CIS-PA - Platform Analytics exam tips

[Priya080495]

Hi.

Anyone here has done the Certified Implementation Specialist - Platform Analytics exam?

I have experience in building Dashboards, data collector jobs, indicators, breakdowns, widgets and using the Analytics Hub. Also done the PA Basics course and the on demand course. Is this enough? I have also done PA advanced course.  I have seen the exam blueprint, just want to know the personal experience of anyone who has given the exam.

Would appreciate a few pointers.

Thank you.

#analytics #pa #platformanalytics

[Nikhil Bajaj9]

Hi,

Exam will be a bit tricky. So follow only e book as it is best source of knowledge and source of truth. Full paper will be from ebook only. Read line by line and word by word multiple times.

Regards,

Nikhil Bajaj

[Priya080495]

Hi Nikhil, Thanks for your response. 
I have already had a look into Blueprint of exam, however unfortunately I don't have any explicit Ebook link for this course in the  PA On Demand course.
Is it just the course material and labs which is to be referred as Ebook here?

Please confirm if there is any Ebook for this course separately. 

Thanks
Priya

[AndersBGS]

Hi @Priya080495 ,

In general, no other things that the official training provided by ServiceNow and experience is needed. As @Nikhil Bajaj9 already mentioned, be sure to read the Ebook and not only take the on-demand training. 

If my answer has helped with your question, please mark my answer as accepted solution and give a thumb up.

Best regards 

Anders

[PrashantLearnIT]

Hi @Priya080495 

The Certified Implementation Specialist - Platform Analytics (CIS-PA) exam focuses on assessing your skills in implementing and configuring ServiceNow Performance Analytics (PA) and Reporting. The following tips will help you prepare for the exam and focus on key areas that are likely to be tested.

1. Know the Exam Format

• The exam consists of approximately 60 questions (multiple-choice and multiple-select).
• The passing score is usually around 70%.
• Questions are based on real-world scenarios, so understanding how to apply the concepts is key.

2. Study the Exam Blueprint

The CIS-PA exam blueprint outlines the key topics covered. Focus on the following areas:

• Performance Analytics (PA) fundamentals: Collection jobs, scorecards, widgets, time series.
• Data Collection: Scheduled data collection, manual data collection, PA jobs, indicators, and breakdowns.
• Dashboards: Creation and management of dashboards, adding widgets, sharing dashboards.
• Security and Permissions: Controlling access to analytics data and dashboards.
• Reporting: Creating and sharing reports, understanding report types, and managing permissions.
• Visualizations: Chart types, key KPIs, and designing effective visualizations.
• Best Practices: Ensuring efficient data collection and performance.

3. Key Topics to Focus On

a. Performance Analytics (PA) Indicators

• Indicator types: Automated indicators (manual vs. automated), breakdown indicators, formula indicators.
• Collection jobs: Understand how PA collects data and when data is collected (daily, weekly, monthly).
• Breakdowns: How to use breakdowns and breakdown relations to segment data by category.
• Snapshots: Learn how snapshots work and why historical data is captured during the data collection process.

b. Widgets and Scorecards

• PA Widgets: Understand the different types of PA widgets (time series, score, chart, bullet graph) and their use cases.
• Scorecards: Know how to create scorecards to display individual indicators and their scores.
• Aggregates: Familiarize yourself with the concept of aggregations (SUM, COUNT, AVG) and how they are used in reports and widgets.

c. Dashboards

• Creating and managing dashboards: Be comfortable building and configuring dashboards for different audiences.
• Widget permissions: Know how to set permissions to control who can view/edit dashboards and individual widgets.
• Dashboard templates: Understand how to use templates to create consistent dashboards for users.
• Interactive filters: Learn how to configure filters on dashboards for enhanced data segmentation and drill-downs.

d. Reports and Reporting

• Report Types: Know the different report types (list, bar, pie, time series, single score, pivot) and when to use them.
• Drilldowns: Understanding how to create drilldowns in reports to enable deeper exploration of the data.
• Scheduling Reports: How to schedule reports to run at specific intervals and send to users via email.
• Sharing Reports: Understand the security settings for sharing reports with users or groups.

e. Best Practices for Performance Analytics

• Efficient Data Collection: Avoid large data collections, and learn how to optimize collection jobs for performance.
• Real-time vs Historical Data: Know when to use historical PA data versus real-time data from reporting.
• Actionable Dashboards: Be familiar with designing dashboards that help users take action based on performance trends.

4. Hands-on Practice

• Practice in a personal instance: If you have access to a ServiceNow instance, practice configuring PA indicators, creating dashboards, and building reports.
• Walkthroughs: Follow official ServiceNow guides and tutorials on creating PA dashboards and configuring analytics.
• Real-world scenarios: Familiarize yourself with scenarios such as setting up KPIs for ITSM, HR, or CSM, and how PA can be used to monitor and optimize these services.

5. Understand Security and Permissions

• Roles in PA: Understand the different roles involved in Performance Analytics (PA Power User, PA Viewer, PA Admin).
• Sharing Data: Know how to configure visibility for reports, widgets, and dashboards based on user roles and groups.
• Data Security: How to manage sensitive data in reports and dashboards, and ensure compliance with organizational policies.

6. Use ServiceNow Documentation and Community

• ServiceNow Docs: Read through the Performance Analytics and Reporting sections in ServiceNow product documentation. These provide detailed insights into every feature.
• ServiceNow Community: Explore the ServiceNow Community forums for discussions and solutions related to Performance Analytics and Reporting.

7. Take Practice Exams

• Use any available practice exams to test your knowledge before attempting the actual exam. These can help you get comfortable with the question format and pinpoint areas where you need more study.
• Simulate real exam conditions by timing yourself and reviewing areas where you struggle.

8. Time Management

• During the exam, read each question carefully to understand what is being asked, especially for scenario-based questions.
• If you are unsure of an answer, eliminate wrong choices and make an educated guess. Don't spend too much time on any one question.

9. Review Release Notes

• ServiceNow releases new versions regularly. Make sure you are familiar with the latest Performance Analytics features in the most recent release (e.g., San Diego, Tokyo) as exam questions may focus on new functionalities.

By following these tips, focusing on the key areas of Performance Analytics and Reporting, and practicing hands-on, you will improve your chances of passing the CIS-PA (Platform Analytics) exam.