Tips and Tricks to pass the CKA and CKAD examination

12 minutes

Dwijadas Dey

Introduction

This article will guide you through every essential step needed to excel at CKA or CKAD exam, offering you preparation tactics, strategies for the exam day, useful links and helpful tips from someone who has cracked the CKA and CKAD exam recently.

The increased adoption of cloud-native architecture has made Kubernetes a must-have skill for software developers, architects, and system administrators. As the popularity of containers and container orchestration tools such as Kubernetes has soared, the need for proficient-certified Kubernetes administrators or application developers has skyrocketed.

While you can study and gain experience in Kubernetes on your own through various freely available courses and by divesting your professional responsibilities, it is important to ensure that your skill sets are commensurate with a certification such as a certified Kubernetes administrator or application developer, which is highly regarded by the industry.

The cloud-native compute foundation(CNCF), along with the Linux Foundation, offers the following: curriculum, knowledge, and skill-based certification in Kubernetes and is well recognized by the tech industry.

The Kubernetes and Cloud Native Associate [KCNA] Certification
The Certified Kubernetes Application Developer [CKAD] Certification
The Certified Kubernetes Administrator [CKA] Certification
The Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist [CKS] Certification

The article provides a clear answer on what is a good starting point for preparing CKA and CKAD exam and tips on how to tackle both the exam.

Know the CKA and CKAD Exam Curriculum

Begin preparing for the CKA or CKAD exam by reviewing the course curriculum for both exams and determining which Kubernetes certification is best for your career path. The syllabus outlines every topic covered in the CKA or CKAD exam.

It is important to note that passing either of the examination will make it easier for you to pass the second one because there is a significant overlap of exam content, which is approximately 50%. Therefore, many candidates, whether developers or administrators, prefer to complete both certifications in quick succession.

CKA exam curriculum
CKAD exam curriculum

Which one to choose - CKA or CKAD?

The CKA examination is for professionals and system administrators whose job is to design, deploy, and maintain the Kubernetes cluster in production environments. Take the CKAD examination if you are a developer who builds, configures, and deploys cloud-native applications in the Kubernetes production environment.

In summary, the CKAD examination is more geared toward running applications in Kubernetes, whereas the CKA examination is more about building and maintaining Kubernetes clusters so that developers can run their Kubernetes applications over the Kubernetes cluster.

The CKA examination goes into more depth into Kubernetes and concerns the Kubernetes ecosystem and architecture as a whole. The CKAD examination tests Kubernetes skills from a developer perspective, along with basic Docker skills, manipulation of Docker images, and best practices.

CKA or CKAD exam prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for either CKA or CKAD examination. Nonetheless, candidates must be familiar with Docker and containerization skills, and thoroughly understand Linux, basic networking concepts, and cloud computing principles.

Understand the CKA or CKAD Exam format

The CKA or CKAD examination format is not theoretical. The examinations are performance-based, hands-on tests, where one must solve 17 real-world tasks in a live Kubernetes cluster within two hours. Your Kubernetes skills will be evaluated in a terminal(bash shell) based on your expertise in solving tasks efficiently and accurately.

There is no direct access to the Linux terminal. The candidates must leverage the PSI Secure Browser to establish a connection with a remote Linux XFCE desktop session to access the terminal.

PSI Secure Browser -> Remote Desktop session -> Terminal

A proctor monitors the examination remotely by streaming audio, video, and screen-sharing live feeds.

The passing score of CKA and CKAD exam is 66%.

How do you prepare for the CKA or CKAD exam?

Set up a Kubernetes learning environment

The certified Kubernetes administrator (CKA) or certified Kubernetes application developer (CKAD) exam is based on hands-on task. Hence, it is essential to repeatedly put your theoretical understanding into practical use until you become confident in the pace at which you can tackle real-life Kubernetes problems and sit in the either exam.

Create a local Kubernetes cluster using tools such as Kubeadm, minikube, or Kops to practice and increase the speed needed to solve tasks in the CKA or CKAD examination. You can also create a Kubernetes cluster in the cloud using AWS EKS, Azure AKS, and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). However, this incurs costs.

Get used to navigating Kubernetes Documentation

The official Kubernetes documentation is essential for gaining core concepts and getting used to searching and navigating through it during examination time. Therefore, it is essential to familiarize oneself with the official Kubernetes documentation while preparing for CKA or CKAD exam.

You do not need to read everything from Kubernetes documentation. Choose the topic wisely for reading, and have a clear mindmap of each topic so that it becomes easier for you to search and find a topic in the examination.

Candidates can use only the official Kubernetes documentation(all available languages) from within the remote desktop session on which the examination is delivered. No third-party documentation or links with discussions on Kubernetes were allowed during the examination.

