Hello everyone!
I'm happy to announce that I've officially passed my ServiceNow Certified System Administrator (CSA) exam. I was honestly surprised and delighted to learn I answered 59 out of the 60 questions correctly, and I wanted to share the exact study method that worked so well for me. I truly believe that if you follow the steps in this article, your chances of passing will definitely increase.
First, Understand the Exam
The CSA exam is all about testing your knowledge of the ServiceNow platform's fundamentals. The questions are divided into six main domains, covering everything from the user interface to database management and security.
Avoid This Common Beginner Mistake
- When you start preparing, you might hear about using "dumps" or random PDFs you find online. My advice is simple: never do this. These are not reliable sources for your preparation. Dumps often contain irrelevant or outdated questions that aren't aligned with the real exam blueprint. Studying them is like banging your head against a wall.
- While giving mock tests on external websites can be great for boosting your confidence, never make them your only source of preparation.
Learn the Lingo: Know ServiceNow Terminologies
This might seem small, but it's important. You need to know the official ServiceNow terms. For example, many people call the three-line icon on a form the "hamburger icon," but its official name is the "Additional Context menu." The exam can have tricky questions where knowing the correct terminology will help you avoid confusion and choose the right answer.
My Core Preparation Resources
My strategy was focused. Here are the exact resources I used:
- ServiceNow Administration Fundamentals On-Demand Course: This course is the master key for the exam. It provides you with labs, an ebook, and everything else you need to succeed.
- The Ebook: The ebook that comes with the course is the most reliable source for preparing. Read it thoroughly. I mean it—read every single line very carefully before you attempt the exam.
- The Labs: Do the labs that come with the course at least two times. Don't just follow the steps. Pay attention to where you are navigating in the platform, which modules you are in, and what options are present. This is how you turn theory into real skill.
- Official ServiceNow Documentation & Community: Use the official docs for reference, and if you have any doubts, the ServiceNow Community is a great place to ask questions and discuss topics with others.
An important note: In the security section of the ebook, you'll find topics like the "Shared Responsibility Model" and "Security Centre." You might feel like you can ignore these, but don't. You will definitely get questions on them.
Question Pattern and Time Pressure
- The CSA exam mostly has straightforward questions that check your knowledge. There are also some scenario-based questions, but you will clear those easily if you have done the labs from the course.
- You get 90 minutes to answer 60 questions, which is more than enough time. After you've answered every question, make sure to go back and review your answers to ensure you haven't missed anything.
Exam Day: My Experience at the Test Center
- ServiceNow has changed its exam vendor from Webassessor to Pearson VUE. This gives you the option to take the test at a physical center or online. My suggestion is to go to a test center, because you might face interruptions at home.
- I scheduled my exam at a test center and would advise you to arrive 20-25 minutes early. At my appointment, there was a small system problem that delayed my start time. However, the Pearson VUE team has a solid process. I noticed they used an application that automatically diagnosed and fixed the testing software, which was impressive.
- Once I started, the exam itself was quick. I was so well-prepared that I finished in just 20 minutes. I think this goes for everyone who appears for this exam with confidence.
Common Questions I See in the Community
- Can we give the exam for free? No, you can't. The only exception is if you work for a ServiceNow partner company that offers vouchers.
- Can we get a discount for the exam? Sometimes. If ServiceNow is running a special campaign, you might get a discount. For example, in 2025, ServiceNow offered 50% off the CSA exam for people in India. Check to see if any campaigns have been announced.
- Is there a minimum score to pass? ServiceNow has not officially declared a minimum score. However, I believe there is a section-wise cutoff. This means if you do exceptionally well in one section but poorly in another, you might not pass.
Final Thoughts
After you complete the ebook and labs, I strongly recommend taking some mock tests on sites like Udemy or by finding good ones on YouTube. This will boost your confidence before the real thing.
To help you even more, I am also attaching a study guide I created to help you know which topics to cover.
Finally, I'd like to conclude this article by saying that if you follow these tips, you will definitely excel in your CSA examination. I'm also including my final score report below.
All the best to everyone appearing for their exam! If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below, and I'll do my best to answer 🙂
Regards,
Sumit
Technical Consultant
