DEV Community: Mayu Hakim Watanabe

Experience Registered Information Security Specialist Examination in Japan 【2024/Autumn】

Mayu Hakim Watanabe — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 13:48:27 +0000

Target Audience

Users who are familiar with the overview of the IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination in Japan and are interested in taking the exam
Users interested in the field of information security in Japan and aiming to obtain certification
Users who want to refer to the experiences of other examinees in Japan
Users who want to know the atmosphere of the examination venue in Japan in advance

What This Document Explains

The experience of one examinee who took the IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination in Japan
The atmosphere of the examination venue for the Registered Information Security Specialist Examination in Japan

What This Document Does Not Explain

Specific content of the IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination
Details of the exam questions for the IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination
Efficient exam methods for the IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination

I Took the IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination

The Registered Information Security Specialist Examination (情報処理安全確保支援士試験) I took is one of Japan's national qualifications related to information processing. It is designated as the highest level, Level 4, and is a test that proves advanced information security knowledge. (Official IPA exam overview here)

It is the only qualification among Japan's information processing qualifications that has a registration system allowing one to call themselves a professional.

From my experience, I felt that it was generally a difficult exam. However, if you study for the exam in advance and do not make mistakes in solving the afternoon questions, there are questions that can be answered.

Personally, I spent a lot of time preparing for the afternoon session, but since there were many questions in the Morning II session that I was not good at, the Morning II session was the most challenging for me.

Profile:
- Age at the time of the exam: 31 years old (born early in the year)
- Main exam venue: Tokyo Tama area
- Work experience at the time of the exam: 5th year as a system engineer
- Qualifications held:
- Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination: 基本情報技術者試験: FE
- Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination: 応用情報技術者試験: AP
- Introductory qualifications from cloud vendors such as AWS/Azure
Reason for taking the exam:
- A former boss who helped me at a previous workplace had passed and registered as a Registered Information Security Specialist Examination Engineer, and I thought that if I passed the same exam, I could interact with other Registered Information Security Specialist Examination Engineers like my boss.
- In short, I wanted to make friends with capable engineers.
Exam history:
- First attempt in Fall 2024 (Reiwa 6 Fall), exempt from Morning I
- Exempt from Morning I due to passing the Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination in Spring 2024 (within 2 years)
Study history:
- From August 2024 to October 2024 (about 3 months)
- Mock exams:
- Correct answer rate for Morning II mock exams: about 80%
- Number of Afternoon I~II questions studied: about 20 questions from Spring 2024 to Spring 2021
- Reference books read:
- Revised Edition Quick Understanding Information Security Management Engineer Pocket Guide
- Support Engineer R5 Spring/Autumn
- Studied IPA's Vulnerability Learning Tool AppGoat
Exam results on the day:
- Morning I: Passed due to passing the Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination
- Morning II: 68 points (self-assessment)
- Afternoon: Felt like I got about 60%, no blank spaces in the answer sheet

Atmosphere of the Venue and Examinee Demographics

Atmosphere of the venue: Since it was an exam, it was quiet, and many people were studying or preparing until the exam started.
Examinee demographics:
- Unlike the IPA Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination or the pre-CBT Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination, there were few empty seats (no-shows on the day).
- The age and gender of the examinees varied, from vocational students to university students, and from young system engineers to mid-career and senior engineers.
- There was an impression that about 10% of the examinees were women.
- Most of the examinees were native Japanese speakers.

Summary

The IPA Registered Information Security Specialist Examination is a high-level certification exam, and the atmosphere of the exam venue was such that many people were studying hard. The demographics of the examinees included people of all ages and genders.

The results will be announced in December, so I plan to update this document with the results.

Additional Information

This article was created using GitHub Copilot.
The cover picture is drawn by me.

Tips for Taking Non-CBT IPA Certification Exams in Japan

Mayu Hakim Watanabe — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:51:32 +0000

Target Audience

Users who want to know some tips for IPA certification exams in Japan
Users who want to refer to other examinees' experiences
People interested in tips for taking Japan's national information processing certification exams

What This Document Explains

The experience of an examinee who took the non-CBT IPA certification exam in Japan
The atmosphere and environment of the certification exam venue in Japan
Some general tips for IPA certification exams

What This Document Does Not Explain

Specific content or questions of the IPA certification exam
Efficient study methods or strategies for the certification exam
Detailed content of the Registered Information Security Specialist Examination

Author Information

Nationality: Japanese
Native Language: Japanese

Tips for IPA Certification Exams (Non-CBT)

This time, I will explain my own tips for taking the certification exam in Japan.

I have been taking the non-CBT IPA exams since the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination, and I have taken it seven times so far.

Embarrassingly, I have taken the
Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination (non-CBT) twice, the Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination four times, and the Registered Information Security Specialist Examination once (Autumn 2024).

Profile:
- Age at the time of the exam: 31 years old (born early in the year)
- Main exam venue: Japan Tokyo Tama area
- Work experience at the time of the exam: 5th year as a system engineer in Japan
- Qualifications held:
  - Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination:基本情報技術者試験 :FE
  - Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination:応用情報技術者試験:AP
  - Introductory certifications from cloud vendors like AWS/Azure

1. The chairs at the exam venue are hard, so equip yourself with a cushion or towel

I have never been to a local exam venue, so this is a common occurrence in the metropolitan area, but the exam venues are often within university campuses. (In fact, I have never been assigned to a venue other than a university)

This is likely due to the high number of universities in the metropolitan area, including the Tama region, but the chairs at university exam venues are very hard.

The exam venues are classrooms where lectures are usually held, and the chairs are often foldable types with thin cushions and hard backrests.

Considering the need to move to the exam venue, carrying heavy luggage can be tiring, so bringing a light cushion or towel to place on the seat can prevent body pain during the exam.

If you bring a bath towel and a face towel, you can also take a bath at a nearby spa on your way back, which can help relieve fatigue, so it is recommended.

2. The exam venue is likely to be cold, so prepare a blanket

This is common for women, but the exam venue can be cold in both spring and autumn.

In spring, the coldness of winter lingers, and the heating in the exam venue may not reach your feet.

In autumn, if the summer heat lingers, the air conditioning may be on, and if winter is starting, the cold may reach your feet.

If you don't use it, you can wrap it around the cushion from point 1, so it's a useful item to bring.

A thin type of blanket is recommended as it is light and convenient.

3. Buy lunch at a convenience store near the station or your home before going to the exam venue

This is common in the Tama area, but due to the large scale of universities, campuses are often located in mountainous areas or cheap land. In such cases, there are often few convenience stores or restaurants around, and they are often closed on weekends and holidays, which are exam days.

Therefore, it is recommended to buy lunch not near the venue, but near the station you took to get to the venue or near your home.

Summary

Based on my experience as an examinee, I have introduced some tips for the certification exam day in Japan.

Main Points of Exam Day Tips

Chair Countermeasures at the Exam Venue: It is recommended to bring a cushion or towel to prepare for hard chairs.
Cold Weather Countermeasures: It is effective to prepare a blanket in case the exam venue is cold.
Lunch Preparation: It is important to buy lunch in advance as there may be few convenience stores or restaurants around the exam venue.

Additional Information

This article was created using GitHub Copilot
The cover picture is drew by me.