Kubernetes Documentation [CKA and CKAD]
Kubernetes Blog [CKA and CKAD]

Helm chart documentation [CKAD only]

Enroll in the KodeKloud Udemy course

This course is a top-notch creation by Udemy and Mumshad Mannambeth, designed exclusively for the CKA and CKAD exam, and it's highly unlikely that any candidate will miss out on enrolling in this course while preparing for both the examination.

This course can be bought for under $5, including a practice lab and a lighting mock test hosted on kodekloud.com forever.

Practice using Killercoda example scenarios

While preparing for the CKA or CKAD exam, try to solve exam scenarios available in Killercoda, which is free, but your session will last for only one hour. However, you can create as many sessions as you want and even practice curated scenarios in Killercoda.

Master Kubectl Commands

The duration of CKA or CKAD exam is limited. It is important to find solutions quickly using kubectl during the exam. Therefore, become proficient and at ease with using kubectl by practicing every command it offers.

During the examination, the candidate must define and edit Kubernetes resources using the yaml markup language. Therefore, you must be an expert in navigating through the yaml markup to create and update the Kubernetes resources.

Avoid typing YAML files in the exam. Use the kubectl dry run option to generate Kubernetes resource definition on the fly.

e.g. To generate a Kubernetes ClusterIP service definition, use the following kubectl command.

$ k create service clusterip web-service --tcp=80:80 --dry-run=client -o yaml

Also, make yourself familiar with the multilevel --help switch of the kubectl command so that you do not have to memorize long kubectl commands from start to end.

$ k create service --help
$ k create service clusterip --help

Never use a mouse or notepad to create or update Kubernetes resources; instead use the vi editor and leverage the kubectl command to do the same.

Make the habit of using the short name of the Kubernetes resource instead of typing the complete resource name.

e.g. use k get pvc to list persistent volume claims instead of typing kubectl get persistentvolumeclaims

The kubectl cheatsheet page is what you will consult daily for any doubts since you will need this page during the examination.

Focus on Cluster Maintenance and Troubleshooting

The CKA exam questions in this section will be tricky, but not difficult to solve. To answer questions in this section, one must understand the working principle of kubelet, kubeadm, and the kube config file.

Knowing how to install and update Kubernetes using the kubeadm tool, joining a node in an existing Kubernetes cluster, and the location and parameters used in the Kubernetes configuration files are the main focus areas of CKA exam.

In the troubleshooting section, understand how kubelet work, how to debug the kubelet service, and the kubelet configuration file. Focus on navigating and debugging pods and container log files from the filesystem and debugging containers using crictl - a tool to debug containers from CLI.

Moreover, know what is the etcd database and why is it used in a Kubernetes cluster? The backup and restore of etcd database is an important topic in this section. You should also be proficient in debugging processes using tools such as ps, netstat, grep, egrep, tail, head, journalctl, and systemd.

The tricky CKAD exam questions revolves around Application Environment, Configuration, and Security, where questions tend to be a little tricky, and the weightage is 25%. The cluster resource definition(CRD), authentication, authorization, and security context are the topics that require special attention.

The CKA or CKAD exam questions cover all aspects of what is given in the curriculum. Therefore all the topics are important and donot leave out any topic while you prepare for both the exams.

Enroll in the CKA/CKAD mock exam

Once you have completed the Udemy/KodeKloud course along with the lab and confident about solving questions from Killercoda example scenarios, buy CKA or CKAD mock exam from KodeKloud.

This mock exam can be solved and reset as many times as you want. At the end of the mock exam, you will be presented with a score and explanation of all answers.

A score of 90% or above in KodeKloud CKA/CKAD mock exam will grow your confidence to solve questions in both the examination.

Register for the examination

The CKA or CKAD examination costs is $395. Register for the CKA or CKAD examination by paying the requisite amount through the Linux Foundation website. You now have one year to schedule the examination from the moment you buy the examination.

There is one free retake when you fail on the first attempt. The purchase will accompany two mock test examinations that you should activate just before your actual examination without any gap, so that you are in good shape during the exam.

Utilize killer.sh simulator sessions:

Each Killer.sh simulator session allows 36-hour access to the Kubernetes cluster and contained the same set of questions along with solutions explaining each step. Try to practice a simulator session 2/3 times within the allowed 36 hours. The Killer.sh questions are generally harder than the actual examination, and a score of 60-65% in a simulator test signal that you are ready for the actual exam.

Exam tips

Use imperative commands

Use imperative commands as much as possible to complete the majority of the tasks because of time limitations. The kubectl cheatsheet page and help option of the kubectl command will enable you to arrive at a quick solution for each task. Also, be comfortable using the vi editor and terminal.

