{"id":9820,"date":"2020-07-27T14:57:58","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T19:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/?p=9820"},"modified":"2020-11-23T14:00:41","modified_gmt":"2020-11-23T20:00:41","slug":"iiba-certifications-foolproof-study-plan-and-test-taking-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/iiba-certifications-foolproof-study-plan-and-test-taking-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"IIBA\u00ae Certifications: Foolproof Study Plan and Test-Taking Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome back! If you\u2019ve been following this series, we first explored the value proposition and answered the \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d question regarding certifications in general, identified the IIBA\u00ae certification that is right for you, walked through the application process, and introduced the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge\u00ae \u2013 specifically, some of the terminology. Next, it\u2019s time to study and take the exam! While \u201cstudy\u201d comes before the exam, most candidates want to know about the test. To that end, let\u2019s address that first!<\/p>\n

All the six certifications IIBA\u00ae offers are computer-based, multiple choice exams. Each question within the exam has four possible \u201cstand alone\u201d answers. By that I mean that the test-taker will never be shown a numbered list of responses and then answer \u201cA\u201d is 1 and 2, \u201cB\u201d is 1 and 3, \u201cC\u201d is 2 and 3, and \u201cD\u201d is all of the above. You won\u2019t see that sort of response thank goodness! The answer will be either A, B, C, or D!<\/p>\n

Exams are administered through PSI (https:\/\/candidate.psiexams.com\/<\/a>) either through a virtual proctor or in an exam center. Once your application is approved, IIBA will send you an email with how to schedule the exam; information is also included in the handbooks available online under the certifications tab at https:\/\/iiba.org<\/a>. I have taken four exams (one through IIBA\u00ae) from PSI sitting at my dining room table. You\u2019ll understand why at my dining table in a minute! When you schedule an exam through PSI, you will need to temporarily install their \u201cexam shield\u201d on your computer. Then you will be directed to test your camera, audio, and internet connection.<\/p>\n

At the time of the exam, you will log in via the link PSI provides via email. Upon logging in, the software will direct you to take a picture of the front and back of your official ID (or driver\u2019s license) with your computer\u2019s camera and answer some general questions at which point you\u2019ll have a short wait for your proctor to connect. The proctor will introduce themselves and ask for a video \u201ctour\u201d of your immediate surroundings so you must be able to move your computer\u2019s camera so they get a 360 view. If I were to take the test in my home office, it\u2019d never pass because it\u2019s too cluttered! One proctor directed me to remove my mouse pad from the table. The centerpiece vase with a couple of silk flowers also had to go! They will also ask you about the location of your cell phone and will remind you to turn it off. For a couple of the exams you\u2019re allowed to have a piece of scratch paper and pen. If that is the case, the proctor will ask you to hold the paper up to the camera so they can ensure it\u2019s blank. After the exam, the proctor will watch you shred the scratch paper. You will be monitored through the camera for the duration of the exam. The proctor will touch base with you after the exam; a chat window is also available if you have a question during the exam itself.<\/p>\n

The software PSI utilizes is intuitive. You do have the option of taking a tutorial before you begin the exam that does not count against the allocated time. An online highlighter and calculator are available for some of the exams.<\/p>\n

For longer exams, if you need a bio-break, the clock keeps ticking.<\/p>\n

See PSI\u2019s or IIBA\u2019s website for more information.<\/p>\n

The complexion of the exams are as follows:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Reminder to ALWAYS check the most recent certification handbooks as IIBA\u00ae does modify exam-based information when warranted!<\/p>\n

Now that the burning questions you had about the exam have hopefully been answered, let\u2019s turn to some foolproof study tips. Sample study plans and tips are presented and discussed in our certification courses. In addition, there is a study plan template available for download under the resources tab on https:\/\/watermarklearning.com<\/a>. A reminder that it is a requirement that you become a registered user on our website to access the templates.<\/p>\n

