8 Expert Tips to Help You Ace Your Salesforce Certification Exam

Preparing to take a Salesforce Certification exam? Awesome! We’ve collected eight helpful tips from our resident Salesforce experts to help you curb any test-taking anxiety and increase your confidence when exam day approaches.

T o keep things fresh, we’ve updated this, one of our most popular posts. See the latest version here.

Whether you’re preparing to sit for your first Salesforce Certification exam or your fourteenth, chances are you’re nervous.

And why wouldn’t you be? With a forecast from IDC that anticipates 4.2 million new jobs will be created within the Salesforce ecosystem by 2024, you’ll want to ensure you’ve got the skills to take on any of those jobs.

Ready to learn how to get Salesforce Certification exam ready? Check out this video from our experts Wendy Braid and Amit Malik.

Now grab your pencils, clear your mind, and let’s dive in!

Tip #1: Know the exam objectives

Every Salesforce Certification has an accompanying exam guide complete with all the information you need to help you study and prepare for your exam.

The exam outline is the section you’ll want to focus on. Here, you’ll find details of the exam objectives for your chosen certification. For example, the Administrator Exam Guide shares the 12 functions, and their associated weighting, you’ll need to know in detail to pass your exam.

The more familiar you are with the exam objectives, the better your chances of passing the exam.

Tip #2: Know your test-taking style

Did you know you have a choice on how and where to sit for your Salesforce Certification exam? You can take your exam at one of our testing centers, found all over the world, or in the comfort of your own home via our online proctoring solution.

Knowing your test-taking style is so important when choosing between online and in-person exams. If you’re a test taker who needs to write things down to help you recall information, then you would want to take the exam in person.

In a testing center, you’re given a couple of pieces of paper and a pencil — something not allowed when taking the exam online.

Learn about your test taking style and check out this handy Trailhead Help article for additional information on exam delivery options.

Tip #3: The timer doesn’t start until you do

On your mark, get set, go! It’s a scramble to see who gets to the finish line. Is this what you feel like when taking an exam? Not to worry, the exam does not actually start until YOU say.

Whether you decide to take your certification exam at a testing center or via online proctoring, all of our exams are timed. But the timer doesn’t start when you arrive at the testing center or when you take your seat. The exam begins when you select the start button.

So take a deep breath, take a moment to prepare, and know you control the start of your certification exam.

Tip #4: Acronyms, diagrams, and mnemonic devices

Brain freeze — it’s real and it can happen to anyone. So take it back to the days of ROYGBIV and memorize key concepts by using acronyms, diagrams, or mnemonic devices.

Some folks we know even use songs to memorize formulas, like this lovely rendition by Salesforce Expert Caitlin Nguyen.

Here’s another example to try. Let’s say you’re preparing for your Administrator certification and you’ve memorized the order of execution.

You need to know validation rules, assignment rules, auto response rules, workflow, process builder, escalation rules, and roll up summary fields happen in a particular order.

How can you recall this right when you need it, in the moment, during that particular question? A great way to remember this sequence is:

“Very Awesome Admins Work Pretty Efficiently, Right?”

Tip #5: Manage your time

There’s a lot that goes into preparing for a certification exam. Managing your time during the exam is just as important as the knowledge you’ve gained. Ask yourself, “How long should I plan on working on each test question?” Let’s break down a typical certification exam.

You may be taking a 2-hour exam with 60 questions. By managing your time correctly, you can allocate 2 minutes for each question and be able to get through all of the exam questions in the time given.

A good rule of thumb is to answer all of the questions you know, and then go back to questions that require additional time to complete.

Tip #6: Take an educated guess

Your experience with Salesforce can go a long way in helping you answer those tough questions. Keep in mind that an educated guess, based on your knowledge, is likely to be the correct guess.

Knowing the difference between a guess and an educated guess is pivotal to test taking success. Trust in your learning process, then go back to those questions where you feel you need to spend additional time considering your answer.

Tip #7: Don’t keep track of the letter answer

You’re at the end of your exam and have marked several questions to go back and review. But you’ve noticed the order of the answers has changed. What’s going on here?

It’s important to note that when you come back to review a question, the answers will be in random order. What you thought was answer “C” is now answer “B.”

So, you need to focus less on jotting down the order of the answers you’re selecting and more on jotting down keywords to help you make those final answer selections.

Tip #8: Read the questions carefully

“A question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or are the others crazy?” — Albert Einstein

Sitting for a Salesforce Certification exam can be stressful. Stay calm and don’t commit the classic mistake of not reading (and rereading) the question fully.

Before selecting your answer choice(s), be sure to read the entire test question and answers completely. Some questions can be long-winded, and this step is so important to ensure you understand what each question is asking.

If you’re taking your exam at a testing center, don’t forget to write down some keywords or those handy acronyms to help you out when answering the tough questions.

Bonus Tip: Keep going, even if you fail

Taking a Salesforce Certification exam is a great way to prove to the world, and to yourself, that you’ve gained knowledge in a specific area. Not everyone passes their exam and that’s OK.

Look at each exam as part of the journey to earning your certification.

Everyone who completes a certification exam receives an email containing their results as well as Section-Level Feedback. This feedback shows you how well you did compared to the exam objectives outlined in the Exam Guide.

This information is critical for revising for a retake, as it shows you the objectives you need to focus on in your studies, as well as confirming which objectives you already know well (and don’t need to skill up on again).

Most importantly, don’t give up! Use your experience as a chance to fine-tune your learning for your next certification exam.

Take the next step

Ready to take the next step in your career and sit for your Salesforce Certification exam? Great! Keep the momentum going by setting a date and preparing for your exam.

Then, check out these awesome resources to help you get exam ready:

• Salesforce Certification Days — Crush your certification goals by attending one of our FREE certification preparation webinars. Keep an eye out for additional webinars coming soon.
• Trailhead LIVE — Watch live and on-demand videos from experts on today’s most in-demand skills including stacks of certification prep info.
• Check out Top 5 Reasons Why Now Is the Time to Get Salesforce-Certified for even more helpful information and resources.

Good luck Trailblazer, you’ve got this!