ICDL Professional

DATA ANALYTICS -
FOUNDATION
Syllabus 1.0

Syllabus Document
Purpose
This document details the syllabus for the Data Analytics – Foundation module. The syllabus
describes, through learning outcomes, the knowledge and skills that a candidate for the Data
Analytics - Foundation module should possess. The syllabus also provides the basis for the theory
and practice-based test in this module.

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Although every care has been taken by ECDL Foundation in the preparation of this publication,
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© 2019-2023 ICDL Foundation Ref: ICDL Data Analytics - Foundation - Syllabus – V1.0 Page 2 of 5
 Data Analytics – Foundation Module

This module sets out essential knowledge and skills relating to data analytics concepts, statistical
analysis, data set preparation, data set summarisation and data visualization.

Module Goals

Successful candidates will be able to:

• Understand the key concepts relating to the application of data analytics in business.
• Understand and apply key statistical analysis concepts.
• Import data into a spreadsheet and prepare it for analysis using data cleansing and filtering
techniques.
• Summarise data sets using pivot tables and pivot charts.
• Understand and apply data visualization techniques and tools.
• Create and share reports and dashboards in a data visualization tool.

CATEGORY SKILL SET REF. TASK ITEM

1 Concepts and 1.1 Key Concepts 1.1.1 Identify the main types of data analytics:
Statistical Analysis descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive,
quantitative, qualitative.

1.1.2 Outline the business benefits of data analytics:

identifies patterns/trends, improves efficiency,
supports decision making, presents information
effectively.

1.1.3 Identify the main phases of data analysis:

business understanding, data understanding,
data preparation, modelling, evaluation,
deployment.

1.1.4 Recognise data protection considerations when

analysing data like: anonymise personal data if
possible, comply with applicable data protection
regulations.

1.2 Statistical Analysis 1.2.1 Describe measures of central tendency of a data

set: mean, median, mode.

1.2.2 Calculate the central tendency value of a data

set using a function: mean, median, mode.

1.2.3 Describe measures of variation of a data set:

quartiles, variance, range.

1.2.4 Calculate the variation of a data set: quartile,

variance, range.

2 Data Set Preparation 2.1 Importing, 2.1.1 Import data into a spreadsheet application: .csv
Shaping file, spreadsheet, website table, database table.

2.1.2 Remove duplicate data.

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 CATEGORY SKILL SET REF. TASK ITEM

2.1.3 Validate that given values belong to a reference

data set using the vlookup function.

2.1.4 Validate that given values belong to a specified

range using one or more if functions.

2.1.5 Extract values from a string using text functions:

left, right, len, mid, find.

2.2 Filtering 2.2.1 Format a data set as a built-in table.

2.2.2 Insert and use table slicers.

3 Data Set 3.1 Pivot Table Data 3.1.1 Change the method of aggregation for a value:
Summarisation Aggregation sum, average, count, minimum, maximum.

3.1.2 Display multiple aggregation values.

3.1.3 Display values as: % calculation, difference from

specific values, running total, ranked.

3.2 Pivot Table 3.2.1 Automatically, manually group data and rename
Frequency groups.
Analysis

3.2.2 Ungroup data.

3.3 Filtering Pivot 3.3.1 Use the report filter.

Tables

3.3.2 Insert and use slicers to filter single, multiple

pivot tables.

3.3.3 Insert and filter a timeline.

3.4 Using Pivot Charts 3.4.1 Insert a pivot chart for an existing pivot table.

3.4.2 Create a pivot chart from fields in a data set.

4 Data Visualization 4.1 Concepts and 4.1.1 Understand the concept of data visualization
Setup using reports and dashboards. Outline common
visualizations like: charts, key performance
indicators (KPIs), maps.

4.1.2 Recognise common data visualization tools and

their functions like: visualise data, publish and
share business intelligence.

4.1.3 Understand good design practice in reports and

dashboards like: clean and uncluttered layout,
descriptive titles, consistent fonts and colour, use
of colour for emphasis and understanding.

4.1.4 Import a data set from a spreadsheet into a data

visualization tool and save the file.

4.2 Visualization 4.2.1 Create tables in a report.

4.2.2 Visualise data as a chart: column, bar, line, pie.

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 CATEGORY SKILL SET REF. TASK ITEM

4.2.3 Apply, edit font and background conditional

formatting to show: high/low values, above/below
average values.

4.2.4 Apply, edit data bars.

4.2.5 Apply, edit visual level filters.

4.3 Publishing and 4.3.1 Publish a report.

Sharing

4.3.2 Create a dashboard.

4.3.3 Share a report, dashboard using a link. Share a

report to web.

© 2019-2023 ICDL Foundation Ref: ICDL Data Analytics – Foundation - Syllabus – V1.0 Page 5 of 5