📚 Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) Exam Tips

I recently passed CKAD exam, so thought of sharing my experience and tips, and the approach I took to comfortably pass the exam. There is only one shortcut to be successful in CKAD exam that's Practice, Practice and Practice!

Though I really started focus study for CKAD exam a month back, and gave exam on Jan 2nd 2023 (what a better way to start an year, right?). I did start building my base more than a month ago. I was new to container and Kubernetes. Hence, I started learning about container, and basic knowledge of Kubernetes.

CKAD is a very different exam when compared to all other exams I passed so far (just to name few AWS, Spring etc.). It is NOT a multiple choice question (MCQ) type of exam, you need to perform hands-on coding and solution/fix bug during the exam, it may sound little scary, but believe me though it's challenging it's equally exciting, and above all greatly rewarding.

1. Online Course - building the foundation

Let's start with online courses that are available in market. Well! not really, I don't think anyone stand near to courses provided by Mumshad Mannambeth. I would highly recommend below course

• Kubernetes Certified Application Developer (CKAD) with Tests

However, in case you don't have containers basic idea then do checkout below course as well

• Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners - Hands-on

2. Linux basic idea

I come from Linux background so I got good exposure to linux environment. But I do realize that not everyone are familiar with linux environment and without exposure to it may struggle as not everyone have habit of loving black screen. So, I would recommend learning basic linux commands like changing directory, creating file in editor (like vim or nano). I prefer using vim editor and here are VIM helpful shortcuts.

3. Environment Variables

CKAD exam is of 120 mins long, and no. of questions could be between 15-20. That means speed and accuracy of typing is utmost important. Hence setting up environment variables for frequently used commands and options are going help a lot. Here are few:

export do="--dry-run=client -o yaml"

export now="--force --grace-period 0"

export tmp="kubectl run --image=nginx:alpine -it --rm --"

4. Practice tests

There are limited quality CKAD exam practice tests, but luckily there are enough free practice tests available. What is even better is online Kubernetes environment Killercoda, that you can use to play around with practice tests and to explore different Kubernetes objects.

1. kubernetes.io/docs/tutorials

Kubernetes documentation have lot of information and I mean really good documentation. So always start with it. In case you feel little lost, here is the direct link to one of the basic practices kubernetes-basics/deploy-app

2. Killercoda CKAD practice test

3. https://github.com/dgkanatsios/CKAD-exercises

5. Strategy to attempt question

Exam will have different weightage questions like 4%, 6%, 8% etc. Start with higher weightage question first and suppress the urge to answer sequentially. Do not spend more time on one single question, there always going to be a tricky question, so just flag the questions and move on with next high weightage question.

6. Last and final - Prepare on simulator

When you feel you're ready to blast in the exam, try out free simulator test that you get when you register for CKAD exam on Linux Foundation. Here is screenshot as I almost miss it and would have regretted in case I missed. Simulator provide near real exam experience that is very important to practice as even basic copy and paste doesn't work as expected.

If you have reached here, then I did a satisfactory effort to keep you reading. Please be kind to leave any comments or ask for any corrections. Happy Kuberneting! and MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!😀

Some helpful links

• https://docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/tips-cka-and-ckad
• https://docs.linuxfoundation.org/tc-docs/certification/certification-resources-allowed#certified-kubernetes-administrator-cka-and-certified-kubernetes-application-developer-ckad

My Other Blogs:

• My firsthand experience with web component - learnings and limitations
• Streaming logs of all pods at once