Study Skills & Careers Editor · 66 articles
Owen spent years as an IT trainer watching smart people fail exams they should have passed — usually because of how they studied, not what they knew. He writes about study technique, exam psychology, career strategy and the service-management certifications (ITIL, PRINCE2, APM). His articles are the ones to read before you open a single practice question.
A practical study plan for the OffSec OSEP exam: what PEN-300 covers, how the 48-hour exam is scored, what it costs, and how to spend your lab time on evasion and Active Directory.
6 Oct 2026
ReadThe free ISC2 CC exam is gone for new candidates, so the question is now whether a $199 entry-level cert pays back. Here is what it costs, what it proves and who should skip it.
1 Oct 2026
ReadPassed ISC2 CC and wondering what certification comes next? The right answer depends on the job you want. We map CC to Security+, SSCP, CySA+, SecAI+ and CISSP, with verified costs and experience rules.
30 Sept 2026
ReadTen ITIL 5 Foundation exam questions written in the four styles the exam uses, with a worked answer for every option. Covers the eight lifecycle activities, the guiding principles, the 6C Model and the traps set for ITIL 4 holders.
29 Sept 2026
ReadPeopleCert publishes six official ITIL Version 5 books. Foundation candidates need one, ITIL Foundation (Version 5), and every official exam package already includes it as an eBook. Here is which book matches which module, and when a hardcopy is worth buying.
28 Sept 2026
ReadThe ITIL 5 certification path after Foundation leads to three designations: Practice Manager, Managing Professional and Strategic Leader. Here is what each needs, which modules exist today, and which one fits your job.
26 Sept 2026
ReadPeopleCert plans to sunset every ITIL 4 module on 31 December 2027. ITIL 4 Foundation and ITIL Foundation (Version 5) now cost the same and share the same exam format, so here is who should still book ITIL 4 and what happens to certificates already held.
25 Sept 2026
ReadMost AI governance frameworks are a policy document and a set of principles, and both fall over the moment an auditor asks for evidence. Here is how to build one out of named capabilities, controls that actually operate, and monthly evidence you can hand over.
18 Sept 2026
ReadISO/IEC 42001 is the certifiable AI management system standard, with 38 Annex A controls across 9 categories. Here is what certification requires, why sources keep printing the wrong control count, and why the certificate does not make you EU AI Act compliant.
18 Sept 2026
ReadPeopleCert's ITIL AI Governance module has no prerequisites and an open-book exam: 40 scenario questions in 90 minutes, 70% to pass. Here is the format, the GBP 541 price, what it actually tests, and how open book changes the way you prepare.
18 Sept 2026
ReadBTL1 costs £399, runs as a 24-hour open-book practical exam with 20 task-based questions, and needs 70% to pass. Here is what the exam covers, what changed when Security Blue Team became Centri, and a 6-week plan to get through it.
16 Sept 2026
ReadThe APM PMQ is no longer a three-hour essay paper and there is no longer a fixed 55% pass mark. Here is the current 40-question, 90-mark format, how the Angoff pass mark is set, and what the Competence Framework syllabus dropped.
14 Sept 2026
ReadCompTIA AI Essentials is a 2 to 3 hour self-paced course ending in a competency assessment, not a proctored exam. Here is what the CompCert badge actually is, what it costs, how it differs from AI Prompting Essentials and SecAI+, and who should buy it.
12 Sept 2026
ReadThe CIPP exam costs $550, but that is not the real number. Here is the full 2026 cost of getting and keeping an IAPP privacy certification, how CIPP/US and CIPP/E actually differ on the blueprint, and who should sit which one.
10 Sept 2026
ReadTwenty-five PMP exam practice questions written to the Exam Content Outline that took effect on 9 July 2026, weighted across People, Process and Business Environment. Every answer comes with an explanation of why the other options fail.
10 Sept 2026
ReadMicrosoft rewrote the PL-900 exam on 24 July 2026. Power Pages is gone, a Copilot Studio agents domain worth 20 to 25 percent replaced it, and most study material still teaches the old outline. Here is what changed and whether the exam is still worth booking.
9 Sept 2026
ReadThe GCFE certification is GIAC's Windows forensics exam: 82 questions, three hours, 70% to pass, with hands-on CyberLive tasks. Here is what it costs in 2026, what it tests, what holders earn, and when GCFA is the better buy.
8 Sept 2026
ReadOkta retired the Professional Hands-On Configuration Exam on 6 July 2026 and moved candidates onto a live-environment Performance exam. Here is the full Okta certification path for 2026, what each exam costs, and which one to sit first.
4 Sept 2026
ReadAnthropic's Claude Certified Architect is one of four proctored Claude certifications, priced $99 to $175 and sat through Pearson VUE. There is a catch. Registration is restricted to Claude Partner Network members, so most people searching for it cannot book a seat.
