Certification Exam Study Guide?

[Robb_Barrett]

Just got back from the Summit where I took the certification exam and failed.  I took the practice exam that was distributed prior to the summit and aced it. Apparently those questions weren't on the real exam and the study material that was sent out didn't cover the stuff on the exam.

(Apparently I wasn't the only one. I talked to about 30 people who failed and 3 that passed. One guy had been certified for the past 3 years and failed.)

I know that you're allowing us to retake it for free in 2 weeks which is great because my company had to spend money on this and my failing is not going to sit well with my manager.

Can you distribute a study guide that covers what is on this year's exam?

Finally, why was the test so difficult?  It really required a photographic memory.  The questions asked were not questions I would say show expertise.  My favorite example is the question that asks the text on the button to add a new user: "Invite New User" or "Invite User" or "Add New User" or "Add User".  How does knowing the text on that button make me more of an expert than knowing where it is or what needs to be done to create a new user or role? 

I probably have 2,000 hours of real time Marketo use. I know how to use the APIs. I know how to use just about every aspect of Marketo. I would like to be recognized as an expert but the questions on that exam were about memorization of detail instead of functionality so I'd like a resource to help me study for the re-take.

[Robb_Barrett]

Everyone -

This thread is in response to the 2015 exam, aka #CertGate.  The exam has been re-written several times since this abomination and is now much better at showing proficiency in Marketo.

I'd like to request this thread be closed as I'm seeing responses to the 2017 exam in here.  Katie Pope​ or Philip Tieu​, can you shut down this thread?

[Janet_Dulsky]

Robb, I have marked this thread as outdated and linked it to a thread about the new 2017 MCE exam: https://nation.marketo.com/message/160363-re-new-marketo-certification-exam#comment-160363. Thanks for bringing this up.

Janet

[Jeffrey_Michae1]

Like Robb I am very disappointed I failed especially after all that I know and the prep time I put into taking the test.

I feel there were easy questions that were deliberately made confusing so that the test designers could feel good about making the test difficult. I also feel the multiple choice format a very poor choice - it's a visual tool. Use screen shots.

[Grace_Ramon]

I agree - the prep material did not do a good job of preparing people for the exam. It was EXTREMELY difficult and I use Marketo on the daily. I passed the exam; however, I still feel I could have been better prepared and some of the questions just seemed like trick questions. I was very anxious taking this test because I felt like I went in "blind".

[Anonymous]

April 2017.

All of this discussion is out of date, and none of the links work.

Where is the prep for the most recent exam?

Sally

[Philip_Tieu]

Hi Sally,

The newest link to the Certification resources page is here: Marketo Certified Expert

but... I get the feeling that will be updated/replaced in a few weeks so when that happens I'll be by to update the link. As for the prep materials, the Education department here has moved that content into the Marketo University.

If you are already logged into the Marketo University, these are the current links. If you are not already logged in, these links will simply take you to the homepage where you can use the search term "MCE Prep".

There is a virtual session that is available here: https://learnadmin.marketo.com/ContentDetails.aspx?id=B261C54E880346B89B5D60057556B82B

and a OnDemand recording available to passport holders here: https://learnadmin.marketo.com/ContentDetails.aspx?id=850B24EB6B6049CF8DE284AFDAF45EAC

[Anonymous]

Hi Philip Tieu​

,

I can't find a study guide for the MCE exam. There are the sample questions in the link  you gave, but no guide of what to study for the course.  There was a guide a couple of weeks ago but now I can't find it. I was part way through the prep course recording but now that summit has passed, it won't let me access it, whereas I thought you only needed to access it before summit to get it free. I am certified but need to renew my certification.

So, can you post a link to the study guide please?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

You need to take a look at this discussion:

Certification Exam Study Guide?

The preparation is no longer free but paid for, but it was a good course.

[Anonymous]

That links to this discussion! I did find the exam study guide here for anyone else looking, but only through googling is as there didn't appear to be any direct links to it:

Preparation

I know it is paid for now, I'm a freelance and have to pay my own way, so I prefer to do my own studying, especially as the recording that I'd worked part way through was not in depth enough to each me anything. I've been using Marketo for 8 years now but take nothing for granted in preparing for exams!

- Erica

[Philip_Tieu]

I knew that page existed but I couldn't find any links to it either! Thanks for finding it Erica!

[Anonymous]

Thanks. Yes these are the correct links.

Fortunately I passed the exam last night . Eureka! Quite a lot of panicking  when I realised I had nothing to revise against, then 6 hours studying from 9-5, but then I do use Marketo 6 hours a day.

Tips:

• You need to know your reports in particular the Web Activity / Landing Page; Lead Revenue Stage / Status
• You need to know tokens and hierarchies
• Engagement campaigns are vital and Smart Lists/Campaigns

Result!

[Robb_Barrett]

Yes, it's free and you can take it multiple times. That's what helped me a lot.

[Grégoire_Miche2]

Hi Robb,

I gather you passed this time ?

-Greg

[Robb_Barrett]

97% this time.  Only 3 wrong.

[Grégoire_Miche2]

Yeah

[Danielle_Wong]

Cool, thank you Robb!!

[Robb_Barrett]

Marketo Certified Expert Preparation Tools

https://www.classmarker.com/online-test/start/?quiz=xxk55197da05eea4

[Ayana_Nickerson · Accepted solution]

Greetings Marketers!

Thank you so much for your feedback and comments regarding the Marketo Certified Expert exam.  We heard your feedback and we have made some improvements to our preparation materials based. 

Practice Exam:  We have updated and expanded the practice exam to more closely reflect and align with the updated exam.

Preparation Guide:  We have also created a webpage specifically for certification preparation. 

Prep Tools Page

http://pages2.marketo.com/MCE-exam-prep-tool-kit.html?utm_source=website&utm_medium=marketo&utm_camp...

I hope this information is useful.   If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly.  I would love to hear from you.

Best regards,

Ayana Nickerson

anickerson@marketo.com

[Robb_Barrett]

At the conference we were told that we would be allowed to retake the test for free if we failed. Is that still the case?

[Joe_Reitz]

Yes, but I think it was by the end of July. You should have received an email from Marketo. If not, try reaching out to Ayana Nickerson​