Preparing for Tech Certi

8/11/2019 Preparing for Tech Certi

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The Ultimate Guide toPreparing for

Tech Certifications

What to expect with a typical exam.

Everything you need to know aboutpicking study materials.

Tips for studying effectively.

How to know when youre ready forthe exam.

Whats Inside


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The Ultimate Guide toPreparing for Tech Certifications

Contents

Understanding The Basics Of Tech Cert Exams . . . 3How to Read Certification Exam DescriptionsPreview the Types of Questions AskedNail Down the Details Before You Start to Study! Defining The Different Study Methods . . . . . . . . 6 Study Materials:What Youll Need And How To Pick The Best . . . . 6Seek Out the Best Learning Tools and Technical InfoPractice Makes Perfect: Learn by DoingCraft Custom Topic TreesLess-obvious Study Help:

Official Curriculum, Courses, Syllabi and MoreBuild an Arsenal of Information ResourcesStay Away from Brain Dumps! How To Study And Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Start with an Honest Self-Assessment to Establish PrioritiesBounce Between Questions to Study MaterialsBuild and Use a Home Practice LabGet Some Study Support How To Know If Youre Ready To Take The Exam . . 11Look for a Sponsors Assessment ToolsFind and Use Practice ExamsThe Changing Role of Assessment Over TimeWhen is it Time to Sign Up for an Exam? Countdown To Exam Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Two Weeks OutOne Week OutThe Night Before Testing

Testing Day:How To Schedule Your Day, What To Bring, etc . . . 14After the Exam Ends

Closing Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

About The Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Ultimate Guide To

Preparing ForTech Certifications


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Certification can play a crucial role in techprofessions, especially for people who work onthe IT side. It allows pros to demonstrate theirskills and simplifies the recruiting, retaining anddeveloping of staff.

For most professionals, earning a certificationincludes passing one or more exams. Our UltimateGuide seeks to explain these exams and provide araft of information, suggestions and advice on howto prepare for them.

Understanding The

Basics Of Cert ExamsThe biggest and most popular cert programs comefrom companies such as Cisco Systems, Microsoft andOracle, and from the Computer Technologies IndustryAssociation, better known as CompTIA. Theseprograms support millions of certified professionals.

Some certificationexams are availableonly throughtheir sponsoring

organizations, but themajority of them areadministered by thethree major testingcompanies: PearsonVUE, Prometric andCertiport.

Heres the skinny on cert exam content:

Old, familiar multiple-choice textquestions remain a mainstay.

Multiple-choice questions may takeonly a single answer, or they mayrequire two or more answers.

Careful reading of test questions isalways a good idea.

In scenario questions, candidates

must read through a scenario, whichis sometimes lengthy, then answerone or more questions about whattheyve read.

In exhibit-based questions, candidatesmust examine or operate a set ofcomputer screens or a simulation toperform a task or solve some problem.

In code-based questions, candidatesmust examine a snippet of code and

answer a question by choosing thecorrect outcome of the code when run.

Lab exams (aka performance-basedtests) present candidates with real

or simulated systems, then ask themto implement specific designs, findand fix various problems, or handletypical setup and configuration tasks.Candidates might also be challengedwith modifying code per a specificationto resolve an issue or add functionality.

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Certi cations help IT professionalsshowcase their skills and stand outfrom their peers.


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Understanding the scope of coverage, technicalcontent, behavior and operation of tools andsystems, and basic technologies and concepts areimportant to passing any cert exam. Throughout

our Ultimate Guide, you will learn how to find anduse tools and information to prepare yourself.Ultimately, this begins with exploring the contentof the exam(s) you must pass, then developing theknowledge needed to answer questions confidentlyand correctly.

How To Read CertificationExam DescriptionsTo get started, visit the exam sponsors web pagefor your cert. On most certification exam pages

youll find these elements (they may have variousnames or be organized in different ways):

Exam ID or Number: Use this unique identifier tosign up for an exam at a testing center (examples:70-687 (Microsoft), ADR-001 (CompTIA), or 1Z0-

803 (Oracle).

Exam Title: This is the full name of the exam, suchas Configuring Windows 8 (Microsoft 70-687),CompTIA Mobile App Security+ (ADR-001/

Android, IOS-001/iOS), or Java SE 7 Programmer I(Oracle 1Z0-803).

