Created: 04 March 2021

Last Updated: 09 March 2023

6 Great Tips to Help You Get TOGAF 9 Certification on Your First Try

Once you've passed your Foundation exam, it's time to take the TOGAF 9 Certification exam. Learn some helpful tips for passing it right here!

Keyword(s): togaf 9 certification

There are over 77,000 TOGAF-certified Enterprise Architects in the world. Without certification, the competition is even steeper. If you want to ensure your credibility as an enterprise architect and open up your job opportunities, then you need a TOGAF 9 certification.

But you can't cross your fingers and hope everything goes well. If you want to earn your certification, you need to be ready for the exam. Luckily, you've come to the right place.

Once you've passed your Foundation exam, it's time to take the TOGAF 9 Certified exam. Learn some helpful tips for passing it right here!

1. TOGAF 9 Level 2 Training Course

The TOGAF Standard is the most popular Enterprise Architecture standard out there. That said, the TOGAF 9 book contains about 800 pages of specific content. That's why supplementing your own study hours with a training course can be helpful.

Finding a training course for assistance helps you know what to expect from the exam. The trainers can provide you with expert guidance and experience for the exam itself. It's also a great way to stay accountable and motivated to stay focused during preparation.

2. Dedicated Study Time

Remember those 800 pages we mentioned earlier? There's no way around it, you're going to need to dedicate at least three to five days reading and studying the pages of the TOGAF 9 book.

The certification exam wants to ensure you're familiar with the content. So your best bet is to spend as much time as you can to immerse yourself in TOGAF. You should complete as many practice exams for Part 1 and 2 as you possibly can.

TOGAF also provides a Part 1 and Part 2 study guide for the exam. Part 1 is around 200 pages and covers all the possible content on the Part 1 exam. It's a great place to start.

3. Test Your Knowledge

It's important to stick with the official study guides made from the Open Group when studying for the TOGAF 9 Certification. You may find other self-study guides available online but you should only need the information that was organized by the Open Group themselves.

In addition, be sure to use the practice questions to test your knowledge throughout your study time. This can help you immediately identify weaknesses in a specific topic so you can work on it a bit more.

4. Know How You're Graded

Before jumping into the exam, familiarize yourself with how it is graded.

Exam Part 1

Part 1 of the TOGAF Certification exam is multiple choice. Each of the 40 questions has four to five answers to choose from. You must score 22 correct answers to pass.

If you do not choose the right multiple-choice answer you will get a zero for that question. That means you can only get 18 questions wrong before you fail. However, there are no markdowns for getting an answer wrong so your best bet is to answer all of the questions.

To move on to Part 2, you must pass Part 1. Be sure you know all the TOGAF definitions and foundational content to pass Part 1.

Exam Part 2

Part 2 is also a multiple-choice test however there are eight questions that have four possible answers. Only one of the answers gives you a zero score. If you select the best answer you earn five points.

You only need to score 24 points out of 40 for Part 2. Even the second-best response scores you three points. So if you score three points for each of the eight questions you can pass the exam.

This part of the test shows your ability to reason through a TOGAF scenario. Your best strategy for Part 2 is to find the distracter of each question and eliminate it right away.

5. Know the Part 2 Design

Understanding the idea behind Part 2 of the exam can help you get the questions right. In Part 2 you are given a real-world scenario. You should first find the central focus of the scenario which is usually a Phase of the ADM. It could also be a security or interoperability scenario.

This helps you determine the best response based on the focus of the scenario. You have 12 minutes to answer each question in Part 2. This part of the test is also open-book. You can use the complete TOGAF book during the 90 minutes. It is in a PDF format so search on keywords to find the sections you need otherwise it could take too much time.

Plan to keep Section 31 close at hand. This section defines all the artefacts and it is guaranteed to help you find the right answer. Plan to use all of the time for the exam. You don't want to rush through without properly reading the scenario and each question thoroughly.

6. Stay Calm & Take Your Time

The TOGAF Certification exam is timed. You have about two minutes for each question in Part 1 and 12 minutes per question for Part 2. You can move backwards and forwards through all the questions in Part 1 and answer them in whatever order you like.

First, answer all the questions in Part 1 that you are confident of the answers. Then go back for the ones you are unsure of. In Part 2 you must find the best answer. So you may notice multiple correct answers but only one is the best.

Comparing the answers to each other can help you find the most appropriate one for the scenario. You should spend the majority of your effort studying Part 1 since you need to pass it to make it to Part 2.

Part 2 allows you to use your book and relies on deductive reasoning. Your chances of passing this section are high. This should help you manage your time wisely when spending long hours studying.

Get Certified With Confidence

There are so many reasons why getting your TOGAF 9 Certification is important to your success and future career. There's never been a better time to dedicate to your job security. If you're ready to get serious and pass the certification exam then we can help.

Check out our many informative articles and training courses to help you tackle a wide range of certification exams. We can help you stay current in the Enterprise Architecture industry.

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 Marcin Chmielewski - Blog Author 
He has extensive IT knowledge combined with enthusiasm for digital marketing.
His experience and knowledge come from many years of working for large corporations. Associated with Information Technology since the beginning of his career, he has qualifications in the fields of team management, Enterprise Architecture, IT Service Management, databases, application servers, and operating systems.
His hobbies include traveling, skiing, and hiking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is TOGAF 9 certification, and why is it important?
   TOGAF 9 is a globally recognised enterprise architecture framework that helps organisations manage and transform their businesses. It is essential as it provides a common language and methodology for architecture development and establishes best practises for architects.
2. How many levels are there in TOGAF 9 certification?
   There are two levels of TOGAF 9 certification. Level 1 is the Foundation level, and Level 2 is the Certified level.
3. How can I prepare for the TOGAF 9 certification exam?
   You can get ready for the TOGAF 9 certification exam by taking a TOGAF training course, reading study materials, and doing practise questions. It is also recommended to have practical experience in applying the TOGAF framework.
4. How much does it cost to get certified in TOGAF 9?
   The cost of the TOGAF 9 course and certification exam varies depending on the location and course delivery format. Check details at https://www.advisedskills.com/courses/enterprise-architecture/togaf
5. How long is the TOGAF 9 certification valid?
   The TOGAF 9 certification is valid for life, and there is no requirement for recertification. But to keep your skills and knowledge up to date, it is best to use the latest version of the TOGAF framework.