Arriving at the Exam

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As with any test, you'll be tempted to cram the night before. Resist that temptation. You should know the material by this point, and if you're too groggy in the morning, you won't remember what you studied anyways. Instead, get a good night's sleep.

Arrive early for your exam; it gives you time to relax and review key facts. Take the opportunity to review your notes. If you get burned out on studying, you can usually start your exam a few minutes early. On the other hand, I don't recommend arriving late. Your test could be cancelled, or you may not be left with enough time to complete the exam.

When you arrive at the testing center, you'll need to sign in with the exam administrator. In order to sign in you'll need two forms of identification. Acceptable forms include government-issued Ids (for example, passport or drivers license), credit cards, and company ID badge. One form of ID must include a photograph.

Aside from a brain full of facts, you don't need to bring anything else to the exam. In fact, your brain is about all you're allowed to take into the exam! All the tests are 'closed book', meaning you don't get to bring any reference materials with you. You're also not allowed to take any notes out of the exam room. The test administrator will provide you with paper and a pencil. Some testing centers may provide you with a small marker board instead.

Leave your pager and telephone in the car, or turn them off. They only add stress to the situation, since they are not allowed into the exam room, and can sometimes still be heard if they ring outside of the room. Purses, books, and other materials must be left with the administrator before entering the exam. While in the exam room, it's important that you don't disturb other candidates; talking is not allowed during the exam.

Once in the testing room, the exam administrator logs onto your exam, and you have to verify that your ID and the exam number are correct. Before the test begins you will be required to complete a brief survey to help Citrix better understand the demographics of people taking Citrix exams. Following your completion of the survey, you will be provided with facts about the exam, including the duration, the number of questions, and the score required for passing. Then the clock starts ticking, and the fun begins.

The testing software is Windows-based, but you won't have to access the main desktop or any of the accessories. The exam is presented in full screen, with a single question per screen. Navigation buttons allow you to move forward and backward between questions. In the upper-right corner of the screen, counters show the number of questions and the time remaining. Most importantly, there is a 'Mark' check box in the upper-left corner of the screen- this will allow you to return to revisit tough questions that may prompt subsequent additional study.

Submitting Your Answers and Scoring

When you're confident with all of your answers, finish the exam by submitting it for grading. After what will seem like the longest ten seconds of your life, the testing software will respond with your score. This is usually displayed as a bar graph, showing the minimum passing score, your score, and a PASS/FAIL indicator.

If you're curious, you can review the statistics of your score at this time. Answers to specific questions are not presented; rather, questions are lumped into categories, and results are tallied for each category. This detail is also printed on a report that has automatically been printed at the exam administrator's desk.

As you leave the exam you'll need to leave your scratch paper behind, or leave it with the administrator (Some testing centers track the number of sheets you've been given, so be sure to return them all). In exchange, you'll receive a copy of the test report.

This report will be embossed with the testing center's seal, and you should keep it in a safe place. Your score report will instruct you to fax your results directly to Citrix and will provide the appropriate fax number.

In a few days, weeks, or months, Citrix will send you a package in the mail containing a nice paper certificate and lapel pin. You will be given a license to use logos available for download on your personal stationary and business cards.

Retake Policy

If you don't pass the exam, don't be discouraged. Try and have a good attitude about the experience, and get ready to try again. Consider yourself a bit more educated. You know the format of the test a little better, and the report shows which areas you need to strengthen.

If you bounce back quickly, you'll probably remember several of the questions you may have missed. This will help you focus your study efforts in the right area. Serious go-getters will re-schedule the exam for a couple of days after the previous attempt, while the study material is still fresh in their minds.

Ultimately, remember that Citrix certifications are valuable because they're hard to get. After all, if anyone could get one, what value would it have? In the end, it takes a good attitude and a lot of studying, but you can do it!

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