Exam Facts: These will include the number ofquestions, duration of exam, cost of exam andtest provider. When the sponsor handles examdelivery, you will also find test location and deliverydates (otherwise, that information comes fromthe test provider, whom youll also pay).

Overview: A one-paragraph description of examcontents and coverage.

Prerequisites: A list of prerequisite credentials orcertification exams.

Associated Certifications: A list of certificationcredentials to which the exam applies.

Registration: A link to a testing center or sign-uppage where you can register and pay for an examand schedule the exam date.

Training: Whether required orrecommended, sponsors providelinks to training classes that coverexam concepts and content in detail.

Objectives: Also called Exam Topics,Skills Measured or Common Bodyof Knowledge this lays out the subjectmatters on the exam. Objective domains

also include percentage values for the related portion of the overall

question bank.

Some exam sponsors includerecommended reading lists, links toonline documents and materials, and

sample exam questions (not entirepractice exams, but sample questionsthat convey coverage and level ofdifficulty). Some even provide links toonline certification or community siteswhere you can find questions from othercertification candidates. Youll be able toview answers or ask questions of your own.

As you prepare for any certification exam,you should first look at everything a sponsorprovides. See how they describe andexplain the exam, especially:

What it covers

The intended audience

Exam objectives

Prerequisites or otherqualification criteria

Learning how to understandthe exam description is a key

rst step.


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Beyond that, let your interest and familiarity with thesubject matter guide what you skim and what youread carefully. Make note of whats available so youcan return when you need more details later on. The

basic idea is to take some time to look around to seewhats available. The better you understand what theexam covers and the kinds of skills and knowledge itseeks to assess, the better youll be able to prepareto meet its requirements. This is just the beginning,though theres more to come!

Preview The Types OfQuestions AskedAs you begin digging into exam materials, youll findsample questions, sometimes in vendor or sponsor

materials, and often in study guides. Practice teststhat seek to prepare candidates to tackle the realthing are particularly useful. Its helpful to look forexam reviews from reliable sources. These provideintelligence above and beyond what exam sponsorsare willing to disclose about their exams, particularlywhen it comes to trick questions or complex subjects.

Get a sense of what kinds of questions the examincludes. Where scenario or exhibit-based questionsappear (as they do on many Microsoft exams), make

sure you identify the tools, consoles and utilities theyinclude, and make sure you know how to use themwisely. When taking performance-based or lab exams,its essential to acquire hands-on experience withsystems and software featured in the exam.

The idea is to master themechanics involved in dealingwith questions and producinganswers quickly. One importantaspect of exam preparation is

about learning and skills, but itsequally important to developenough speed and efficiencyto get through 100 questionsin 90 minutes (an all-too-typical task that means grindingthrough lots of material in ashort time).

Nail Down The DetailsBefore You Start To Study!Once you complete a survey of sponsormaterials and obtain some study

materials (and perhaps take a class), youmust dig into the exam objectives (orskills measures or whatever a sponsorcalls them) more deeply. This is whenyou start to decide what you shouldstudy and start lining up materials tomeet those study needs. This is howyou will build the skills and obtain theknowledge you need to take and passthe exam.

Its smart to print out and take notes onthe sponsors objectives to guide youtoward specific information and studymaterials. Many study guides makeexplicit reference to objectives to helpyou find and review relevant material,and keep track of areas where additionalstudy or practice might be warranted.

Balance what you learn from the examsponsor against what third parties (like

GoCertify.com, ITCertificationMaster.com and Pluralsights blog) have to say:Nobody can tell you everything. Themore viewpoints and reports you read,the better youll understand the exam

and be able to prioritizeyour studying.

Knowing what theexam covers will

help you prioritizeyour studies.


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Defining The DifferentStudy MethodsRemember, you must pass the exam(s) to earn thecert. There are many ways to acquire the skills andknowledge, but candidates follow (or jump between)two or three paths to IT certification:

Self-Study: Using a combination of online materials,practice tests, books and other materials, candidatesprepare themselves for an exam more or less on theirown. This is the most common path to certificationsthat lack explicit, mandatory training requirements.Typical self-study elements include longer studyguides, shorter Exam Cram summary books, practicetests, flashcards and online materials.

Instructor-Led Training (ILT): Numerous outletsfor ILT for IT certifications are available (the morepopular a credential is, the more outlets youll find).These involve live or virtual classroom attendance,

plus interaction with a knowledgeable instructor. ILTis the most expensive of the certification paths, butalso offers the best expectations of a successfulexam experience.

