Do you need to learn SQL?

SQL Practice Problems is the most practical real world SQL training available anywhere.

Bring your SQL skills to the next level with real-world practice problems

It's easy to find information on SQL online. A simple search will overwhelm you with an avalanche of information.

Here’s what’s much harder to find. Challenging, well-designed problems.Problems that will take you, one small step at a time, from beginner level, basic SQL all the way to advanced SQL.SQL Practice Problems walks you through challenging, unique, and fun problems.With problems like these, you can actually enjoy learning SQL! It has the real-life practice problems you need, clearly presented, easily paced, with hints if you want them.

How can you get a job involving data, if you don’t have experience working with data?

When I worked at Expedia, I regularly interviewed people for jobs as database developers and data engineers. And I ran into an interesting situation. Applicants were asked to rank themselves on their SQL knowledge, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest (SQL expert).Most applicants rated themselves at 9 or 10. In other words, they were experts. However, when I asked them to solve data problems by writing SQL, they couldn’t do it! And these weren’t hard problems—they were just a step above beginner level.

Why couldn't they solve problems?

The applicants were intelligent people, who had studied hard and had “book knowledge” on databases and SQL.But when they were presented with a real-world problem, they had a very hard time. They just didn’t have the experience they needed to figure out how to handle a data problem.It’s a “which came first: the chicken or the egg?” issue. In other words, it’s hard to get a data related job unless you have experience with SQL and other data tools. And it’s hard to get that experience unless you have the job.

This is one of the top few computer books that I have ever read (and I've read hundreds)! It has been a pleasure to work through. The problems are carefully thought out, and clearly expressed. I couldn't be more pleased with this book!

— Jaz C.

Who should buy SQL Practice Problems?

  • Data analysts who need to come up to speed on SQL

  • Software developers who need to learn how to write accurate, efficient SQL

  • People interviewing for jobs where they will be asked to write Select queries

  • Data scientists and data engineers who don’t yet have years of experience with SQL

  • Anyone who wants to upgrade their SQL knowledge

  • Anyone who needs to make sense of massive amounts of data, search for patterns and solve problems

I took a SQL course online but it was very generic, and there were no challenging problems to solve. This is exactly what I needed to get some more practice with SQL.
I skipped the introductory problems. I went right into the intermediate problems. Tried not to use the hints, but ended up using them a few times. The answers and explanations are concise, and get right to the point. Very practical. I have a lot more confidence writing SQL at work now

— A.C.

30 Days Money Back Guarantee

SQL Practice Problems comes with a 100% guarantee. It is packed with valuable and challenging problems that will develop your skills with data and SQL. However, if you decide it's not for you, just let me know. I'll refund your payment within 30 days of purchase.

How important is real-life, hands-on problem solving?

You can watch videos online that will walk you through various aspects of databases, and SQL. And you can read up on SQL syntax and keywords, and review sample code.But...You can do all of that, without absorbing much at all. Without absorbing the knowledge that will allow you to solve new problems on the job.To really absorb and be able to apply your learning, you need to do real-world problems. Being presented with a SQL problem, and working through that problem (with hints, if necessary) will help you understand and remember concepts and principles like nothing else.

Got this book for more practical examples to apply SQL in the real world, and this book is amazing! It guides you through very easy examples and gradually challenges you to solve more challenging problems. I will highly recommend this book to people that are starting in SQL or looking to apply SQL in more realistic, day-to-day business problems.

— P.N.

Start Learning Now: Choose The Package That's Right For You

Basic

  • SQL Practice Problems: 57 beginning, intermediate, and advanced challenges for you to solve using a “learn-by-doing” approach (using Microsoft SQL Server)

  • Step-by-step video to walk you through practice database setup

  • “No Hints” version of problems

  • Email support for any issues

Professional

  • SQL Practice Problems: 57 beginning, intermediate, and advanced challenges for you to solve using a “learn-by-doing” approach (using Microsoft SQL Server)

  • Step-by-step video to walk you through practice database setup

  • “No Hints” version of problems

  • Email support for any issues

  • More SQL Practice Problems: an additional 40 intermediate and advanced challenges for you to solve using a “learn-by-doing” approach

  • MySQL version of SQL Practice Problems and More SQL Practice Problems

  • Free updates forever

SQL Practice Problems comes with a 100% guarantee. It's packed with valuable and challenging problems that will develop your skills with data and SQL. However, if you decide it's not for you, just let me know. I'll refund your payment within 30 days of purchase.

This is THE book to turn to if you want to improve your SQL skills. I've been using SQL for 15 years and still found this book to be of great help. I was interviewing for a new position recently and had trouble answering some complicated questions on the spot.
Every type of question asked at my interview was in this book. Now I practice the Intermediate and Advanced problems once a week and am able to solve these within seconds.