2 Sept 2026
ReadHTB CAPE gives you a 10-day window, 90 points to reach and a commercial-grade report to write. Here is a 10-week study plan for the Active Directory Penetration Tester path, plus how to pace the exam itself.
31 Aug 2026
ReadMicrosoft rewrote MD-102 on 24 July 2026. The exam has a new title, a fifth domain worth 10 to 15 percent, and Security Copilot agents in the objectives. Here is exactly what changed and which parts of your revision still count.
27 Aug 2026
ReadServiceNow scrapped exam vouchers, moved to Pearson VUE and introduced yearly Delta exams. Here is the current ServiceNow CSA certification blueprint, the six domains by weight, and a 6-week study plan built around them.
23 Aug 2026
ReadThe ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer exams cost the same and share a pass mark, but they test opposite skills and carry different experience rules. Here is what each exam contains and which one to book.
22 Aug 2026
ReadThe PMP is worth it if you already lead projects in an industry that screens for it. If you are trying to break into project management, the eligibility bar alone rules you out. Here is the honest decision, with PMI's own requirements.
18 Aug 2026
ReadA PMP practice exam is a training tool, not a thermometer. Here is how to build one into a study plan, how to review wrong answers properly, and why PMI publishes no passing percentage for you to chase.
18 Aug 2026
ReadThe July 2026 PMP exam rewrote the domain weights, added two new question types and gave you ten more minutes. Here is what changed against the January 2021 outline, and what a candidate should do differently because of it.
18 Aug 2026
ReadCompTIA put its exam prices up on 1 June 2026, and Security+ now retails at $439. Here is every legitimate CompTIA exam voucher discount ranked by what it actually saves you, plus the coupon-site traps that void your voucher.
18 Aug 2026
ReadTwelve free CAPM practice questions written to the 2023 exam content outline, weighted across all four domains, each with a full explanation of why the tempting wrong answer fails.
17 Aug 2026
ReadA complete guide to the CAPM certification: eligibility, the 23 contact hours rule, the full cost breakdown, the four exam domains and how PMI actually scores you. Everything you need before you apply.
17 Aug 2026
ReadCAPM vs PMP compared on eligibility, cost, exam format and salary. PMI reweighted the PMP domains on 9 July 2026, which changes the calculation for anyone deciding between them this year.
17 Aug 2026
ReadPMI relaunched the PMP exam on 9 July 2026 with a new content outline and four eligibility tiers. Here is how CAPM vs PMP now compares on cost, requirements, difficulty and salary, and which one you should actually sit first.
17 Aug 2026
ReadSnowflake rebuilt the SnowPro Core certification in 2026. COF-C02 retired on 14 May and COF-C03 collapsed six domains into five, with Cortex AI and Apache Iceberg added. Here is the current blueprint and a 6-week plan that matches it.
13 Aug 2026
ReadISACA has launched the Certified Cybersecurity Specialist (CCS), a new vendor-neutral entry-level cyber certification. Here are the three domains, the US$199 beta price, the 26 August application deadline, and an honest verdict on whether it beats ISC2 CC or Security+.
13 Aug 2026
ReadJuniper retired JN0-105 in April 2026 and replaced it with JN0-106. Here is what the new JNCIA-Junos exam actually tests, what it costs, how hard it is next to CCNA, and who should sit it.
12 Aug 2026
ReadNVIDIA's Agentic AI Professional certification (NCP-AAI) is a $200, 120-minute exam covering ten domains. Here is the full blueprint, the experience you actually need, how it compares to NVIDIA's other AI exams, and an honest verdict on whether it is worth sitting.
9 Aug 2026
ReadThe PRINCE2 Foundation pass mark has risen from 55% to 60%, and the qualification was formally renamed in January 2026. Here is the current exam format, the full PRINCE2 7 syllabus and a realistic 4-week study plan.
8 Aug 2026
ReadCGEIT is ISACA's IT governance certification: 150 questions, four domains and a five-year experience rule that blocks most applicants. Here is the full breakdown of the domains, the 2026 cost, the salary data and an honest verdict on whether it is worth it.
4 Aug 2026
ReadThe CDPSE certification is ISACA's technical privacy credential, and it quietly moved from three domains to four. Here are the current domain weights, the real exam cost, the 450 pass mark and an honest verdict on whether it is worth it in 2026.
2 Aug 2026
ReadMD-102 was restructured on 24 July 2026 and now has five domains, including a brand new one on automation, monitoring and Security Copilot agents. Here is the full outline, the pass mark, and an 8-week study plan built for the current version.
1 Aug 2026
ReadThe Pentagon suspended CMMC Phase 2 on 13 July 2026, days before the 10 November deadline. Here is what it actually changes for the Certified CMMC Professional credential, and whether the CCP is still worth your money.
25 Jul 2026
ReadA week-by-week study plan to pass the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate (DEA-C01) exam in 2026, covering all four domains, the services that carry the most marks, and how to beat the scenario questions.
