Priyanka Chavan is a Software Engineer and MuleSoft Developer at Salesforce and co-leads the San Francisco MuleSoft Meetup group. This is the second of a two-part series about her journey to completing her MuleSoft Certified Developer – Level 1 certification. To help other developers interested in starting their MuleSoft certification journey, Priyanka has created a two-part blog series sharing best practices to help guide developers as they explore MuleSoft training and how to become a certified MuleSoft Developer.
Diligently preparing for the MuleSoft Certification exam is vital to passing. The MuleSoft Certification exam requires your full attention and having a basic idea of the structure of the exam can ensure you feel properly prepared on exam day. Below, I describe what I’ve learned from the certification process as well as explain how my MuleSoft Certification has helped me excel in my career:
Before the exam
Review the topics that you find the trickiest, below are my top three areas that I personally needed to focus on:
- Error handling: Rather than just reading and knowing about the end result and default behavior of error handlers (on-error propagate and on-error continue) I would recommend doing a small POC and then understand their behavior.
- Batch processing: Understand and implement the three batch processing components first, and then focus on understanding how each of these components works and their results.
- Dataweave 2.0 modeling language: I recommend the hands-on practice to get a good understanding of all its functions. Sometimes it takes time to understand why an error is coming through and how I could resolve the conflict.
These three topics are needed in every simple and complex integration, so be sure to focus on them. To become a MuleSoft Certified Developer (MCD) one must know and understand these concepts thoroughly.
Exam set up and preparation: review the exam preparation guide that you can find on the download page.
What’s the exam like?
Exam format:
- Format: Multiple choice questions, closed book, proctored online, or at a testing center
- Length: 60 questions
- Duration: 120 Minutes (2 hours)
- Pass score: 70%
- Language: English
- Cost: $250
Exams can be taken online or in-person at testing centers. I personally prefer online proctored exams as it comes with various significant advantages — reduced travel time, more flexible scheduling, and a testing environment you’re familiar with. I would recommend finding a time when the work pressures are lowest.
Things to keep in mind:
- There are no negative markings, so make sure you answer all questions before submitting your exam.
- You don’t need to answer questions in order, you can always go back and revisit questions.
- The exam certification is valid for two years from the date you receive it.
If you’ve reviewed all the modules, quizzes, and did the extra DIY exercises, then you’re likely ready to challenge the exam. Always prepare yourself for the worst and hope for the best. Take the exam when you are confident and ready. Keep in mind that this exam is to prove your skills, not just to test your memory. Getting the certificate doesn’t mean much if you haven’t gained hands-on experience in the subject matter.
Exam day tips
Make sure your system is all set for the exam, and make sure you have a reliable internet connection. Assure that you are in the room alone, and will be undisturbed for the duration of
your exam. Also, make sure you will be in a quiet, well-lit space. Clear away any extra papers and other miscellaneous items that can distract you. Before the start of the test, grab a government-issued photo ID to show your proctor.
During the exam
Read the questions twice before answering. If you have time left at the end of the exam, go back through each question again and double-check your answers. If you’re not sure about one of your answers, try approaching it from a different perspective. Stay calm, just remember that if the first two questions are tricky, that doesn’t mean the entire test is going to be as difficult for you. Just flag that question, move on to the next, and return to it later. Staying calm during the exam is really important. Make sure you can concentrate on the exam and nothing else. Don’t allow one difficult question to shake your confidence.
After the exam
So how does my story end? Becoming a MuleSoft Certified Developer paved the way for me to receive two great job offers. After hearing my story, my brother also studied for and passed his MuleSoft Certified Developer exam. Since then, we’ve both built careers that we love with MuleSoft and become MuleSoft meetup leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area. Good luck and happy learning. Be sure to post your brand new MuleSoft certificate to LinkedIn to share your success with #MuleSoftCertified and #MuleSoftDeveloper!
Sign up for your MuleSoft certification by visiting our Training website
