Succeeding in Certification Exams: The Art of Structure
My framework for becoming successful in any certification exams from planning to making it official
One of my goals after finishing my MBA was to take more certifications for continuous learning. Over the years, I have seen a common theme (or structure, if you will) in becoming successful in any certification.
As I was reflecting on my current Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) 2 Exam by ISC2 preparation, which I will take around two weeks from now, I realized that my framework in passing any certifications or learning activities looks something like this:
📖 Read through the exam outline
One of the lessons I learned in life was the importance of preparation before undertaking any professional or personal endeavor. The same holds true for certification exams, such as the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam offered by ISACA.
I know some test takers skip this step and end up in a rabbit hole because they lack direction. Reading the exam outline, like the syllabi provided in university-level courses, is crucial because it states important details such as the number of questions in the actual exam, the time limit, the passing rate, and the areas tested.
📝 Plan but don’t plan too much!
Create an inventory of available materials and draft a study plan based on the exam outline or guide in whatever certification you are taking. Your study plan will depend on your learning style, time commitment, and available materials.
I consider certifications or any endeavors that require significant effort to be projects. Yes, that includes getting a driver’s license, filing taxes, or my future Substack posts! Call me a documentation freak, but my personality makes it natural to structure anything I do, especially if it takes time.
A word of caution though: Don’t let planning consume most of your time and don’t make things too complicated. Do what works for you, even if it’s pen and paper! I use platforms such as Notion to track progress more seamlessly.
👉 Feel free to take a look at my sample study plan for inspiration:
Stephen's CC Study Plan Template💡 Understand the concepts covered in each domain
Now, to the fun part! Once you have a plan in place, it's time to dive into the material! To maximize learning, I recommend practicing active listening by taking notes and highlighting any concepts you need more clarity on.
For example, when I took the CISA exam, I reviewed resources such as the Review Manual and practice tests online.
✏️ Take practice exams
Theory and practice go hand in hand to become successful in any certification. Take as many practice exams as possible to get a feel of how much you understand the domains included in the exam.
Don’t worry about getting below the passing rate (ex: 450 out of 800 for the CISA exam) during your first few attempts. It just means you either need more practice or there’s something that you still need to understand.
➿ Revisit concepts (rinse and repeat!)
After each practice exam, try to revisit practice questions you didn’t get right or felt you didn’t understand. After taking stock of those, try returning to the study material to refresh your understanding.
You may also consult other resources, such as YouTube, for specific topics you need to understand better. For example, when preparing for the CISA exam in 2019, I had to do desktop research on emerging trends such as digitalization and blockchain. I also had to reach out to more experienced peers in my field to brainstorm potential best practices in managing risks in these technologies.
👝 Prepare for exam day and crush it!
The last thing you want is to scramble at the last minute and realize you forgot something at home. If you go to a test center (such as one accredited by Pearson VUE), ensure your bag is prepared with the necessary documents.
If you will take the exam at home, prepare the area where you will take it according to the specifications provided by the exam provider.
It’s a good practice to arrive within a reasonable distance of the testing center on the exam day at least an hour beforehand to avoid inconveniences such as traffic and subway delays.
Finally, I recommend against studying within 24 hours before your scheduled exam date as nervousness may impair your test performance.
✅ Make it official: Don’t forget to register!
The final step to getting certified is registering and paying any fees due. A few days after passing the CISA exam, I received an email from ISACA with registration instructions. To register, follow the steps based on any communication you received.
I would love to hear other people’s thoughts, so please feel free to share anything you find helpful in preparing for certification exams! What’s next for me?