According to P.J. Connolly, senior analyst for InfoWorld Magazine,
"Certificates provide employers a way to assess a person's technical
ability, and let's face it, that's usually the most important
qualification when you're hiring technical staff."
Connolly echoes the sentiment of many industry watchers. You want to
maximize your marketability, so you've decided to take a
certification exam.
Unfortunately, you're getting flashbacks of the all-night cramming
sessions you endured in high school and college. You might be asking
yourself: How much do I really have to study? Do I need to attend a
special "boot camp" to get prepared? How are the tests administered?
When will I get my test results? What happens if I don't pass the
test?
This article discusses how to overcome your exam-taking fears.
Included are best practices to help you better prepare for -- and
ultimately pass -- a certification exam. I'm going to use security
certifications as examples, but these tips are applicable to any
certification exam.
Before we discuss the exam-taking specifics, let's talk about the
obstacles, real or perceived, that prevent many people from taking
and passing exams:
Let's address how you can avoid some of these perceived obstacles.
The following list details some common mistakes test-takers make. By
avoiding them, you should feel more prepared.
Mistake #1: Lack of preparation
Here is a statement worth repeating: Being prepared is the key to
passing the test. It is essential not only to know the material, but
also to know that you know it. Even if you're an "expert" in the
certification subject, it's always a good idea to review the material
to make sure you have all the bases covered. Tests like the CISSP
touch on many different areas. In all likelihood, you're not an
expert in all 10 CISSP domains. Depending on your level of expertise
and experience, a good review book may be all you need. Some,
however, need a
To continue reading for free, register below or login
To read more you must become a member of SearchWinDevelopment.com
more structured learning process, perhaps one defined
by seminars or specialized weeklong classes. The approach I prefer is
to first concentrate on those areas I've identified as weak. Then I
reinforce my knowledge in the areas where I feel stronger.
This approach applies only if you have enough time to prepare. If you
wait until the last minute, then many recommend the inverse of the
above approach. If your time is limited, you might want to make sure
you really know your strong subjects. Time and again, I hear from
people who wait until the last minute and concentrate on studying
their weak areas. When they get their results, they're amazed at
having done so poorly on the subjects they thought they knew the
best.
According to Dan Petitt, CISSP, who teaches CISSP courses in San
Diego, "The biggest problem students have with the CISSP test is the
vast number of terms that need to be memorized." Some people might
have a generic understanding of the topic but lack the in-depth
knowledge of key concepts.
Mistake #2: Not understanding the scope of the test
If you're evaluating different certification tests on the same
subject, it's important to understand the approach each test takes
with respect to the subject. Some tests are general while others are
more technical. For instance, the CISSP test covers many subjects and
requires a general understanding of information security concepts.
It's also a vendor-neutral test. The Cisco or Checkpoint security
tests, on the other hand, are vendor-specific and require intimate
knowledge of the hardware.
Mistake #3: Reading test questions too quickly
Truth be told, I'm a bad test-taker. My problem is that I try to read
too much into the question. I also tend to read the question too
quickly and not fully understand what the question is asking. The key
here is that you should take your time and make sure you understand
the question. Pay attention to key words such as "least," "most" and
"not." Sometimes more than one answer looks correct. In the CISSP
test, you're asked for the "best" answer. In order to get better at
understanding the questions, you should answer as many practice
questions as possible. Many Web sites and books provide sample tests.
The key is to practice, practice and practice some more.
Mistake #4: Relying on just one study book
Mistake #5: Relying on too many study books
This is an interesting situation, open to extensive debate. I find
that many people look for a one-book solution to prepare for a test.
There's really no clear-cut answer to this problem. It's a matter of
how much support you need. Some people might need only one good
reference book; others need multiple books. The problem with having
one book is that some areas might not be covered in the detail you
need. The problem with having multiple study books is that they might
have different definitions for the same topic. Then the dilemma
becomes: which book is correct? I've found that getting involved with
a study group -- either in person or online -- helps, as it allows
you to ask questions. In the end, it's up to you to arrive at the
best answer.
According to Petitt, "The best method [for learning] the material
depends on the individual's learning style. Some people do well just
reading the material and then applying the knowledge to the work
environment. Others learn better though auditory methods, which makes
classroom learning ideal."
Many people need a combination of different methods. That said, there
is no single method for learning the material in preparation for the
exam. "Learning is an individual course of action," says Petitt.
The requirements for each certification exam will be different, but
here is a summary of the above tips that should help you prepare for
any certification test:
MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC:
>> Browse through SearchSystemsManagement.com's Career Center for
jobs, salaries and more.
>> What is the first certification when breaking into security?
>> Read about the new certification that targets non-security administrators.
