DMC Practice Test

The Data Modeling Certification (DMC) from Technics Publications is taken by people who already work with data models and want a credential that shows it. This page lists our free practice sets by topic, explains the exam format and fee, works through sample questions with full explanations, and suggests a way to prepare.

DMC Exam at a Glance

What changed for DMC in 2026

• Oct 27, 2026: Exam fee changed to $299 (previously $299 exam fee).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Delivery changed to Online, with a live proctor through Zoom video (previously Online, with a live proctor over Zoom).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Score release changed to Certificate immediately after passing; LinkedIn badge within 24 hours (previously Certificate immediately; LinkedIn badge within 24 hours).^[1]
• Oct 27, 2026: Retake policy changed to Second attempt permitted between 3 and 5 weeks later (previously One second attempt 3–5 weeks later).^[1]

What the DMC is and how it works

According to Technics Publications, “The 100-question multiple-choice DMC exam requires a passing score of 85, restricts the time to 90 minutes (120 minutes if English is your second language), and spans 100 categories across these ten areas of expertise:”^[1]

The DMC is offered by Technics Publications. It is delivered online, and a live proctor watches through Zoom video for the length of the exam. The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions, and the passing score is 85. The time limit is 90 minutes, or 120 minutes if English is your second language.

The official page recommends data modeling experience. It also points to the data modeling books, conferences and courses listed on the Technics Publications site as preparation. There is no stated formal prerequisite in the information we checked, so confirm current requirements with the official source before you apply.

The exam fee is $299, and the official page says to contact Technics Publications about team discounts. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may take the exam again between 3 and 5 weeks later at 50% off the list price.

After a pass, you receive the DMC certificate immediately. Within 24 hours you receive an email with a personal LinkedIn badge and an invitation to join the DMC Hall of Fame.

Fees, rules and scheduling can change, so treat the official page at technicspub.com as the final word. Our practice questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions.

DMC content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official DMC content outline published by Technics Publications. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through DMC questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the key difference between a strong entity and a weak entity?

1. Strong entities have more attributes than weak entities
2. A weak entity cannot be uniquely identified without referencing its parent entity
3. Strong entities use surrogate keys; weak entities use natural keys
4. Weak entities cannot have relationships

Answer: B. A weak entity cannot be uniquely identified without referencing its parent entity

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a weak entity cannot be uniquely identified without referencing its parent entity. Its own attributes are not enough, so its identifier borrows from the owner entity.

The attribute-count option is wrong because the number of attributes has nothing to do with the strong or weak label. The surrogate versus natural key option is wrong because either kind of entity can use either kind of key. The option saying weak entities cannot have relationships is wrong because a weak entity always has at least the identifying relationship to its owner.

Rule to remember: strong or weak describes identification dependence, not size, key style or relationship ability.

Example 2

Question: What does referential integrity enforce in a relational data model?

1. That all attributes have non-NULL values
2. That a foreign key value must match an existing primary key value in the referenced table
3. That every table has at least one index
4. That queries return consistent results under concurrent access

Answer: B. That a foreign key value must match an existing primary key value in the referenced table

Explanation:

The correct answer is that a foreign key value must match an existing primary key value in the referenced table. This is what stops orphaned rows, such as an order that points to a customer who does not exist.

Requiring all attributes to be non-NULL describes a not-null constraint, which is a different rule. Requiring an index on every table is a performance or design choice, not integrity. Consistent results under concurrent access is about transactions and isolation, not about references between tables.

Rule to remember: referential integrity is about valid links between tables. Match each constraint to what it protects before choosing an answer.

Example 3

Question: What does 'data lineage' document?

1. The age of data records from creation to deletion
2. The origin of data and how it flows and transforms through systems over time
3. The genealogy of database schema versions
4. The list of users who accessed specific data

Answer: B. The origin of data and how it flows and transforms through systems over time

Explanation:

The correct answer is that data lineage documents the origin of data and how it flows and transforms through systems over time. It lets you trace a reported value back to its source and see each change along the way.

The record-age option confuses lineage with retention or data age. The schema genealogy option describes version history of the design, which is a separate concern from the data itself. The list-of-users option describes access auditing, which records who touched data, not where it came from.

Rule to remember: lineage answers where data came from and what happened to it. Access logs answer who used it.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official content areas and the Technics Publications reading list, and note which areas you rarely use in daily work. Those are your priority.

Take the DMC Data Modeling Fundamentals set first as a baseline, and write down every miss. For each miss, read the explanation, then find the matching topic in a book or course from the official list. Do not just retake the set until the answers feel familiar.

Next, work through the remaining sets one topic at a time: conceptual and logical design, physical modeling, normalization, quality and integrity, metadata, governance and standards, and the sets on techniques, tools and practical applications. After each set, redraw one small model from memory in the notation you find hardest.

Close to test day, use the full practice test in one sitting, with a timer set to the official limit that applies to you. Review slow questions as well as wrong ones, since time is limited. Check the official page for the current rules, the proctoring setup and your Zoom requirements well before your exam date.

Sources & last verified

1. Technics Publications — number of questions, time limit, exam fee, passing score (official source). “The 100-question multiple-choice DMC exam requires a passing score of 85, restricts the time to 90 minutes (120 minutes if English is your second language),…” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.