How to pass the CKA Exam on the first try [GUARANTEED]

Introduction

Before I took the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Exam, I read every article there was about taking the exam, and yet I failed it. I knew every shortcut and every command, and yet I scored 5 marks below the passing score. In this article, I tell you about the silent key things that helped me succeed the second time that I wish I had known the first time. This article is not about what to study; it is more about how to study and mostly how to pass the exam. If you read this article at least twice and diligently note everything therein, I guarantee you will pass the exam.

Knowledge is more important than Speed

Every article you read about the CKA exam says you have to be fast, you have to know shortcuts, you have to practise speed, blah blah blah. I insist that, first of all, you have to know what you are doing. Speed in the wrong direction will hurt you more than it would help.

The CKA Exam is more about breadth of knowledge than depth; almost every single topic listed in the curriculum is tested. Also, if you are pretty fast at solving practice questions that you already have answers to, you are not really improving. Write out all the topics you are weak in and unsure about, and review questions on these topics multiple times. Remember not to only practice your strong areas, you need to prioritise even your weak areas.

Use the CKA and CKAD practice exams and other questions online, generate AI questions if you have to, but practice everything in the curriculum.

Pay attention to details

The most painful part about failing the CKA Exam was that most of the questions I failed were the really easy ones, and the questions I got right were the really difficult ones. Apart from me not mastering the basics during prep, I also did not pay attention to little details. When I started prepping the second time, I realised that I had come across most of the questions that I failed at least once or twice during prep, but I either did not acknowledge them, or I just quickly glossed over them.

If you intend to pass the CKA Exam, ensure that you pay complete and undivided attention to the most minute details during practice and while studying.

Study for the CKAD Exam

The CKA Exam is more like the CKAD++; most of the topics in the CKA Exam are in the CKAD Exam, infact I found practice questions from the CKAD Exam more useful than the CKA Exam. I believe this was because practice questions from the CKA Exam mostly focused on troubleshooting rather than the basics.

If you practice only the CKAD Exam really well, you are most likely to be close to at least 60% of the passing score, infact the Linux Foundation advises that you study the CKAD Exam before taking the CKA Exam.

P.S: You should take the CKAD Exam first; it's pretty straightforward and not difficult to pass.

Do not be persistent on a question

If you fail a question, flag it and simply move on. You probably would get it on a second try.

Be conversant with the testing environment

A lot of people have failed the exam because they were not conversant with the exam environment. The testing environment is on the PSI browser with access to a remote virtual machine. It is very important that you understand the testing environment, especially how to search and find on Mozilla Firefox.

Take time out to play with the testing environment on killer.sh - paying for the exam gives you access to the session. I exhausted the sessions on my first try and paid for some more. Despite that, I still lost the first two minutes when I logged into the exam, and it was zoomed in to the max.

P.S: If you can use a monitor, it creates a world of difference.

Believe you can do it

Mentality is a key part of the game; if you do not believe you can get the job done, you simply won't. Believe you can get the job done and work towards it. First of all, be confident in your abilities, do not make silly mistakes, read the question in detail, and pay attention to the remarks. Ensure that you check your solution works.

Be calm, you are prepared.

It's okay to shake a little; Who doesn’t? What’s more important is the fact that you are already a Kubernetes administrator even before you sit for this exam, so just go prove yourself.

Conclusion

I deliberately left out specific materials because everyone knows KodeKloud is the best at this kind of stuff; their practice exams just give you the kind of practice you need to pass.

If this article helps you to pass your exam, I am waiting to hear your success story.

Please re-read this article until it sticks. Feel free to like, share and subscribe.