Online or video-based training: This approach strikesa balance between self-studys low cost and ILTsinstructor interaction. Lower-cost offerings involvelittle or no instructor interaction; higher-costofferings often include online office hours,mentoring services, or instructor interactionoutside a physical classroom.

No matter which of these paths you take towardcertification, some elements of self- study will figureinto your prep activities. Thus, many ILT and video-based classes provide students with books andpractice exams, in addition to live or recorded lecturematerials (and hands-on labs, where applicable).

Study Materials:What Youll Need AndHow To Pick The Best

Seek Out The Best LearningTools And Technical Info Self-study is an important part of

any of the paths youll take towardcertification.

Most exam sponsors offer vast collectionsof information to prospective cert candidates.This includes product documentation,how-tos, technical briefings, instructionalvideos, simulation and other resourcesdesigned to shed light on their products,platforms or services. You will also findstudy guides, technical books, Exam

Crams, flash cards, practice tests, trainingmaterials (which may be online, video orinstructor-led in a physical classroom),and various other tools to help you learnwhat you must know to pass.

Self-study is an important part ofany of the paths youll take towardcerti cation.


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Its essential to do your homework when selectingstudy materials. Read exam and book reviewsand search online forum postings to find the bestmaterials. After identifying the cream of this crop,

create a budget and buy what you can afford. Thebare minimum consists of a study guide, an ExamCram and one or more sets of practice tests. The costfor such a bare-bones buy is seldom more than $150,often less than that.

Practice Makes Perfect:Learn By DoingYou cant meet all the learning requirements for mostmodern certifications with only reading, studyingand pencil-and-paper (or computer-based) problem

solving. Many certs require hands-on interactionwith specific tools, utilities, consoles, systems orapplications.

As you research your exam requirements, its essentialto nail down the hands-on components for the skillsand knowledge you must acquire. You may need tofind a way to sit down in front of certain systems andsoftware to make this happen. This often involveswriting and testing code (for developer certifications),or installing, setting up, configuring, troubleshooting

and maintaining key systems and services (for otherIT certifications).

Modern virtualization technology makesit relatively easy to set up a home labon a capable notebook or desktop PC,where you can host the various clients,servers and infrastructure componentsyou might need. Other options includetaking classes that include computer ornetworking labs, or finding simulatorsand virtual labs online.

Craft Custom Topic TreesA topic tree takes a structured list oroutline of topics for an exam, alongwith tasks or activities that certcandidates must be able to perform,and strings them together in order.Some exam sponsors include thesethings as part of their exam info.Others imply them in their examobjectives or requirements. It maytake some time and effort to organizeinformation for your exam this way,but its worthwhile to work throughthis process. You wind up with anordered list of what you need to knowand are able to check things off as

you learn them. Its also a good ideato keep track of how your studiesand practice test questions map intothis topic tree. Over time, this willhelp you focus continuing study andpractice in the areas where its mostneeded and most likely to improveyour exam results.

Choosing the bestcombination ofstudy methods willhelp you ace theexam.


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Less Obvious Study Help:Official Curriculum, Courses,Syllabi And MoreOther great sources of insight into certification

exams might not be so obvious. Even thoughyou usually have to pay to take so-calledofficial curriculum classes from certificationsponsors or their training partners, you canusually get detailed course outlines from thosesame sources for free. Also, though its notalways true, many certifications may be thedeclared focus for some college classes, andother classes might be close enough that theymight as well be focused on a specific exam orcredential.

In fact, youll find that communitycolleges and undergraduate schools,and even graduate programs, routinelypost course outlines, syllabi and reading

lists for all courses offered. This meansif you can find a course that coversat least some of the entries in yourtopic tree, you can use the outlineor syllabus entries, and possibly alsoreading assignments, to provide usefulinformation(,) certification topics andconcepts.

Build An Arsenal OfInformation ResourcesIn searching for information online, dontoverlook recommendations and must-have items that appear in user forums,user groups or study groups aimed atyour chosen certification. If you can finda real or virtual study group of peoplepreparing for the same exam, you canthelp but benefit from their collective

wisdom and experience. The samegoes for mailing lists or user forumsfocused on certification preparation,and any lists of frequently asked

questions they might maintain.