Specifically, the CCBA\/CBAP Study Plan template can be found here: https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/resources\/templates.php<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The following are some tried and true study tips:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \"\"You will notice that our study plan template resembles a project schedule. That is because studying for the exam is a project! To that end, take some time and document your plan of attack! Having a documented plan not only structures your approach but gives you a method to hold yourself accountable! Establish planned start and end dates for each activity along with accomplishments (milestones). Document actual start and end dates and measure\/explain variances to your plan. Take corrective and preventive action. In other words, take \u201cstudying\u201d seriously because life has a way of distracting you and an accountability tool really helps.<\/li>\n
  2. Begin studying by memorizing the information. If you\u2019re taking a BABOK\u00ae-based exam, memorize the knowledge areas, and then the tasks within the knowledge areas, and then the inputs, outputs, elements, stakeholders, and techniques associated with those tasks. Before you can apply knowledge, you need to have the knowledge firmly under your belt.<\/li>\n
  3. Touch the material is some way, shape, or form every day \u2013 yes, you read that correctly \u2013 every day! Reviewing post-its on your bathroom mirror while brushing your teeth counts.<\/li>\n
  4. Respect your learning style. This means that if you\u2019re an auditory learner, consider recording those things you want to learn. Read out loud. Think out loud.<\/li>\n
  5. Get creative! At the time I was studying for the CBAP\u00ae exam, two of my kids were at the age where they were involved in several extra-curricular activities but couldn\u2019t yet drive. I made flashcards and as we were driving along, they\u2019d quiz me. I remember driving my son to basketball practice one night and he asked, \u201cMom, shouldn\u2019t I be helping you study right now?\u201d I responded that I was too tired to study at which point he said, \u201cYou always tell me that\u2019s not a good excuse for my homework!\u201d I call that \u2013 BUSTED!<\/li>\n
  6. Take practice exams. Watermark Learning has an AWESOME learning tool we call OSE (Online Study Exam) comprised of warm-ups, drills, and full exam simulations for the BABOK\u00ae-based certifications and the IIBA-AAC exam. A 90-day subscription (that starts upon your initial login) is included with our certification prep courses; in addition, a subscription can be purchased separately. For more information, see https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/certification\/online-study-exam.php<\/a>. We recommend that you keep taking drills until your scores exceed 80%. We recommend taking 2-3 simulations (at which time you\u2019ll most likely score 80+%). It\u2019s good to take a simulation earlier in your study process to provide a baseline and help you focus on knowledge areas where you scored less than 80%.<\/li>\n
  7. My last tip is to \u201ctrust the process!\u201d At some point when you\u2019re studying a sense of \u201coverwhelm\u201d will kick in and you might feel like throwing in the towel. I\u2019ve had some students share that the more they study the less they feel they know and confusion reigns! I remind them to \u201ctrust the process!\u201d Keep touching the materials and one day what I call the \u201cclick\u201d will happen; meaning, it all falls into place and makes sense. You no longer need to memorize information because you \u201cget it!\u201d How long does the \u201cclick\u201d take? That depends on how prepared you were before you came to the certification class. To that end, PLEASE read the BABOK\u00ae before coming to a certification prep class. No matter how long you\u2019ve been a BA, I guarantee you that terminology will be different and there will be many new techniques introduced. We also find that candidates that have a Business Analysis Foundations class have the context for BABOK\u00ae knowledge areas and tasks that makes consuming BABOK\u00ae material easier.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Note: Watermark Learning\u2019s course offerings have three formats: live, virtual or as a pre-recorded \u201cself-paced online\u201d or \u201cvideo on demand\u201d experience that can be taken at your convenience. The links to BA Foundations and CBAP\u00ae Certification preparation class formats are:<\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/course\/business-analysis-foundations-269.php<\/a><\/p>\n

    https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/course\/cbap-certification-preparation-v3.php<\/a><\/p>\n

    Now let\u2019s turn our attention to exam-taking strategies (these are shorter ?):<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Do NOT cram the night before an exam; rather, do something you enjoy and rest! You\u2019ve worked hard; trust that you \u201cknow\u201d your stuff!<\/li>\n
    2. For those exams that allow a piece or two of scratch paper, take time at the beginning of the exam to jot down those things you have a harder time remembering. While it \u201ccounts\u201d against your allotted time, it gives you a reference sheet to use throughout the exam.<\/li>\n
    3. READ the question! For scenario or case study-based questions, read the very last line first. What is the question asking you? Many test-takers like to quickly review the answer options at this point also. Experiment with that strategy during your practice drills and exam simulations. Once you know what you\u2019re being asked, you can read the scenario\/case study and pick out the pertinent information. For knowledge-based questions, is the focus a knowledge area, task, element, technique, etc.?<\/li>\n
    4. Skip questions you don\u2019t know on the first pass. You\u2019ll be able to \u201cmark\u201d or \u201cflag\u201d those questions so you can revisit them after you\u2019ve answered the questions you found easier.<\/li>\n
    5. Don\u2019t second guess yourself. Research shows that most of the time your first answer is right unless you read the question incorrectly or guessed the first time around. Like I always tell students in my prep classes, \u201cYou can always talk yourself out of any right answer.\u201d So, refrain from changing your answer unless you have a really good reason.<\/li>\n
    6. Are you one of those \u201ctype A\u201d personalities? I am. And, in a test-taking situation, I become more \u201ctype A\u201d because I\u2019m stressed. My focus is on \u201cgetting it (the test) done.\u201d I constantly remind myself to breathe and thoroughly read (vs. skim) the questions and answers. One strategy I use to trick my brain is that I read the answers from the bottom up; meaning, I start with answer \u201cD\u201d and then progress upwards through \u201cA.\u201d Works like a charm!<\/li>\n
    7. BREATHE! During stressful situations, our brain goes into \u201cfight or flight\u201d mode which some scientists call \u201cmonkey mind\u201d because it swings from one branch (thought) to another. Slow down your breathing and you\u2019ll be better able to focus!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      CONGRATULATIONS! Your study plan was successfully completed and your exam-taking strategies served you well. YOU PASSED! Well done! By the way, after you complete the exam and push \u201csubmit\u201d, you\u2019ll be asked a couple of quick survey questions and then will get your results! An \u201cofficial\u201d email, certificate, etc. will follow.<\/p>\n

      Don\u2019t forget to start listing your new credentials immediately on your email signature line and update that resume of yours along with your LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\n

      Celebrate! You earned it!<\/p>\n

      As always, contact us by phone (1-800-646-9362), email (info@watermarklearning.com), or through our website (https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/contact.php<\/a>) if you have any questions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Welcome back! If you\u2019ve been following this series, we first explored the value proposition and answered the \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d question regarding certifications in general, identified the IIBA\u00ae certification that is right for you, walked through the application process, and introduced the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge\u00ae \u2013 specifically, some of the terminology. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":10446,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[246,251],"class_list":["post-9820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-watermark-learning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9820","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/33"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9820"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9820\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9867,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9820\/revisions\/9867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9820"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.watermarklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=9820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}