Data Modeling and Management21% of the exam

Standard reports, data views or tracking extracts

How to pick the retrieval tool from the data a customer needs: aggregate reports and Intelligence Reports, SQL over six months of data views, granular tracking extracts, the APIs, and what the 730-day retention policy leaves reachable.

Official exam objective
Given a customer scenario, demonstrate the ability to differentiate when to use standard reports, data views, and tracking extracts.

~7 min read · 20 practice questions ·

What the exam expects

  • Choose between Email Studio tracking, standard reports, Intelligence Reports, SQL on data views, a Tracking Extract and the APIs from the requirement's granularity, history, automation and skill.
  • Pick the system data view that holds a given email, journey or SMS fact, and know which views run only at the parent account.
  • Configure a Tracking Extract by outputs and Include options, and know its range, time zone and Enterprise-level rules.
  • Explain what the 730-day retention policy, the six-month data view window and Intelligence Reports history mean for a reporting plan.
  • Key terms: standard report (pre-made Analytics Builder report, mostly aggregate); data view (system table queried with SQL in Automation Studio); Tracking Extract (Data Extract type that writes granular tracking files); Intelligence Reports (free campaign-level dashboards compiled by an automation); retention window (730 days of engagement data).

Key facts

REST API and tracking
Detail
Data view and tracking extract data isn't available through REST
Standard reports
Detail
Pre-defined filters and output, mostly aggregate, schedulable
Data view window
Detail
Previous 6 months, not configurable
Intelligence Reports history
Detail
Up to 90 days at first activation, then 2 years
Engagement retention
Detail
730 days from June 16, 2025
Journey email join
Detail
JourneyActivityObjectID = TriggererSendDefinitionObjectID
Tracking Extract range
Detail
Rolling 1, 7, 30, 60 or 90 days; Specific up to 30 days
Multiple Data Extension List Data
Detail
Run the extract at the Enterprise level
Include GEO
Detail
Empty when the SAP was purchased through Salesforce
Contacts Without Channel Addresses
Detail
Extract type run in the parent business unit
Sources for this section (8)
  • Which rolling ranges can a Tracking Extract use?
  • When does Intelligence Reports refresh its data?
  • Why should a team open a support ticket quickly when Intelligence Reports data goes missing?
  • Which file format does a Tracking Extract produce when no format is entered?

The questions are free to read. Answers with their sources and self-grading are included with the pack.

Keep reading with the Marketing Cloud Engagement Consultant pack

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