How I Passed the Splunk Certified User Certification on My First Attempt

On 12/05/2024, I had the opportunity to take the Splunk Certified User certification exam, and I’m excited to share that I passed on my very first attempt! This accomplishment means a lot to me, not just as a validation of my skills, but as another milestone in my continuous journey of learning and growth as I continue to help my coaching clients.?

I know many people out there might be thinking about taking this certification, and I want to share my experience and the resources I used. Hopefully, this article will inspire and guide you if you’re considering the same path. Let's get right into it.

Step 1: Download the Splunk Exam Blueprint

The exam Blueprint provides a general guideline for what topics will be on the exam. Reviewing the test blueprint helped me understand the topics covered and focus my study efforts without much distraction. (Link)

Before jumping into preparation, I took some time to understand what the Splunk Certified User certification is all about. The exam tests your foundational knowledge of Splunk, focusing on areas like:

• Basic navigation
• Understanding search commands
• Creating simple alerts, reports and dashboards

This certification is designed for beginners, so it’s perfect for anyone just starting with Splunk or looking to solidify their foundational skills.

?Pro Tip: Visit the official Splunk certification page for the most up-to-date exam details.

Step 2: Enroll in Free Splunk Training Resources

Splunk offers an incredible free training course called "Splunk Fundamentals 1". I went through this course but it was all what I already knew. So, I did not take all the training here. If you have no experience with Splunk, I recommend you take all the courses twice if possible until you have a good mastery of the material before moving on.

I did not have to do any practical part for this exam but if you are a complete Splunk beginner, I would advise you practice every single step by creating a free Splunk account to better understand the concepts and get some hands on. So, Practice, Practice, Practice.

Pro Tip: Use Splunk’s free sandbox environment or install the free version on your computer for extra practice.

Step 3: Supplement with External Resources

Although the official Splunk course was helpful, I wanted additional perspectives, so I turned to:

Udemy Course:

I used an amazing Udemy course to supplement my knowledge and make sure I got everything covered. This course was the icing on the cake for me. It covers EVERYTHING you need to pass the exam along with things to note for the exam at every step plus full practice questions - The Complete Splunk Core Certified User Course - SPLK-1001 By George Ntani (Link).

Pro Tip: Focus on understanding the "why" behind each answer. This way, you’ll be prepared even if the questions on the actual exam are phrased differently.

Step 4: Exam Day Preparation

The night before the exam, I went through the final practice test in the Udemy course again for a second time and some sections which I felt like I didn't completely understand but I made sure to get plenty of rest. On exam day, I kept the following in mind:

• Stay calm and focused. You got this girl.
• Manage your time effectively; don’t rush through questions.
• Review all questions and answers at the end if you still have time.
• Use the elimination method if unsure about an answer.

The actual exam wasn’t as intimidating as I expected, thanks to the preparation I had done and my practical experience with Splunk. Most questions were straightforward if you truly understand the basics.

Pro Tip: Breath in and out to stay calm if you get frustrated during the exam.

Step 5: Over to You

If you’re thinking about taking the Splunk Certified User certification, I encourage you to go for it! Start with the free resources, put in consistent effort, and believe in yourself. You’ve got this!

A few Questions Answered:

1. How long did you study for?

I was inconsistent due to my busy schedule. It was probably about a month or so (Because I have the practical experience with Splunk).

2. Do I need prior Splunk experience?

No. you do not need to have prior experience to take this exam.

3. Did I use any exam dumps for practice?

No. Because they can be very misleading at times.

4. What was my most important resource?

The Udemy Course by George Ntani

?5. How long did I take to finish the exam?

I finished the exam within 35 minutes on the clock.

Took another 15 minutes to calmly review my answers before submitting.

6. What are you still waiting for?

You got this.

Have you already taken this certification or are you planning to? Please share your experiences or questions in the comments. Let’s grow and learn together!