Snowflake SnowPro Core Exam Questions 2025

Snowflake SnowPro Core Exam Questions 2025

The Snowflake SnowPro Core certification is a foundational credential that validates a professional’s knowledge of the Snowflake AI Data Cloud. As the platform evolves, the exam is regularly updated to include new features and best practices. While the core concepts remain constant, the latest version of the exam (as of mid-2025) has a renewed focus on recent platform innovations.

Key Concepts and Features Covered

The SnowPro Core exam validates a candidate’s understanding of a broad range of Snowflake functionalities. The most recent updates to the exam syllabus reflect Snowflake’s strategic direction, particularly in areas like AI, data governance, and improved developer tools. Key areas of focus for the latest exam include:

• Snowflake AI Data Cloud Architecture: This is the most heavily weighted domain. Candidates must have a deep understanding of Snowflake’s unique multi-cluster, shared-data architecture, which separates storage, compute, and cloud services. This includes knowledge of virtual warehouses, micro-partitions, data caching, and how they contribute to performance and scalability.
• Data Loading and Unloading: The exam covers various methods for moving data into and out of Snowflake. This includes using the COPY INTO command, stages (internal and external), file formats, and Snowpipe for continuous data ingestion.
• Performance and Cost Optimization: A critical skill for any Snowflake professional. The exam tests knowledge of how to monitor and optimize query performance using the Query Profile, how to manage virtual warehouse configurations (sizing, multi-cluster, scaling policies), and best practices for cost management.
• Data Security and Access Management: This domain covers Snowflake’s robust security model, including role-based access control (RBAC), user and role hierarchies, and various authentication methods like MFA, SSO, and key pair authentication. The exam also includes questions on data protection features like Time Travel, Fail-safe, and data encryption.
• Data Sharing and Governance: The exam assesses understanding of how to securely share data with other accounts using Secure Data Sharing, the Snowflake Marketplace, and Data Exchange. It also covers data governance features, including dynamic data masking and data access history.
• Newer Features: The latest exam incorporates knowledge of more recent and advanced platform capabilities, such as:
  • Snowpark: Understanding the purpose of Snowpark for developers to write code in their preferred languages (like Python) and execute it directly within Snowflake.
  • Streamlit in Snowflake: Knowledge of how Streamlit can be used to build and deploy interactive data applications directly on the Snowflake platform.
  • Unstructured Data Management: The exam now includes questions on how to handle unstructured data, including using directory tables and SQL file functions.
  • Cortex: An understanding of Snowflake’s AI/ML services is becoming increasingly important for the SnowPro Core exam.

SnowPro Core Exam Details

• Format: The exam consists of multiple-choice and multiple-select questions.
• Duration: Candidates have 115 minutes to complete the exam.
• Number of Questions: 100 questions.
• Passing Score: The passing score is a scaled score of 750 out of 1000.
• Exam Price: ~$175 (USD).
• Delivery: Exams are computer-based and administered by Snowflake’s testing partner, Pearson VUE, in a proctored environment (online or in a test center).

Key Topics and their Weightage:

The exam is broken down into several domains, each with a specific weighting. While the exact percentages can fluctuate with exam updates, the general distribution is as follows:

• Snowflake AI Data Cloud Capabilities & Architecture: ~25%
• Account Security and Access Management: ~18%
• Performance Optimization Concepts: ~16%
• Data Loading and Unloading: ~12%
• Data Transformations: ~18%
• Data Protection and Data Sharing: ~12%

Tips for Preparation:

• Hands-on Experience: The best way to prepare is with hands-on experience using a free Snowflake trial account. This is essential for understanding the platform’s core concepts in a practical way.
• Official Documentation: Snowflake’s official documentation is the most reliable and up-to-date resource.
• Snowflake University: The “SnowPro Core Certification Preparation Course” and the “Level Up” series are excellent resources for exam preparation.
• Practice Exams: Take practice exams to familiarize yourself with the question format and identify areas where you need more study.