Uses of Alias

Do not waste one or two minutes, creating unnecessary aliases for kubectl commands. The alias for kubectl will be made available to you. Creating the following two aliases permanently in the bash profile is sufficient. For long kubectl commands, use tab key to autocomplete commands in the terminal.

$ export kgp="kubectl get pod"
$ export do="--dry-run=client -o yaml"

Ensure that the bash profile is reloaded.

However, do a quick verification if the kubectl alias with auto-completion feature is working or not. If it is not working, copy the commands from the kubectl cheatsheet page and paste them into a bash profile.

Do not memorize YAML files. It will not help you, rather use the dry-run option of kubectl command to generate YAML files for resources using the alias quickly.

$ k run pod web --image=nginx $do
$ k run pod web --image=nginx $do > web.yaml

Switching cluster context

For each question, there is a dedicated cluster on which you need to complete the tasks from the remote desktop terminal. Therefore, be mindful of the switching context for each question, which will be instructed along with questions. You will lose marks if you perform a task in the wrong cluster, even if your answer is correct.

Occasionally, one also needs to ssh into nodes of a cluster for debugging and troubleshooting certain tasks. Therefore, ensure you return to the remote desktop terminal once you complete the troubleshooting process.

Delete resources quickly

Delete resources quickly using the force option without waiting. It will save a few seconds, which will be weighted significantly during the examination.

$  k delete po pod1 --force  --grace-period 0

Backup resource definition before deleting it

Backup Kubernetes resource definition using the kubectl imperative command before deleting it. This will ensure that you can recreate the resource from the backup if you need to do so.

$ k get svc web-svc -o yaml > web-svc.yaml

Flag unfamiliar question

There is an option for the examination to flag an unfamiliar question. Do not waste too much time on unfamiliar questions, but flag them and revisit at the end of the examination once you solve all the other questions.

Allocate time on questions according to weight

Be concise about the time spent on each question and never spend too much time answering a single question. Of course, there will be some easy questions which you should aim to complete within 3/4 minutes. This will result in saving a few minutes that can be utilized to solve harder questions, especially in the troubleshooting section.

Be mindful of the namespace

While solving tasks in the examination, be mindful of the namespace where you try to solve the tasks. Therefore, read the questions carefully for any specific instructions on which namespace you need to interact with Kubernetes resources.

Stable internet connection

This is important. If you do not have a stable and fast internet connection then you may experience a lag during the examination. Remember, there will be two simultaneous connections you will establish during the examination.

The first one is the connection with a remote desktop session and the second one is the live video feeds that you are sharing with the proctor and these two protocols consumes considerable amount of bandwidth. Consider scheduling the exam during a time when network bandwidth usage is at its lowest, especially early in the morning.

Be fast and judicious

Finally, be judicious and fast while solving the tasks and stay hydrated. You can avail a single break by getting permission from the proctor to re-energize yourself quickly.

Final Note

The exam interface will open in the secured PSI browser where you will use Firefox from the XFCE desktop session to browse official Kubernetes documentation. Therefore bookmarking Kubernetes documentation in your local browser and importing it during the examination will not work.
You will not be allowed to open any links apart from official Kubernetes documentation.
You will be allowed to use multiple terminals for solving tasks in the examination.
A partial or step marks is rewarded even if you cannot complete a question entirely. Hence, it is prudent to try answering each question.
Use Ctrl+Shift+c and Ctrl+Shift+v to copy and paste from terminal/shell.
Tag the YAML files with a name such as question_number_description.yaml, making it easier for you to find and review them. (Q_1_svc.yaml, Q_2.pod.yaml)
Keep 5 to 10 minutes at the end to verify all the answers.
To have a better experience using the PSI browser during the CKA/CKAD exam, avoid using a smaller desktop or laptop screen.
Lastly, practice as often as you desire, even if you're confident about a subject.

PSI Secure browser during examination

Image courtesy: Linux Foundation

Useful Links

Best of Luck !

Conclusion

To sum up, you must adhere to specific guidelines for CKA or CKAD exam preparation, which is thoroughly explained in this article, along with some key tips and tricks to succeed in the exam.

The certified Kubernetes administrator (CKA) or certified Kubernetes application developer (CKAD) exam is a rewarding experience that allows you to demonstrate managing a Kubernetes cluster or showcasing eligibility for developing applications in Kubernetes.

Both examinations are well structured including core Kubernetes concepts, networking, security, and storage mechanisms to stay up to date with the latest industry trends. Overall a CKA or CKAD certification will validate your skillsets in the fast-paced world of cloud-native computing technology to drive innovation in this field.

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