5 Top Tips to Help You Keep Calm for a Stress-Free Salesforce Certification Exam Day
For many, it’s not necessarily the studying for a Salesforce certification that’s scary — it’s the stress that comes with the unknowns of exam day. From managing your mindset to setting a strategy, these 5 top tips will help you just say no to exam-day stress.
Becoming a Salesforce #CertifiedPro can be a game changer for your career.
You’ll prove your hands-on experience, get a competitive edge, and open the door to one of the 3.3 million jobs that will be created across the Salesforce ecosystem by 2022.
So what’s stopping you?
You’ve studied (check out our 4 Simple Steps to Help You Prep Like a #CertifiedPro and Get Exam Ready post), practiced, and are ready (fingers crossed!). So before you take the leap, here’s a behind-the-scenes look into what you can expect.
Tip #1: Take the pressure off
Who says you have to pass with flying colors the first time around? For many, that’s an unrealistic expectation that causes undue stress. We want you to hear us loud and clear: Failure is an option.
In fact, there’s no such thing as failing — only learning.
With the knowledge gained from your section-level feedback, you’ll know what to focus on and you’ll come out stronger, smarter, and ready for your certification retake.
Tip #2: Visualize the venue
Test-taking centers can sometimes be a little intimidating, but not if you know what you’re walking into. Here’s the lowdown on what to expect in the exam room.
- Your Stuff. Bring two forms of identification and the Test Taker Authorization Code from your confirmation email. All mobile phones must be turned off and put away along with other smart devices including watches. No books, bags, coats, food, or drinks allowed.
- Your Tools. Your workstation will consist of a computer and three pieces of paper. You’ll use the computer to read the questions and submit your answers. And you’ll use the paper for notes (these will be collected at the end of the exam).
- Your Friends. You’ll also have a few “friends” in the exam room including a proctor and other test takers. Proctors monitor the room but they can’t answer questions about exam content. Fellow test takers are probably taking a different exam of a different length, so don’t compare yourself.
Check out this useful onsite proctored Trailhead Help article for more info.
Tip #3: Familiarize yourself with the format
Don’t worry — you won’t be answering any essay questions on these exams! It’s multiple choice all the way. Here are a few more details on the test itself.
- Time’s Up. The exam will last anywhere from 90 to 120 minutes depending on the topic. Above each question, you’ll see the total amount of time you have remaining.
- Q&A. All questions will be multiple choice. Single-select questions will prompt you to choose one correct answer. Multi-select questions will prompt you to choose multiple correct answers.
- Save for Later. Below each question, you’ll be able to mark it for review and come back to it later. Keep in mind that when you navigate back to a previous question, the answers will be randomized.
- In Summary. An exam summary page will provide a recap and easy navigation to questions you’ve answered, questions you’ve left unanswered, and questions you’ve marked for review.
Tip #4: Set your test-taking strategy
Strategy isn’t just for the board room or the playing field. Having a game plan for exam day will help you manage your time and put your mind at ease.
Here’s how.
- Style. Some people do better when they follow their gut, whereas others need to thoroughly review their answers. Know your test-taking style and stick to it in order to manage your exam time wisely.
- Notes. Make a mental list of acronyms, diagrams, and mnemonic devices and write them down on your scratch paper before the exam starts. ROYGBIV, anyone?
- Review. Also, use your scratch paper to keep track of your confidence level (yes, no, or maybe) for each question so you know how to prioritize your time when you go back through to review your answers.
And remember, you can also choose to take your exam online. It is still overseen by a proctor and you’ll need to meet certain setup requirements. Check out this handy online proctored Trailhead Help article for all the deets.
Tip #5: Celebrate your success!
After you select Submit, you’ll see your results on the screen immediately. And, guess what? You passed!
Now what? First, try to contain your excitement. Then…
- Raise your hand and a proctor will log you out and collect your papers.
- Leave the testing area quietly (while doing this 🙌🏽 inside your head).
- Check your email for details on your results, your certificate, and your certified logo.
- Spread the word by updating your social profiles and digital signature.
- Pay it forward by staying connected to the Trailblazer Community where you can help other aspiring #CertifiedPros prepare for their exams.
You’ve done all the hard work to prepare. You now know what to expect on exam day. So don’t let stress keep you from crushing your goals.
And don’t forget to shout out your certification journey progress on social so we can celebrate with you.
