1. Stage Correct answer.
  2. Step
  3. Process
  4. Assignment

Explanation

Stages are major phases of a case life cycle and can define entry criteria that gate transition into the stage. Processes group steps, steps are individual tasks, and assignments are user tasks.

Question 35Digital process automation

To route an assignment only to operators who possess a particular skill, what must be configured on the assignment?

  1. A resolution status
  2. A required skill Correct answer.
  3. A service level
  4. A work queue

Explanation

Skill-based routing matches assignments to operators whose skill records include the required skill. Work queues are destinations, service levels set deadlines, and resolution statuses close cases.

Question 36Digital process automation

Which value determines the relative priority of assignments in an operator's worklist?

  1. Urgency Correct answer.
  2. Deadline interval
  3. Goal interval
  4. Service level

Explanation

Urgency is a numeric value used to order assignments in worklists, with higher urgency appearing first. Goal and deadline intervals are SLA thresholds, and a service level is the overall SLA rule.

Question 37Digital process automation

Which rule type represents a decision as a branching hierarchy of conditions?

  1. When rule
  2. Map value
  3. Decision tree Correct answer.
  4. Decision table

Explanation

Decision trees evaluate conditions in a tree structure with branches that lead to results. Decision tables use rows, map values translate values, and when rules return Boolean values.

Question 38Digital process automation

Which rule type is a procedural sequence of steps that can be called from flows and data transforms?

  1. Activity Correct answer.
  2. Section
  3. Job scheduler
  4. Decision table

Explanation

Activities contain ordered steps and can be invoked by other rules such as flows and data transforms. Sections are UI rules, decision tables evaluate conditions, and job schedulers run timed tasks.

Question 39Digital process automation

Which rule type exposes Pega case processing as an API for external applications?

  1. Data page
  2. Service REST Correct answer.
  3. Connect SOAP
  4. Connect REST

Explanation

Service REST defines an inbound API endpoint that external systems call to invoke Pega processing. Connect REST and Connect SOAP are outbound integrations, and a data page loads data.

Question 40Digital process automation

Which layout automatically arranges fields in a responsive grid that adapts to screen size?

  1. Section
  2. Dynamic layout Correct answer.
  3. Harness
  4. Repeating grid

Explanation

Dynamic layouts use responsive columns that adjust to the available screen width. Repeating grids display lists, a harness frames the page, and a section is a reusable UI container.

Question 41Digital process automation

Which rule defines the form and post-processing for a user assignment?

  1. Section
  2. Flow action Correct answer.
  3. Activity
  4. Harness

Explanation

A flow action specifies the UI and processing that occur when a user completes an assignment. Sections are UI fragments, a harness frames the page, and activities are procedural rules.

Question 42Digital process automation

Which rule type runs validation logic when a form is submitted?

  1. Edit validate
  2. When
  3. Validate Correct answer.
  4. Declare expression

Explanation

Validate rules check property values when a form is submitted and can validate multiple fields together. Edit validate checks a single property during entry, when rules return Boolean values, and declare expressions calculate values.

Question 43Digital process automation

Which background processing mechanism processes items from a queue asynchronously?

  1. Data transform
  2. Activity
  3. Queue processor Correct answer.
  4. Job scheduler

Explanation

Queue processors asynchronously process queued work items. Job schedulers trigger timed tasks, activities are procedural rules, and data transforms manipulate page data.

Question 44Digital process automation

Which feature moves resolved cases to separate storage to improve application performance?

  1. Revision management
  2. Delegation
  3. Case archiving Correct answer.
  4. Pulse

Explanation

Case archiving transfers resolved cases to an archive table or database and removes them from active processing. Revision management tracks case changes, delegation lets business users maintain rule values, and Pulse is a social feed.

Question 45Digital process automation

Which configuration defines a reusable data structure and its source for fields used on a case?

  1. Decision table
  2. Section
  3. Flow action
  4. Data type Correct answer.

Explanation

A data type defines properties and how records are sourced, such as from a REST service or local data. Sections are UI, flow actions process assignments, and decision tables evaluate conditions.

Question 46Digital process automation

Which inheritance type allows a class to inherit from a class outside its direct parent chain?

  1. Circumstancing
  2. Directed inheritance Correct answer.
  3. Rule resolution
  4. Pattern inheritance

Explanation

Directed inheritance explicitly names a parent class that may not be the immediate superclass in the class hierarchy. Pattern inheritance follows the class name hierarchy, rule resolution selects rules, and circumstancing specializes rules by context.

Question 47Digital process automation

Which feature prevents a parent case from resolving until a child case reaches a specified status?

  1. Stage transition
  2. Subprocess
  3. Case dependency Correct answer.
  4. Spin-off

Explanation

Case dependency links a parent case to a child case and holds parent resolution until the dependency condition is met. A stage transition moves stages, a spin-off starts an independent flow, and a subprocess calls a flow synchronously.

Question 48Digital process automation

Which feature allows business users to change rule values without modifying the rule itself?

  1. Circumstancing
  2. Localization
  3. Revision management
  4. Delegation Correct answer.

Explanation

Delegation exposes selected rule fields to business users so they can maintain values outside the rule form. Circumstancing creates context-specific rule versions, revision management tracks case changes, and localization translates text.

Question 49Digital process automation

Which rule type monitors a property on a page and runs an activity when that property changes during processing?

  1. Declare trigger
  2. Declare onchange Correct answer.
  3. Declare expression
  4. Validate

Explanation

Declare OnChange watches a property on a page and can run an activity when the value changes. Declare expressions calculate values, declare triggers react to committed database changes, and validate rules check form input.

Question 50Digital process automation

Which flow shape starts a separate flow that continues independently of the current flow?

  1. Spin-off Correct answer.
  2. Subprocess
  3. Assignment
  4. Decision

Explanation

A spin-off launches a new flow instance that runs independently of the current flow. A subprocess waits for the called flow, an assignment creates a user task, and a decision branches based on conditions.