Passing TOGAF Essentials 2018

Update on 29-Feb-2020
If you prefer viewing a video & slides, please find below links to video and download slides:

Passing TOGAF Essentials 2018 in 3 weeks or less from Ashraf Fouad

Original post: 21-Apr-2019

Thank God; I have passed "TOGAF Essentials 2018" on 20-Apr-2019.

TOGAF Essentials 2018 is a credential that shows that a TOGAF certified v9.0 or v9.1 candidate knowledge is up-to-date (Latest update Apr-2018). You can know more about the credential from the Open Group official website & FAQs about the TOGAF Standard, Version 9.2.

While the upgrade is not mandated but preferred, you can check Why you should upgrade to TOGAF 9.2 Certification?

The following is the recommended steps from my perspective to prepare and pass the exam (It took me around 3 calendar weeks, not dedicated, along with work & family duties):

1- Watch Official TOGAF 9.2 webinar
(Optional highly recommended step) I think "An Introduction to the TOGAF® Standard, Version 9.2 (Full Webinar - 49 minutes)" video is the best I have seen about TOGAF v9.2 and I have used some information & references mentioned in this webinar in my preparation. It shows you the approach of this strategic re-structure.

2- Taking a 3 hrs course
(Mandatory step) You need to attend 3 hrs course, I have checked the official TOGAF® 9 Accredited Training Courses and made the below comparison list (Prices may vary based on company offers and new companies added to the list by Open Group):

Providers	Price	Duration	Course nature	Practice questions	Accredited slide pack	TOGAF standard 9.2 electronic
CC & Csolutions	$ 249 (Search for promo code as well)	4 hrs	Self-paced, 3 months access (Can be extended upon request)	No
Conexiam	$ 275	3 hrs	On-demand video based instructor, lifetime access	No	Yes	And other many ebooks & e-Papers
EA Learning	GBP 349	3 hrs	Self-paced, Instant 6 months access
EA Principals	$ 395	3.5 hrs	One time Live Online	Yes	Yes	Yes
Good learning	$ 499 (Discounted code of 20%) = $399	3 hrs	Self-paced, Instant 6 months access	Quizzes & revision modules, 2x practice exams
QA Transforming performance through learning	GBP 350 (Search for promotional code)	3 hrs

I selected the course from Conexiam as it was reasonably priced, and I prefer reading some extra material if I find them beneficial.
I prefer to have a first quick view of the course just to take an idea about the course & the material in general.

3- Take a free practice exam without preparation

• After you finish the course; the training center will contact Open Group to provide you access to practice assessment (You will receive email from donotreply@brillium.com with link to practice exam). This takes from 1 - 6 days; in my case just the next day I received the exam link.
• The idea of taking a free practice exam without preparation (Even I took it closed book) is to get the feel of the nature of questions and know what to focus in the course.
• The exam is 20 multiple choice questions with only 1 correct answer within 30 minutes (Every question should take 1.5 minutes).
• The supported browsers are (Google Chrome, Apple Safari,  Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge), by the time of writing this article Mozilla Firefox is not supported.
• The practice exam can be retaken as much as you want until you succeed (Score 75%) once you succeed this practice exam will be closed and another link will be sent to your email that has the link to the actual exam.
• The practice exam will inform you about what you did wrong & will tell you the correct answer to your mistake at the end of the practice exam.

4- Take the course again
Repeat the course again, take notes & pay attention to the questions you missed in the exam. Below is the recommended area of focus & suggested reading material (It is not required to read all the below in details, I was reading sections from many of them plus paying attention to view all the artifacts changed in TOGAF v9.2):

#	Section	Title / Link	Why
1	General	The TOGAF® Standard, Version 9.2 Overview Reference Cards (N180)	Quick access for diagrams especially content metamodel (Core, & extended), artifacts associated with metamodel, ADM.
2	General	The TOGAF® STANDARD, Version 9.2 (C182)	Quick access for the TOGAF standard for any definition, notes, the relations between content metamodel. Training for the exam as well
3	Business Architecture	Business Capabilities (G161)	The approach is changed, details of business capabilities.
4	Business Architecture	Value Streams (G170)	The approach is changed, details of value streams.
5	ISO	INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC/IEEE 42010 First edition 2011-12-01	Conceptual model of architecture description mainly on page 5. Optional the complete ISO standard.
6	Security	Integrating Risk and Security within a TOGAF® Enterprise Architecture (G152)	Integrating Risk & Security with TOGAF

5- Prepare soft/hard copy material for the exam
The following is the suggested material you need to have during the exam:

#	Format	Title	Description / Link
1	Soft	Course Slides	Usually, the course material shows the difference between v9.1 & v9.2 in clear & brief way (I think better than the TOGAF reference), you can use this material as there are several questions in the exam will ask you about the delta between v9.1 & v9.2
2	Soft	Course Handouts	The course may provide handouts for the exam, I found this very beneficial during the exam.
3	Soft	The TOGAF® STANDARD, Version 9.2 (C182)	HTML, PDF I believe important chapters are the following: Chapter 3: Definitions. Chapter 5: Preliminary Phase Chapter 6: Phase A: Architecture Vision Chapter 7: Phase B: Business Architecture Chapter 30: Content Metamodel Chapter 31: Architectural Artifacts
4	Soft	PROMOTING AND PROTECTING THE TOGAF® ECOSYSTEM (W156)	Download
5	Hard	Core Content Metamodel	TOGAF Standard, chapter 30 - Figure 30-5: Entities and Relationships Present within the Core Content Metamodel
6	Hard	Full Content Metamodel	TOGAF Standard, chapter 30 - Figure 30-7: Relationships between Entities in the Full Metamodel
7	Hard	Basic Architecture Concepts	TOGAF Standard, chapter 31 - Figure 31-1: Basic Architectural Concepts
8	Hard	TOGAF Essential 2018 - Question Tracking sheet	I made this sheet to track the 20 questions, you might find it useful to use the Inclusion-Exclusion Principle when solving multiple choice exam questions

6- Take the free practice exam again till you pass

• Take the free practice exam (This time well prepared).
• The exam is repeating; no new questions, I think maybe the order of questions/answers are changed.
• The practice exam can be retaken as much as you want until you succeed (Score 75%). Once you succeed this practice exam will be closed and another link will be sent to your email that has the link to the actual exam.
• The practice exam will inform you about what you did wrong & will tell you the correct answer to your mistake at the end of the practice exam, please use this to identify areas you need improvement & cover them from the material mentioned in step 4.
• I succeeded from the first time using the material mentioned in step 5 & understanding the course in more details.

7- Take the actual exam

• You will receive an invitation to the exam (With 2 free retakes if you fail) within 1 business day from passing the practice exam with a 75% score or higher.
• Prepare the list of resources in step 5 handy.
• Drink a cup of coffee and water before starting the exam with at least 30 mins (Exam time is precious).
• Good luck with the exam, I have passed with 90% from the first time and hope you will do even better 😃

I hope you find this blog post useful, if so, please share with your friends interested in TOGAF.