How Do I Prepare for the iSAQB CPSA-F Exam?

I have worked at tecnovy for more than two years, and in that time I have lived inside the iSAQB world. Our team delivers more than 150 iSAQB-related trainings each year, across different formats and levels. We write our articles together with experienced trainers, and I also ran a podcast series about iSAQB where professionals shared what helped them pass and what did not.

This article is a summary of what I learned from those trainings, interviews, and the official sources. It is meant to be clear, practical, and honest, so you can prepare for the CPSA-F exam with confidence.

Key Takeaways:

• CPSA-F is the first step in the iSAQB roadmap.
• Expect conceptual and reasoning questions, not deep coding puzzles.
• The best preparation is structured study + mock exams + reflection.
• You need about 60 % **correct to pass, **in 75 minutes.
• Accredited trainings last three to four days and follow the same curriculum as the exam.

The iSAQB Roadmap

The International Software Architecture Qualification Board (iSAQB) defines an international learning path for software architects.

It starts with the CPSA-F – Foundation Level, continues with the CPSA-A – Advanced Level, and ends with the CPSA-E – Expert Level (will soon be available as a further and highest certification level).

The Foundation Level is the first step, focused on understanding core principles: how to design, document, and communicate software architectures that meet business and technical needs.

If you want a full overview of all three levels, here is a detailed guide here:
👉 iSAQB Certification Guide

What topics are in the CPSA-F exam?

According to iSAQB, the CPSA-F gives you the knowledge to:

• Design and document architectures for small and medium systems
• Evaluate quality attributes such as performance, maintainability, and security
• Communicate architecture decisions to teams and stakeholders
• Understand architecture patterns, roles, and tools

The CPSA-F exam checks whether you understand the core principles and vocabulary of software architecture, not whether you can design a perfect system from scratch.

According to iSAQB, the exam covers six main knowledge areas from the official curriculum:

1. Basics of Software Architecture and the Architect’s Role

• What software architecture means and how it differs from design or coding
• The main tasks and responsibilities of an architect in different project types
• Key concepts like quality attributes, architectural drivers, and trade-offs

2. Design and Development of Architectures

• How to translate requirements into architectural structures
• Common architecture styles (layered, microservices, event-driven, etc.)
• Interface and dependency management
• Reusability, modularity, and abstraction in design decisions

3. Description and Communication of Architectures

• Using models, views, and notations to describe architecture
• The purpose of architecture documentation and decision records (ADRs)
• Communicating design ideas to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Working with documentation templates like arc42

4. Architecture and Quality

• Understanding how architecture affects performance, maintainability, and security
• Evaluating trade-offs between different quality attributes
• Designing for change, scalability, and sustainability

5. Tools and Documentation

• Selecting and using tools to model, analyze, and document architectures
• Practical use of UML, C4, or other common diagram techniques
• Applying architecture evaluation and validation methods

6. Practical Examples and Case Studies

• Applying the principles above to real-world project scenarios
• Understanding how architects make and document trade-offs in context

The questions in the exam reflect these areas. They focus on conceptual understanding, not memorization. You’ll see realistic case situations, short design tasks, and questions about why certain decisions make sense in a given context.

What is the exam format / question types / scoring rules?

The CPSA-F exam is a multiple-choice test run by accredited certification bodies. You can take it online or in person after a three-to-four-day accredited training, or independently if you study on your own.

From the official exam rules:

Duration: 75 minutes
Language: English or German
Question types: single-choice, multiple-choice, and allocation (matching)
Number of questions: around 39 (as shown in the mock exam)
Passing threshold: ≥ 60 %
Result: pass/fail; you’ll receive a certificate if successful

You can read the full rules here:
👉 CPSA-F Examination Rules (PDF)

5 Preparation Tips for the iSAQB CPSA-F Exam

Here’s a simple plan that combines the official materials with what successful candidates recommend.

1. Learn the basics first

Start with the official curriculum and understand how iSAQB defines architecture. Focus on responsibility, quality attributes, and trade-offs, not frameworks.

Several accredited trainers refer to

• Software Architecture Foundation (Gernot Starke & Alexander Lorz) and
• Software Architecture Fundamentals (Mahbouba Gharbi et al.)

as useful study resources, since they closely follow the CPSA-F curriculum. Many accredited trainers and course providers use these books as reference material, because their authors helped create or align the CPSA-F curriculum.

These are not official exam materials but match the core topics well.

2. Take mock exams

The iSAQB provides a full sample test:
👉 Mock Exam with Answers (PDF)
It includes 39 questions that show exactly how topics are phrased and scored.

3. Practice trade-off thinking

The exam often asks why a choice fits a scenario. Think through pros and cons for each architecture style and quality goal.

4. Simulate the exam

Time yourself for 75 minutes using the mock exam. Check not only your score but also which areas take you longest.

5. Review and discuss

Share your answers with peers or mentors. Explaining your reasoning is one of the best ways to prepare for the real test.

Summary

Preparing for CPSA-F is not only about passing a test, it’s about learning to think like an architect, connecting business goals, design decisions, and communication.

If you follow a steady plan, use the official resources, and practice with mock exams, you’ll be ready for both the exam and the real work that comes after it.