24 Jul 2026
ReadA week-by-week study plan to pass the HTB CDSA exam in 2026, covering the 7-day practical lab, the make-or-break incident report, points threshold, prerequisites and the tools every blue team analyst needs.
24 Jul 2026
ReadA week-by-week OSCP study plan for the 2026 exam format. Covers the 23 hour 45 minute practical, the 40-point Active Directory set, the removal of bonus points, and the report that decides whether you actually pass.
23 Jul 2026
ReadThe PNPT gives you five days to compromise a corporate network, two days to write the report, and 15 minutes to defend it live. Here is an eight-week study plan that prepares you for all three stages, not just the hacking.
22 Jul 2026
ReadA week-by-week study plan for the Hack The Box CPTS exam in 2026. Learn how to clear the Penetration Tester path, capture 12 of 14 flags, and pass the professional report on the 10-day practical.
21 Jul 2026
ReadA plain-English breakdown of CrowdStrike's Falcon certifications. Compare CCFA, CCFR and CCFH on cost, format and career value, and see which Falcon cert is worth it in 2026.
19 Jul 2026
ReadLearn how to pass BTL1 in 2026 with a six-week study plan built for the 24-hour practical exam. Covers the five domains, Splunk and Autopsy prep, note-building and exam-day time management.
18 Jul 2026
ReadA week-by-week plan to pass the CEH v13 knowledge exam and the 6-hour Practical on your first attempt in 2026, with the exact domain weights, cut scores and AI tooling you need to know.
18 Jul 2026
ReadA straight answer on whether the ISC2 CGRC is worth it in 2026. We cover the seven domains and their weights, the $599 exam fee, the two-year experience rule, and the one question that decides it: do you work with US federal frameworks?
17 Jul 2026
ReadA week-by-week SC-300 study plan for 2026, covering all four Entra ID exam domains, Conditional Access, PIM and identity governance, so you pass the Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator exam first time.
16 Jul 2026
ReadThe IAPP AIGP costs $649 for members and $799 for non-members, with a pass mark of 300 on a 100 to 500 scale. Full cost, format, the four current domains and an honest verdict on whether it is worth it.
1 Jul 2026
ReadCompTIA has raised exam prices again, so is the trifecta (A+, Network+, Security+) still worth it in 2026, or should you take the cheaper CCNA plus Security+ route? Here is an honest cost and career breakdown.
21 Jun 2026
ReadThousands of people claimed a free Microsoft exam voucher from AI Skills Fest 2026. Here is how to pick the highest-value certification to spend it on before it expires, and how to actually pass it.
21 Jun 2026
ReadIs CompTIA PenTest+ worth it in 2026? Salary data, career paths, comparison with OSCP and CEH, and an honest verdict on the offensive security certification.
22 May 2026
ReadAWS Certified AI Practitioner (AIF-C01) costs $100 USD, or $50 with a discount voucher. The full cost breakdown, what a failed attempt costs you, and whether the certification is worth it in 2026.
22 May 2026
ReadIs CISM worth it in 2026? A complete look at the ISACA Certified Information Security Manager certification: salary, demand, total cost, and the career situations where CISM pays off.
22 May 2026
ReadIs CISSP worth it in 2026? An honest look at the salary uplift, total cost, study time, and the career situations where CISSP pays off versus where it does not.
22 May 2026
ReadA career-focused look at the jobs CompTIA SecAI+ unlocks in 2026: AI security engineer, MLSecOps, AI governance officer, and more. With salary ranges and progression paths.
22 May 2026
ReadA complete breakdown of CompTIA SecAI+ (CY0-001) covering all four domains, exam cost, salary data, and whether the industry's first AI security certification is worth your time.
22 May 2026
ReadA 4-week study plan for ITIL 5 Foundation beginners, built on the PeopleCert syllabus areas, with weekly topics, the four question styles and an exam-day routine.
22 May 2026
ReadITIL Foundation (Version 5) launched in February 2026 with new AI governance content. The verified exam format, what it costs, what the syllabus covers, and whether it is worth sitting.
22 May 2026
ReadPassing a certification exam is only half the battle. Learn why employers look beyond credentials, what the certification trap really is, and how to turn your cert into job offers.
29 Apr 2026
ReadLearn the science-backed 48-hour cram strategy that maximises retention before your IT certification exam. Includes hour-by-hour plans, active recall drills, and sleep-based memory consolidation tactics proven to lift pass rates.
14 Apr 2026
ReadNearly half of IT certification candidates fail on their first attempt. Learn the seven reasons why, backed by data, and the proven study strategies that fix each one.
13 Apr 2026
ReadThe best IT certifications for 2026 span cybersecurity, cloud, AI, and service management. Here are the top picks ranked by salary, demand, and career impact.
10 Apr 2026
ReadITIL (Version 5) replaces the six-activity Service Value Chain with an eight-activity lifecycle, adds the 6C AI Capability Model and widens the scope to digital products. Here is what changed from ITIL 4 and what it means for your certification.
10 Apr 2026
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