EX280 Objectives and DO280 preparation

[m_sigismondi]

Hi to all,

after a tremendous experience with EX288 I'm preparing EX280.

I found some EX288 exam requirements very distant from DO288 course and labs and this surprised me since I passed easily and at the first attempt EX188 using DO188 course.

Now for EX288 I'm trying to take a lot of care with the objectives but I have some doubts: for example, the page https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/ex288-red-hat-certified-openshift-application-developer-... declare in the Study points for the exam section:

• Deploy multi-container applications
  • Create and use Helm charts
  • Customizing deployments with Kustomize

Now the lab proposed by the DO280 course is only about creating different versions of the application by using different folders and git branches: should I create by myself some exercise to challenge myself with kustomize yaml syntax?

If someone successfully passed the exam can share how he/she practiced the objectives not covered by the labs?

Thank you,

Marco

[Wasim_Raja]

@m_sigismondi I would suggest you not be just dependent on the labs or Guided exercise but also go through the explanation before the exercises where almost all the stuff is covered.

And feel free to experiment yourself with different challenges as much as possible it always helps

All the very best with your preparations and exam, have a good one!!

Regards,

Wasim

[m_sigismondi]

Hi @Wasim_Raja ,

thank you for your suggestions and this is effectively how I'm preparing for the exam.

I'll give another example: how deep do I have to know Helm template directives? On the Objectives page, it is mentioned: 

Deploy Applications

• Deploy applications from resource manifests
• Use Kustomize overlays to modify application configurations
• Deploy applications from images, OpenShift templates, and Helm charts

My concern is about not remembering some specific Helm directive and scoring 0% on a whole requirement (this happened to me in EX288).

Thank you

[krahat]

is this exam is free of cost??

[Chetan_Tiwary_]

No @krahat - this exam is not free of cost. 

Refer here : https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/red-hat-certified-openshift-administrator-exam 

[Chetan_Tiwary_]

Hello @m_sigismondi !

Thanks for reaching out! 

I could not understand the post - you are preparing for EX280 with corresponding DO280 course right ( since you have already cleared / taken EX288 exam with DO288 course & EX188 with DO188 course ) ?

[m_sigismondi]

Hi @Chetan_Tiwary_ ,

that's correct. I'm preparing EX280 with the corresponding DO280 course. I cited EX188 and EX288 since I had different experiences with them.

Specifically in EX288 I found exam requirements that involved the use of specific Helm directives or properties I didn't remember so for EX280 I want to be sure to be prepared since just have a couple of months left in my RHLS.

I wondered how others who passed the exam prepared for it and if someone faced the same issues.

Thank you,

M.

[Travis · Accepted solution]

@m_sigismondi -

One thing to be careul of is there are multiple versions of the OCP courses and exams, so it is possible since you order a "versionless" exam, when scheduling you might have picked an incorrect exam. The other thing that can happen (infrequent, but possible) is that the exam and course content with newer courses and exams might not 100% align - this is extremely rare and in general, the courses cover much more than what are considered exam objectives.

The best advices ... look at exam objectives and compare to the course and further map those objectives to the course sections and guided exercises.

https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/red-hat-certified-openshift-administrator-exam?section=o...

I always go beyond the exercises and labs in the book and make up some of my own scenarios based on other exams I've taken ... think what else could I be asked to show how this works? Is there anything I covered in the section that isn't on the GE or EoC lab that I could practice with hands-on? What can I break so I can see error messages and figure out how to fix so if I make a mistake during the exam, I've seen it before and I don't lose the momentum going through the actual questions.

https://www.redhat.com/en/services/training/red-hat-openshift-administration-ii-configuring-a-produc...

Again, Red Hat Training is a wonderful way to gain experience and learn the products and it is a 100% method I use to study and help prepare for an exam, but keep in mind that the training courses are not exam prep courses and are not designed to help you get the certification, so application of what is learned in the course is what is required to pass an exam (no memorizing how to do a GE or Lab and expecting to recall that for an exam).

Good luck with the EX280!! 

[Chetan_Tiwary_]

@Travis  +1 to what you just repllied !

Your reminder that the focus should be on applying the skills and knowledge gained from the courses rather than memorizing specific procedures highlights the importance of practical application and conceptual understanding. This approach fosters a more holistic learning experience that prepares learners for real-world challenges.

Thank you !

[m_sigismondi]

Hi @Travis,

thank you for your detailed reply.

Effectively I always considered the DO* course as EX* preparation and this made me rely too much on Labs end Guided Exercise.

Thank you,

M.