Stage 7 · Master
Exam Strategy & Study Plans
Exam-Day Time Management
Flagging, weighting by marks, and the PSI environment — maximizing your score.
Before the Exam
- Test your environment — PSI browser, webcam, microphone, internet connection.
- Prepare your desk — Clear desk, government ID ready, no electronic devices.
- Close applications — Shut down all unnecessary applications and browser tabs.
- Check lighting — Ensure your face is clearly visible on webcam.
- Have water nearby — Stay hydrated during the exam.
The PSI secure browser takes over your screen. You cannot minimize it or switch to other applications. The proctor can see your screen and webcam feed. Violations result in exam termination.
The First 10 Minutes
- Set up aliases — Create kubectl aliases (k, kgp, kdp, etc.).
- Set up vim — Configure vim for YAML editing.
- Test kubectl — Verify kubectl access and cluster connectivity.
- Skim the questions — Read all question titles to understand the scope.
- Plan your attack — Identify easy tasks and plan your time budget.
Time Budgeting
Time is your most valuable resource during the exam. Budget it carefully based on task weight and difficulty.
| Task Weight | Time Budget | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | 6 minutes | Do first, verify quickly |
| 10% | 12 minutes | Moderate complexity, verify |
| 13% | 16 minutes | Complex, may need multiple steps |
| 20%+ | 24+ minutes | Most complex, save for later |
At the 50% time mark (1 hour for CKA/CKAD, 45 minutes for KCNA/KCSA), you should have completed at least 50% of the tasks. If you are behind, skip hard tasks and focus on easy ones.
Flagging Strategy
- First pass — Do all tasks you can complete in under 5 minutes.
- Flag uncertain tasks — Mark tasks that require research or multiple attempts.
- Second pass — Return to flagged tasks with remaining time.
- Verify — Use validation commands to confirm your answers.
- Never leave blank — Attempt every task, even if you are unsure.
Verifying Answers
Every CKA/CKAD task includes a verification command. Always run it to confirm your answer is correct before moving on.
# Verify a Pod is running
kubectl get pods my-pod -o wide
# Verify a Service has endpoints
kubectl get endpoints my-service
# Verify an Ingress is configured
kubectl describe ingress my-ingress
# Verify a NetworkPolicy exists
kubectl get networkpolicy my-policy -o yaml
# Verify RBAC
kubectl auth can-i get pods --as=developer --namespace=productionVerification commands are the fastest way to confirm your answer. Run them immediately after completing a task. If the verification fails, debug before moving on.
PSI Environment
- Split terminal — Open multiple terminal tabs for parallel work.
- Text editor — vi/vim is available for editing manifests.
- Browser access — kubernetes.io/docs is accessible for documentation.
- No internet — External documentation (Stack Overflow, GitHub) is not accessible.
- Clipboard — Copy/paste works within the PSI browser.
Use killer.sh or similar practice environments that simulate the PSI browser. The interface is different from a regular terminal, and you need to be comfortable with it.
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