In a short period Between contracts this year I decided to take the IIBA examination to become a Certified Business Analyst Professional. I am a freelance Business analyst and process consultant so I pay for my courses. Since a period of classroom-based tutorials will leave me inaccessible for fee paying work, I started searching for online training I could use on demand. I gave myself just over a month to study for, and pass the examination.
The courses I found Typically cost in excess of #1500 and I questioned how much value I would get from them, bearing in mind my current business analysis experience and knowledge. All I desired was to identify knowledge gaps and flaws so I could focus BABOK research in these areas. I decided my best option was to get ready for the examination by combining self study of this BABOK with frequent testing utilizing an internet exam simulator that provided instant score responses and knowledgeable customer care.
Study Techniques
I used mind maps, mnemonics and diagrams to help memories BABOK content. A quick Google search will bring up lots of advice on study methods and I will not repeat them in this report. However, I give a few examples of successful study strategies in my site at and I will write a further article on BABOK study hints shortly.
Exam Simulators
It is Important to Recognize that knowledge of this BABOK and extensive experience as a business analyst is not sufficient to guarantee passing the examination. Success demands an understanding of how the questions are often framed together with training at choosing the perfect option from four potential answers, two of which will be quite similar. Some question wording is complicated and it is helpful to have likewise demanding practice questions to develop your skills in answering them.
The exam is still Quite fresh, the online version launched just two decades before, along with the query set used for the true cbap training examination is strictly protected; hence past exam papers are not available. Even though there are some sample queries online, the majority of them are poor quality and are not worth searching for. Creating excellent practice exam questions is hard and the providers of CBAP exam simulators guard their query places as valuable pieces of intellectual property. As a result, the only way to really prepare for the examination is by purchasing an exam simulator.
Your choice of exam Simulator will strongly influence odds of success. I tried several and soon got test scores of about 90%, suggesting a simple CBAP pass, but increasing suspicions in my mind how closely these questions places were modeled on the actual thing. Unwilling to waste money on choices that left me lacking in confidence about my chance of first time success, I lost them and eventually found one that matched my needs. With this simulator, my test scores originally started at around 60%. However I was satisfied that my expertise and exam technique were being analyzed efficiently. I believed I was being presented with questions and response choices that correctly reflected the ones I’d meet in the actual exam.