You should also look for ratings,reviews and reactions to the followingkinds of cert prep materials to helpyou identify (and possibly, acquire)the best ones:

Study Guides: Full-length,comprehensive coverage of ITcertification exams. Numerous book

series focus on such content, such asMcGraw-Hills All-in-One series,Wileys Bible series, the Sybex StudyGuide and Mastering Series, andPearsons Cert Guide series. Also look

for official presses forcert programs, suchas Microsoft Press andOracle Press.

Exam Crams: A seriesof books from Pearsonthat provide direct,detailed coverage ofkey exam topics andconcepts, Exam Crams forgo background andgeneral teaching inexchange for focusedcoverage.

Practice Tests: Acollection of exam

questions designed tocover the same groundand interrogationapproaches as thereal thing. Becausethere are some shadyoperators out there,you should stick

There are a variety of online andof ine resources, so you can pickthe ones that are right for you.


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budgets might be strained by the$400-plus daily fee that ILT offeringscommonly cost, video-based trainingmakes a great alternative.

Magnificent Miscellany: Variousexams may generate special tools,specific training materials, and specialstudy aids or prep regimes. Find agood study group or cert-focusedwebsite, and youll learn about thisquickly and easily.

Stay Away FromBrain Dumps!By definition, a brain dump is awebsite or collection of informationthat seeks to provide verbatim accessto actual exam content. Becauseusing such material violates the examcontract to which all test-takers mustagree, these materials are dangerousand risky. Companies that sell suchmaterials are inherently fly-by-nightand offer little or no quality control,so you cant know how good or badthe info may be. Exam sponsorscan strip you of any and all of theircertifications and block you fromfuture participation in their certprograms if they find you using thesematerials. This can be professionalsuicide for IT professionals whose

jobs require certification, and can shutoff career growth for those who mightneed certification in order to advanceprofessionally.

to practice exam offerings from well-known andreputable providers only. This includes companiessuch as Transcender, Boson, MeasureUp and otherauthorized sponsor practice test providers. See the

Brain Dumps section for vendors to avoid. Flash Cards: A set of practice exam questions with

the questions on one side, and the answers on theother. These are a great way to drill for speed andaccuracy, and you can find commercial flash carddecks for the most popular exams or make yourown. Numerous apps for both iOS and Android areavailable for flash cards, and many have card decksfor specific cert exams already.

Hands-On Experience And Skills: Look for articles

or advice on what to buy for and how to builda home test lab to prep for the hands-on portionof your learning experience. Or look for reputableproviders of virtual lab time or simulators. Thismay involve buying software to run on your ownmachine, or gaining online access to somebodyelses. For developers, youll need access to theusual programming tools editors, compilers,interpreters, and/or an integrated developmentenvironment (IDE).

Classroom Or Online Training: As already indicated,there are situations where it makes sense to includeinstructor-led or video-based training to your certpreparation. First and foremost, it is imperative tofactor in training whenever a certification sponsor

requires it, and when youre venturing into a newarea of technical learning. In such circumstances,access to a well-qualified instructor is a benefit thatalmost cant be over- stated. And for those whose


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If youre not comfortable with theidea of an informal self-assessment,look for assessment tools from examsponsors, study guides or practicetests. These offer skills and tools thatwill tell you where you should focusyour preparation effort. They mayeven be more objective than a self-assessment. But if no such toolsare available, take a practice testearly and look very carefully at yourresults. This nearly always helpsidentify the topics, tools and areaswhere you must acquire furtherlearning or develop more skills beforetrying again.

If you can identify those areas in mostneed of attention, youll be able tofocus your efforts where theyll dothe most good. That doesnt meanyou can ignore everything else on theexam, however. It just means you will

devote most of your time and expendgreater effort on areas where youvegot the most work to do. As youprepare for another self-assessmentyou should also plan to take a day ortwo to brush up on those areas whereyou already feel prepared to tacklethe exam.

How do you know a brain dump when you seeone? Beware of offers that claim to be 100 percentaccurate, those that represent actual examcontent, or that offer a 100 percent money-back

guarantee if you dont pass an exam after usingthe material. As the old saying goes, If somethingis too good to be true, its probably neither terriblygood nor even close to true. Steer clear!

How To Study And PracticeOnce youve deciphered what you need to coverand have built a topic tree, its time to start thestudy and practice phase.

