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2023-10-27
SoftwareTechnologyKubernetes

How to prepare for the Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD) exam

If you are reading this, you are likely preparing for the CKAD exam. These are the tips I wish I had before taking it.

CKAD badge

Tip 1: It is hands-on

Unlike other industry certifications such as the AWS Solutions Architect Associate, the CKAD focuses on practical exercises. You get access to a remote environment with various Kubernetes contexts that you need to switch between. Get comfortable with the kubectl CLI. Your ability to create and troubleshoot Kubernetes deployments matters more than knowing every detail.

Tip 2: Know the question types

The CKAD has specific question archetypes. Practice the most common ones:

  • Creating a Deployment: More likely than creating a standalone pod.
  • Debugging a Deployment: Check whether requested replicas match available pods, and ensure selector labels align with pod metadata.
  • Debugging a Service: Differentiate ClusterIP vs NodePort; verify endpoints with kubectl get endpoints; check selectors.
  • Creating a Network Policy: Combine ingress/egress rules correctly; syntax can be tricky.
  • Using a ConfigMap: Reference values via valueFrom and configMapKeyRef for env vars.
  • Mounting Volumes and Using Secrets: Mount secrets as env vars or volumes; common easy points.

Tip 3: Focus on speed

Having the right answers is not enough—you must be fast:

  • Touch typing: The exam is terminal-heavy. Type quickly, but favor copy/paste to avoid typos.
  • Aliases, short flags, history: Add alias k='kubectl'; use short flags like -n; reuse commands with history or reverse search.
  • Text editing: Get comfortable with a basic editor (e.g., Vim) for navigation and search.
  • Linux pipes: Let the shell work for you. Example: k -n space get deployments -oyaml | vim -- to inspect resources quickly.

Tip 4: Skip the course purchase

When you register for the CKAD exam through the Linux Foundation, you get access to an exam-like environment and a demo exam. The questions are well-structured and close to the real difficulty level. Use those before buying extra courses. If time runs out, you can practice the demo questions locally.

You are all set

I hope these tips help you. Share your achievement after completing the certification. Best of luck!