— S. Anderson

A fantastic book for those who want to get real hands-on experience with SQL. As the book suggests, you can only learn so much by viewing tutorials - actually grasping the concepts can only be done by doing problems. I wish there were more books like this! Sylvia, please make others like this!

— Agosh

Probably the most useful technical book I've used! Challenging problems with appropriate hints - use as needed. She should be writing other books.

— A.J.

Great book. Love the practice problems as I learn better by doing vs. reading.

— Denise C.

This volume does exactly what it describes--provide practical and challenging problems to solve in SQL Server. No fanfare, no extra words, just straightforward questions/problems that need answers. It’s refreshing to see someone write a volume such as this, that has a really practical side—real-life problems for real-life solutions.

— John T.

I started a SQL study course with Coursera, however found it very confusing and not that similar to what I might see in the real world. I found your book way more challenging for me and liked the real life exercises. Really liked the book!

— Tinti

I am starting from scratch, all self-taught so far in SQL, and was picking up the syntax and wording, but I could not find anything to give me real world application and scenarios. This book changed that! Great book, great problems, really makes you think, and still offers guidance!

— Molly G.

How important is real-life, hands-on problem solving?

You can watch videos online that will walk you through various aspects of databases, and SQL. And you can read up on SQL syntax and keywords, and review sample code.But...You can do all of that, without absorbing much at all. Without absorbing the knowledge that will allow you to solve new problems on the job.To really absorb and be able to apply your learning, you need to do real-world problems. Being presented with a SQL problem, and working through that problem (with hints, if necessary) will help you understand and remember concepts and principles like nothing else.

Great book for any level! Straight to the point with excellent explanation. Questions start you off at beginner level and get more challenging towards the end. I was hoping for more after I reached the end. Her approach gets you started without any nonsense. I highly recommend this book and it should be on every data analyst's shelf (beginner to advanced levels).

— Arnold

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • Will my work pay for this?
    Ask your manager. My guess is that the answer will be a big “YES”. I have yet to hear from a customer who asked to have the cost of SQL Practice Problems covered at their workplace, and was denied. The return on investment for training in SQL is extremely high, so it makes sense for companies to pay for it.

  • Can I see a few sample practice problems, to see if I like the format?
    No problem! Click to download a PDF file with 6 sample problems. These will give you a good idea of exactly how the practice problems are structured.

  • Is my credit card safe with you?
    Your credit card isn’t stored on SQLPracticeProblems at all. I use a processor Gumroad.com both for delivery, and payment processing. They have the very highest standards for credit card security and privacy. For more details, see safe buying on Gumroad.

  • Should I buy the Professional or the Basic package?
    The Professional package includes More SQL Practice Problems, an additional set of 40 completely new problems. It also includes a version targeted for MySQL (which you’ll need if you’re running on a Mac).
    However, if budget is an issue, I recommend getting the Basic package of SQL Practice Problems. By working through the problems, you’ll gain very valuable skills in working with SQL and data—skills that you’ll be able to use in your job, or to get a new job.

  • Can I upgrade from the Basic package to the Professional Package by just paying the difference?
    Yes, you can. There's a coupon code in the Basic package that let's you do that.

  • What if SQL Practice Problems doesn’t work for me?
    If you’re not happy with SQL Practice Problems—if you feel like you haven’t gotten your money’s worth, or it’s over your head—then I’m happy to offer a full refund. See the Money Back Guarantee section for details.

  • What DBMS (Database Management System) is used for the practice database?
    The Basic and Professional packages can use any recent version of Microsoft SQL Server, including 2019. If you buy the Professional package, it also comes with a MySQL edition. The MySQL edition includes a setup script that works on MySQL version 8, as well as practice problems and answers customized for MySQL.

  • I saw this book on Amazon as well. What does the Amazon version get me?
    The book on Amazon comes with the main problem set, and no support. It's a more limited version of the Basic package. If you buy it on Amazon, there's a coupon code in it for 50% off the Professional package, should you want to upgrade.

  • Can I run SQL Practice Problems on a Mac?
    If you'd like to use SQL Practice Problems on a Mac, you'll need to purchase the Professional package. The Professional package includes the MySQL edition (as well as other features, including an additional problem set). MySQL can be installed on the Macintosh. SQL Server can not be installed on a Mac (unless you're willing to do some additional technical work, search online for "installing SQL Server on a Mac" for more details).

  • I have a question that's not on this list!
    No problem! Send me an email at sylvia@sqlpracticeproblems.com and let's talk.