Last week, I passed the Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam with a score of 77%. I believe this is a fair reflection of my current understanding of Kubernetes and the challenges presented by some of the exam questions. I am grateful for the dumbITGuys’ Playlist questions and mj_iac’s updated GitHub repository, which provided validations and further question development.
While I will address some criticisms below, it is worth noting that the GitHub repository greatly aided my time management and helped me understand the types of questions asked. To support my study, I created a spreadsheet for tracking timings on questions, which you can copy and use alongside the repository.
As someone who regularly works on Kubernetes environments, many exam questions mirrored the tasks I encounter frequently. Although the exam was tough, it was also highly relevant to my job. In hindsight, I wish I had pursued this certification earlier.
There is a distinct difference between passing an exam under time constraints and managing a production Kubernetes environment. Many people here believe that working through the above playlist is sufficient for passing the exam. but your Kubernetes knowledge should be more; at least covering the syllabus requirements. In my job, successful completion of problems and requests often depends on your grasp of the fundamentals, especially when internal documentation at your workplace is lacking.
(EDIT: made edits to this paragraph.) Achieving the CKA is an accomplishment, but I think there is a noticeable difference between the skills of administrators who score 66, 76, 86, or 96. While studying, it’s important to regularly check your understanding of the concepts. For CKA, you should be aware of which namespace you are applying changes to, understand the difference between co-located and sidecar containers, and be familiar with all kube-system components and their functions. You should also recognise different syntax error messages for troubleshooting YAML files, and know how to use the --help flag to obtain assistance from commands.
But it shouldn’t end after your exam. Next weekend I’m looking at running through the Kubernetes the Hard Way repository to see if it can help deepen my Kube-system understanding.
My study routine included Pluralsight & CKA Prep with Sander Van Vurt (which my workplace covered, consider using KodeCloud if you’re paying out of pocket as it is far better value), and 40(55) days of Kubernetes from Tech Tutorials with Pyush for further and up-to-date explanation. I used KillerCoda for lab practice. Knowing the documentation is also your friend.
I wish all future candidates the best in their Kubernetes endeavours.