How to Study for the CSA Exam When It Falls Between Update Releases

[ratkinson]

I completed all the courseware for the ServiceNow CSA (Certified System Administrator) exam but couldn’t schedule my exam until January 20 due to limited testing center availability. This happens to be about a week after the new exam release tied to the latest platform update.

I’m now in a bit of a dilemma: How do I effectively study the material I’ve already learned while preparing for potential changes in the updated exam?

1. Should I focus on the current courseware and hope it covers most of the new exam content?
2. Are there specific resources or strategies you'd recommend for bridging the gap between old and new platform updates?
3. Is it as simple as studying the Xanadu release notes and adjusting to how those changes are applied in the platform?
4. How do you approach studying in situations like this where the content might shift?

I’d really appreciate any insights or tips you all have. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Dr Atul G- LNG]

Hi @ratkinson 

Agree, that sometimes it is confusing to proceed further and prepare, during release get changes. My experience says, that 5-8 questions might get changed in the next release, you still cover the old release like in this case DC release and you can go through the release notes of the Xanadu release.

1. Should I focus on the current courseware and hope it covers most of the new exam content? Atul: Yes, focus on the current course/ ebook.
2. Are there specific resources or strategies you'd recommend for bridging the gap between old and new platform updates? Atul: SN releases some delta study guides as well, which you can read to sure that you know about the new release as well.
3. Is it as simple as studying the Xanadu release notes and adjusting to how those changes are applied in the platform? Atul: Reading the release note from the exam side is not that easy.  Because they are interconnected with each other there is no specific doc link which only talks about CSA contents.
4. How do you approach studying in situations like this where the content might shift? Atul: Clear your more important basis.

[Runjay Patel · Accepted solution]

Hi @ratkinson ,

See my explanation on your query

1. Should I focus on the current courseware and hope it covers most of the new exam content? RP - Yes, you should as questions comes from latest version of servicenow. 
2. Are there specific resources or strategies you'd recommend for bridging the gap between old and new platform updates? RP-check release notes for fundamental section, no need to go through other module which are not subjected to CSA.
3. Is it as simple as studying the Xanadu release notes and adjusting to how those changes are applied in the platform? RP- Release notes are enough.
4. How do you approach studying in situations like this where the content might shift? RP- Focus on fundamental only 15-20% question come from new release.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you found my response helpful, please consider selecting "Accept as Solution" and marking it as "Helpful." This not only supports me but also benefits the community.

Regards
Runjay Patel - ServiceNow Solution Architect
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RunjayP
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/runjay

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Sandeep Rajput]

@ratkinson Don't fret too much about the new release, most of the questions will be based on your existing course material (assuming it was designed for Vancouver or Washington). For rest, you can review the release notes. 

[cebiyehm]

I found ITExamspro questions very valid. I Recently wrote the CSA and tons of questions came from there!