CVA Documentation Review & Data Validation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A verification agent is cross-referencing an applicant's education transcript. The graduation year on the transcript is two years later than stated on the application. What should the agent do?
- Accept the transcript date as correct and update the file
- Note the discrepancy, document both dates, and flag for adjudication (Correct answer)
- Reject the application immediately
- Contact the school to alter the transcript
Correct answer: Note the discrepancy, document both dates, and flag for adjudication
Discrepancies must be documented and flagged for adjudication; the agent does not independently resolve conflicting data.
Question 2: Which characteristic distinguishes a primary source from a secondary source in document verification?
- Primary sources are always electronic; secondary sources are paper
- Primary sources originate from the issuing authority; secondary sources are reproductions or summaries (Correct answer)
- Primary sources require notarization; secondary sources do not
- Primary sources are older documents; secondary sources are recent ones
Correct answer: Primary sources originate from the issuing authority; secondary sources are reproductions or summaries
A primary source is produced directly by the issuing authority, while a secondary source is a copy, summary, or derivative of the original.
Question 3: In data validation, a 'referential integrity check' ensures that:
- All numeric values are within acceptable ranges
- A foreign key in one table corresponds to a valid record in the referenced table (Correct answer)
- Document file formats meet submission standards
- Duplicate entries are removed from a dataset
Correct answer: A foreign key in one table corresponds to a valid record in the referenced table
Referential integrity confirms that linked records across tables or systems actually exist and are consistent.
Question 4: An applicant's Social Security Number fails an SSN Verification Service (SSNVS) check. What does this most commonly indicate?
- The SSN was issued in a different state than the applicant claims
- The name or SSN does not match Social Security Administration records (Correct answer)
- The SSN belongs to a deceased individual
- The SSN was recently issued and not yet in the system
Correct answer: The name or SSN does not match Social Security Administration records
SSNVS returns a mismatch when the submitted name and SSN combination does not correspond to SSA records.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'data normalization' in the context of record verification?
- Encrypting sensitive fields before storage
- Standardizing data formats (e.g., date, phone, name) for consistent comparison (Correct answer)
- Removing outlier records from a dataset
- Confirming that all required fields are populated
Correct answer: Standardizing data formats (e.g., date, phone, name) for consistent comparison
Normalization converts varied formats into a consistent standard so records can be accurately compared across sources.
Question 6: A lease agreement submitted for address verification is undated. A CVA should:
- Accept it if the address matches other documents
- Reject it and request a dated, executed copy or alternative proof of address (Correct answer)
- Add today's date and initial it
- Verify the landlord's signature instead of the date
Correct answer: Reject it and request a dated, executed copy or alternative proof of address
An undated lease cannot establish the period of residency, making it insufficient for address verification purposes.
Question 7: When validating structured data against a schema, a field marked 'NOT NULL' that contains an empty string should be treated as:
- Valid, because an empty string is technically a string value
- Invalid, because an empty string does not satisfy a NOT NULL requirement for meaningful data (Correct answer)
- Valid only if the field is optional in the UI
- Invalid only if the field is a primary key
Correct answer: Invalid, because an empty string does not satisfy a NOT NULL requirement for meaningful data
A NOT NULL constraint requires a meaningful value; an empty string is functionally equivalent to null for verification purposes.
CVA Documentation Review & Data Validation 3
A verification agent is cross-referencing an applicant's education transcript.
The graduation year on the transcript is two years later than stated on the application.
What should the agent do?