Start With An Honest Self-AssessmentTo Establish PrioritiesWhen youve researched exam objectives andconstructed the topic tree, sit down and workthrough that tree to assess your knowledge, skillsand experience. While youre at it, think carefullyabout how well you understand related subjects,

tools and so forth. For example, if an exam requiresyou to know when to use a message digest andwhen to use a hash value, you not only need tounderstand what those things are and how theywork, but why one might be better than the other incertain circumstances. Sometimes, to make yourselfcomfortable with subject details, you must begin byfamiliarizing yourself with the general backgroundand then working down to the detail level.

This helps you decide which areas you already

know and understand and which ones stillneed work before your exam. If you work withsomething on a regular basis, or have done so inthe past year or two, you may even be able to skipcertain topics. Before diving into the details, youllmostly be deciding which areas you can jump intodirectly, and which ones youll need to do somebackground study on first.

Practice tests and self-assessmentsare critical throughout the studyprocess.

Avoid brain dumps.They are risky and not reliable.


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You Should Reassess YourselfOn A Monthly BasisStudy guides and Exam Crams often provide

end-of-chapter review questions you can usefor interim assessments, along with one or twocomplete practice exams at the end of eachbook. If your exam tools let you focus questionson specific exam topics or objectives, use thatto assess your progress in these areas beforemoving from one area to another. If you cananswer most related questions correctly, youcan then move on to your next priority withsome confidence.

Bounce Between QuestionsTo Study MaterialsAfter youve surveyed everything at least onceand have gained at least modest proficiencyin all exam areas, you can use questions to guidefurther study. Though its tempting to correctmistakes by memorizing correct answers thenmoving to the next topic, the right thing to do isfigure whats behind them. If youre sufferingfrom a lack of background or familiarity, you canfix that by studying the subject matter to master

the basics, then return to cultivate the level ofunderstanding and familiarity that the examdemands. If you keep missing questions ona particular topic, thats a signal its time to pull

back and do some backgroundreading and studying, then recoverthe topic area, before usinganother set of practice questions toonce again see where you stand.

In practice, this means you bouncefrom questions to study materials,then back to questions again (andrepeat as many times as necessary).Sooner or later, youll get thingsstraightened out enough to trulyunderstand whats going on,and how to put your skills andknowledge to proper use.

Build And Use AHome Practice LabWhen theres a hands-on componentto a certification exam, nothing

beats access to a properly equippedlab. This is probably when itsmost important to find and followrecommendations from others whoveearned the credential youre seeking.

Time and money involved inassembling a test lab can besignificant. For example, the CiscoCertified Internetwork (CCIE) LabExam currently costs $1,500. It also

requires most test-takers to travelto one of only six locations in theworld to take it, so its not unusualfor candidates to spend $5-10Kputting a CCIE test lab together,with many also having to pay fora flight, meals and lodging as theytravel to take the test.


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On the other hand, most Microsoft labrequirements are more modest. One or twocomputers usually suffice to host all of theclient, server and infrastructure bits and pieces.Microsoft also makes enough 60-day evaluationversions of its software freely available thatout-of-pocket expenses arent too high. Itseldom costs more than $2,000 to assemble awell-provisioned MCSA or MCSE practice lab,even if you must buy a computer and pay forsome software tools. You can also rent a labfrom Rackspace, although with your own lab,you have the advantage of breaking it and thentrying to fix it, which is another great way tolearn.

Whatever expenses are involved, be sure toask around about how best to put your test labtogether. You can control expenses and makesure you have everything you need, as long asdo your homework!

Get Some Study Support

Most IT certifications especiallythe popular ones spawn varioususer and study organizations. Theyexist to help cert candidates getready for exams and provide eachother with mutual support, andthey enable recent cert achieversto share their knowledge. Theseresources are invaluable and verymuch worth seeking out.

User groups (such as the WindowsUsers Group Network or WUGNetand Java User Groups, or JUGs)almost always operate livechapters in major metro areas andfeature ongoing online and offlinestudy groups. The same goes forlocal chapters of professionalassociations and societies (suchas the International SystemsSecurity Association, or ISSA,

for information security topics).And even if you live too far froma physical chapter to attendmeetings or join a group, you canstill find ways to interact with peersand colleagues online. This can bethe best way to learn about studymaterials, information resourcesand other good stuff to help youget certified. Please dont overlookthis avenue to learning and skills

development.

Weigh the costs ofbuilding differentpractice labs.


