I've been building websites using Kentico for nearly a decade, and during that time, I've witnessed the product go from strength-to-strength, evolving into the fantastic DXP that it is today.
But with an ever improving product, comes new features, new development models and, therefore, the need to keep abreast of these developments so that, as a developer, you can get the most from the product.
And of course, there’s no better way to showcase your knowledge of Kentico to the world, than by completing the Certified Developer exam.
Having sat the exam three times previously (you need to re-sit the exam every two years to remain certified), last month signalled the end of my (then) current certification, so it was time to prep' to take the exam, once again.
So, herein lies a list of my top-tips to help you enter the exam with excitement, confidence, and hopefully a few less nerves.
1. Know the format 📋
The exam format has largely been the same over the years, but at this time of writing, the current format is as follows.
- It's web-based
- You have 90 minutes to complete 50 questions.
- The exam questions consist of single choice answers.
- You can navigate forward and back through your answers, meaning if you pass on a question, you can always go back to it later if you have time left over
- The pass mark is 70%, meaning you can incorrectly answer 15 questions and still pass.
Now if we're talking exam-tactics, you're probably thinking, "50 questions in 90 minutes, that's 1min 48secs I should try to complete each question in."
Well yes...and no.
Yes it's good to stay disciplined and attempt to answer questions in a timely fashion, but the cold-hard-truth is that you might well get stuck on a question (or two, or three), and spend longer than that searching for the answer. The trick is not to let this panic you, as conversely, there will be questions that you will know the answer to straight away, so it'll all balance itself out.
2. The Kentico Xperience 13 documentation is your friend 💼
Remember, this is an open-book exam, you don't need to be a complete expert in Kentico. This is as much a test on how efficent you are at searching for solutions in the documentation, as it is your knowledge of the product - kinda like the real world.
Take time to read and familiarise yourself with the Kentico docs, its layout and search functionality, so that when you are hit with that tricky question, you already know how to search and find the information you need to answer it.
3. Know the product 🧠
The exam is not something you can just sit without any prior real-world experience of developing a website using Kentico.
I often say to devs that you need a couple of builds under-your-belt before attempting the exam, and then it's a case of identifying which areas of Kentico you are not familiar with, and brushing up on them.
I often find that developers who are newer to Kentico will be familiar with features such as...
- The page builder
- Creating page templates
- Creating widgets
- Creating page types
- Displaying content on live site
...but not so much in areas like...
- K# and macro syntax
- Content staging
- Configuring Kentico in a team environment
- Continuous integration
- and more
That said, the exam tests your knowledge of all areas of Kentico. No stone is left unturned, so make sure you read the Kentico preparation guide (referenced at the bottom of this article).
4. Take the sample exam ASAP 📝
Once you've purchased the exam voucher, you will be given access to a shorter sample exam. Consisting of 11 questions, the sample exam is presented in the format of the actual exam.
This presents you with a great opportunity to get a feel for the exam, the questions, format, and to benchmark your current knowledge.
5. Take the day to revise 📆
On the day of the exam, take the day to revise, read through your notes, whatever you feel works best to give you best chance to pass the exam, then take the exam when you are ready.
If you don't pass, not to worry, you can resit the exam after 24 hours. Take stock and try and think about the area where you need to improve upon before re-sitting.
✅ Once you passed the exam though, enjoy the moment, and the rush, tell all your friends, and update your LinkedIn profile with your new achievement. 📢
Good luck.
Useful resources
- Read the Kentico's Developer Certification preparation guide
- Read more about the Kentico Certified Developer exam
- Learn about training courses available for Kentico developers
Top comments (5)
Great tips! This advice matches with my experiences taking the exam in the past. 👍
Reading up on the things you aren't familiar with is definitely important. Back in 2015 when Kentico introduced Azure related topics to the exam, and I only ever hosted on-premises, I had a hard time with the questions.
Even just realizing there is an area of docs for a topic you aren't familiar with can help you find an answer during the exam.
Completely agree. That’s where the preparation guide is a great resource too, as it’ll enlighten you on areas you might not know exist, then like you say, it’s a case of noting these down in case a related question arises during the exam.
Great content! Thanks Michael keep posting!
Thanks for these valuable information!