How I passed CBAP without Dumps – My Journey

Preparing for CBAP exams can be like a herculean task and many are at a loss on how to go about preparing for the exam.

Many go about the Dumps way but get their hands burnt most of the time and some just dive in by trusting their guts as I did.

I have done several certifications and passed, even my MCITP was self-tutored. The CBAP has however been the most Challenging and at the same time interesting.

TRAINING

I enrolled for CBAP training early 2019, felt good about it, met a very calm and sure footed instructor who did a good job with the training and promised post training support, which he gladly obliged whenever I called.

Few months later, I was not sure I am still in tune with what I learnt so I put in for another training when the opportunity came up in August 2019. This time I was determined to follow through.

The training took another dimension with a fantastic instructor who took us through all required modules.

Few months after the training, I was already feeling like I felt after the first training. Then I knew my solution is not another training, it is time for me to bury myself in BABOK.

EXAM PREPARATIONS

Here is the order in which I prepared:

 Duration For Preparation: I took a leave and dedicated 1 week for reading, then the remaining 2 weeks was after work.

1.    Chapter 10: Learn all the techniques and understand their usage.

2.    Appendix B: Techniques to Task Mapping. At this point I believe you have a basic understanding of the six knowledge areas. This Mapping would help you know the respective techniques deployed for each knowledge area.

3.    Reference Infographics: I have two reference files, which are “BABOK infographics” and “Navigator into Knowledge Areas” chart. I kept studying them to give me an overview of the six knowledge areas and their relationships.

This helped to comprehend the six knowledge areas on a page, see attached files. I had a copy in the office and at home, a glance for 10mins was good to keep me in shape haha.

While reading the BABOK guide, I sometimes pause to reference them.

4.    Chapter 4: Elicitation and Collaboration – This Knowledge area is ubiquitous throughout the Business Analysis process from start to finish. There is a form of elicitation required while executing other knowledge areas and at the same time, collaboration is key for the overall success of the Business analysis.

5.    Chapter 3: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring - Armed with the understanding of efficient Elicitation and collaboration, you can now deploy the knowledge to elicit and document BA Approach, Governance Approach, Information Approach, how to manage stakeholders, and how to assess BA Performance.

6.    Chapter 6: Strategy Analysis – Now that you understand how to relate and approach all stakeholders, manage information, and how to go about the BA, you now need to elicit and analyze the current state, define the future state, assess Risks and define Change Strategy.

7.    Chapter 5: Requirement Life Cycle Management – This is where requirements are broken down, traced, maintained, prioritized, and approved.

8.    Chapter 7: Requirement Analysis and Design – These requirements now needs to be Specified and Modelled, verify and validate these requirements, turn requirements to Architecture, Design options are defined, then you analyze potential value for each option defined from which you will recommend a solution.

9.    Chapter 8: Solution Evaluation - Business analysis most times results into projects. There is therefore a need to be of assistance to the project manager during the project execution and when the project ends.

The BA still needs to measure solution Performance, analyze the performance measures, assess the solution limitations as identified, assess the enterprise limitations, then recommend Actions to increase Solution value. Hence, the BA functions before, during, and after a project.

EXAM DAY:

Questions: 120

Duration: 3hrs 30mins.

Type: Multiple Choice answers

Attention! Please eat before going for the exam): and do not forget your means of Identification.

I only realized I have not had breakfast when I got there and it was already too late.

 Registered my presence and was taken into the test room. I should note here that IIBA plans to add more options for taking the exams this year. This would allow you the option of taking the proctored exams in the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere you would not be distracted.

When I got to question 30, I realized I had spent almost half the time. This was because I spent more time on the scenario questions. Half way into the exams, some serious headache kicked in no thanks to hunger.

Let’s talk about Dumps……

The relevance of the dumps I had was 5%, I was left with my understanding of what I had read and its application. This was scary!

With my head banging, my stomach squashing, I could hear all the keystrokes from others doing their IELTS and it became a distraction. I asked for the ear morphs which was not enough, the requested for ear buds. This combination knocked me out of my environment and was eagle eye focused hahaha.

I had to change my strategy when I realized I had just an hour left. I began to skip all scenario questions and finished the short ones. At this time, I was already losing hope of passing. I went back to the scenario questions and began answering them, skipped any that proved difficult.

At the countdown, I had successfully attempted all questions, but I had prepared my mind for a re-write and implementing lessons learnt in the case I failed. With my eyes closed, I clicked the final submit and voila…… ”You Passed“I saw.

The Joy within me could not be contained in that silent exam room so I had to grind my teeth and made that victory fist and a silent “Yes! Thank you Jesus”.

At the end, I felt very confident passing the CBAP with the understanding of BABOK and not DUMPS.

Lessons Learnt:

1.    Skip Scenario questions for later

2.    Read BABOK to understand

3.    Do not rely on DUMPS

4.    Eat before writing the exams (smiles)

Disclaimer: This is my story and does not guarantee it would work for everyone.