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How To Know If YoureReady To Take The ExamThere are various tools to identify what youknow and where you fall short. Repeat theassessment process as often as you must untilyour typical score means passing the exam.

Look For A SponsorsAssessment ToolsBecause only a few exam sponsors offerassessment tools, youll most often have toimprovise your own. Even when they areavailable, youll be lucky to find more than oneyou can use and we recommend you accessat least three or four. When you do find them,though, be sure to make the most of them!

Find And Use Practice ExamsIn the absence of a sponsors assessment tool, acomplete practice test makes a good substitute.Three or four complete exams for practice shouldbe enough to get most cert candidates readyto take their exams. Most study guides includeone or two complete practice tests, and mostcommercial practice tests include two or three

complete question banks. For most people,two books and one commercial practice testwill be enough. This is particularly true becausemost cert prep books provide end-of- chaptermaterials that allow you to assess your readinesson a per-topic basis.

Its possible that you might need to buy asecond set of practice tests from a differentvendor, should your books and first set proveinsufficient to get your scores to the right

level. Dont stress if this proves necessary; theadditional $50 - $150 this will cost is well worthit. Its cheaper and easier than having to retake acert exam.

The Changing Role OfAssessment Over TimeAt the beginning of the cert prepprocess the primary purpose of

assessment is to identify majortopics or subject areas where youneed to invest significant time andeffort to make yourself exam-ready.As you fill in those gaps, one ortwo additional assessments willhelp you zero in on areas wheremore practice is needed. Normally,by the fourth or fifth time you takea complete practice test, youll findyourself ready to head to the test

center. Only when certain areas stillshow significant weakness will youneed to continue to hit the booksand the practice lab.

When Is It Time To Sign UpFor An Exam?When you take a practice exam andbeat the passing score by 5 - 10percent, youre ready to go after thereal thing. This extra cushion gives

Assessments help youevaluate your strengths andweaknesses.


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you room to cover the typical mistakes and errorsof strategy and judgment that sometimes occurin the testing center. Because these can have ameasurable negative impact on exam scores,

youre simply taking out a bit of insurance tomake sure that you will pass, even when youreimpacted by nerves and adrenaline. Dont stopstudying or practicing once youve booked theexam, though. You need to keep your hand in tostay sharp for your rendezvous with destiny. Inthe final section of this Ultimate Guide, youll learnhow to finish your exam prep, right until you sitdown in your seat at the testing center.

Countdown To Exam DayThe following reminders and activities for the twoweeks before your exam will help you feel and testyour best. This means you should schedule yourcert exams no sooner than two weeks out fromthe day you decide youre ready.

Two Weeks OutRevisit your exam objectives, your topictree and your most recent set of examresults. For questions that you missed, rereadrelevant materials to improve your understanding,or hit the practice lab to sharpen your skills. Spendhalf an hour to an hour each day working throughmaterials, reading and practicing as necessary.

One Week OutHeres a checklist of tasks to complete duringthis week. Some may require prime-time action,so be prepared to shift work schedules aroundto give yourself the time youll need:

Locate the test center: Goonline and get directions to thetest center. Use a mapping toolto get typical travel times to your

destination. Plop the location oraddress info into your smartphoneor GPS. Add 15 - 30 minutes tothe time estimate to make sureyoure not late (more if you haveto drive during rush hour).

Double-check your testappointment: Log onto the testcenter website to check yourappointment or call to confirmthe date and time when youllbe taking the exam. If somethingis wonky, finding out a week inadvance should give you time toadjust or even reschedule.

Round up necessary ID andpaperwork: Most test centers

want you to provide one or twophoto IDs, along with a credit cardor other form of identification.Youll want to print out a copy

of your test reservation or aconfirmation form to take with

you as well.

Practice time management: Takeanother complete practice test tohelp you prepare for the exam.This time, youre testing againstthe clock, and want to makesure you can get through enoughquestions in the allotted timeto achieve a passing score. Skipquestions you can return to laterand mark questions youd like toreview or rethink.

The day youve prepared for ishere. Know what to expect soyoure not caught off guard.

Set priorities for the week leadingup to the exam so youre ready ontest day.


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Build yourself a cram sheet: Ideally, youll dothis two days before the exam. This is whenyou write down all the stuff youll need torecall, and repeat the exercise until you

can put the whole thing on paper in 15 - 30minutes.

The Night Before TestingWe have numerous suggestions on how youshould spend the night before your exam. Someactivities can be put off until the next morning ifyour exam is scheduled for the afternoon. Hereswhats on your agenda for that time period:

Take a last long look at prep materials andone final bone-up (read materials, run hands-

on exercises) for any problem areas.

Write out your cram sheet, and be sure you canget everything down on paper in 30 minutes orless. Save this cram sheet (or your master copy)to review tomorrow morning.

Double-check your exam confirmation. Makesure you know when youre leaving, whereyoure going, and what time you need to bethere (aim to arrive at least 15 minutes early).

Get a good nights sleep. The best way to takeany exam is well-rested. Be sure to scheduleeight or nine hours in bed the night before,even if you normally sleep less than that. Besure to set your alarm correctly if you need toalter your usual wake-up routine to get to thetesting center.

Testing Day: How ToSchedule Your Day,What To Bring, etc.On test day, youll want to: Plan a meal or a snack before

you hit the testing center. Onmost days, breakfast may be yourmost important meal, but makingsure to put something in yourstomach an hour or two ahead ofleaving for the testing center isequally important today.

Review your cram sheet before

you leave. One final chance tocommit things to memory letsyou make sure you can emit yourcram sheet at the testing centerwith perfect accuracy.

Leave a little early. Youveplanned to get there 15 minutesearly. See if you can beat yourgoal by 10 minutes, and makesure youve got your paperworkready (IDs assembled anda printed copy of your examconfirmation to take along).

While youre waiting for your timeslot, review the cram sheet. Itstoo late to learn anything new, butthis will give you something tothink about while youre waiting.

During practice minutes, writedown your cram sheet. When yousit down at your test station, youhave half an hour to practice usingthe test engine before instructingthe software to begin your actualexam. Use as much of this time asyou need to output your cramsheet. Youre allowed to take apencil and a single sheet of paperwith you to your test station.


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Use this practice time to write everything downon your cram sheet. You can start the actualtest as soon as youre done, or you can take afew minutes to calm your nerves before you

begin. Good luck!

Bring a notebook and a pen or pencil alongwith you. You can leave these items in yourcar, or in a travel bag you take along withyou (youll probably need one for your phone).You may need these items later.

After The Exam EndsYou should receive test results for mostexams pretty soon after you finish. If you pass,

congratulations! Youll soon be able to startwork on your next exam. If youve failed, reviewany materials the test engine shows you aboutyour trouble areas on the exam. If you can geta print-out of that information, be sure to takeit home with you. If not, commit as much of theinformation to memory as possible, then writeit down in the notebook youve brought alongwith you in the test center lobby before youleave. Youll need this information to guide yournext round of study as you prepare to retake

your exam. Youll probably need to buy anotherset of practice exams as well, unless youvealready got two or more such exams ready forupcoming rounds of self-assessment. Ideally,dont wait too long (no more than a month) toschedule your next exam, especially if you nearlypassed. You dont want to start forgetting whatyouve already learned.

CLOSING REMARKSIf youve prepped as we suggested,your odds of passing the examare pretty high. If you dont pass,

some training providers offer examguarantees to their students. Thismeans if you take one of theircert courses, but fail an examfor the related credential, theymay pay for a retake. Be sure youunderstand how to request suchpayment before you make a claim.In the same vein, some examsponsors work with test centeroperators to permit candidates

to request and use a retake onexams (or exam vouchers). Youmust usually request a specialcode when you pay for the initialexam (or voucher). For example,Microsoft occasionally offers whatit calls a Second Shot program.Candidates who sign up obtain acode they can use with the testcenter company to request a freeretake. Other sponsors occasionallydo this too.

Prepping for a cert exam takestime and involves real effort. Nomatter what happens, dont getdiscouraged! If you fully engagein the process, and follow asmany of our recommendations aspossible, you can and ultimatelywill succeed in your quest for ITcertification.

If you dont pass on the rst try, know your retakeoptions and dont get discouraged!

Ed Tittel is a 30-plus-year veteran of the IT industry whos worked as a software developer, aproject manager, a networking consultant and a technical trainer. Hes also the author of morethan 100 computing books, and is perhaps best known for creating the Exam Cram series in1997. Today, Ed still writes the occasional book, blogs regularly for TechTarget (Windows En-terprise Desktop), Toms IT Pro, and Pearson IT Certification, and writes articles for a variety ofwebsites. Visit his website at www.edtittel.com for more information.

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