How to pass TOGAF Business Architecture Level 1 in less than 1 week?

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Thanks to Allah; I have passed "TOGAF Business Architecture Level 1" on 6-Jan-2021. In this blog post, I'm sharing my experience on how you can achieve this certification in 6 days. 

 

If you would like to know more about the certification, I recommend that you watch this good video Applying TOGAF® Business Architecture Enhancements - The Open Group. I think this certificate makes sense in the following situations:

1. When you are dealing with C-Level business management.
2. Working with corporate strategy team.
   
3. Working with corporate program management.
4. Working in Enterprise Architecture Office as Business Architect.
5. If you are a business analyst who wants to go to the next level.
   

Exam information

• Current exam code: OGB-001 - English
• Number of questions: 30
• Exam duration: 45 mins – ESL (1hrs, 15mins)
• Open Book: No
• Passing score: 18/30 (60%)
• Multiple choice with single most correct answer.
• Time / question: 1.5 mins – ESL (2.5 mins)
• Cost: 315 $ - 362 $ (Including Taxes)
• Validity duration / Expiry: No expiry / No renewal required.
• Location: Home or testing center.

Pre-requisites

Officially: None.

Personal opinion: I will recommend having TOGAF Certification v9.2 prior to applying to this exam. For the following reasons:

1. This certification is for architects who wants to specialize in development of a business architecture based on TOGAF standard v9.2, so how you want to seek specialization without understanding the general framework first.
2. To pass this certification you will need to read specific sections from TOGAF v9.2 specification, I think it will be hard for you to understand these section without understanding how the overall TOGAF framework work; especially I consider TOGAF change the mindset of IT professionals.
   
3. TOGAF Certification is more known / wanted than this specialization so if you have limited budget better invest in TOGAF certification.
   

 If you have earlier certification of TOGAF v9 or v9.1, please consider this post "Passing TOGAF Essentials 2018" for upgrade to v9.2 I think it will be better path & knowledge for you, also includes many aspects in business architecture from this certificate as value streams, business scenarios & others.

Study sources

1- Self Study Guide

Purchase B190-TOGAF® Business Architecture Level 1 Study Guide, 1st Edition. This is what I have done.

• Reasonable price: 29.95 USD (Summer, Black Friday, and Christmas sales you can get 50%).
• Authors: AndrewJosey, The Open Group and Steve Else, EA Principals
• The number of pages: 206.
• The number of chapters: 12 chapters.
• PROS: Every chapter ends with questions, answers provided.
• PROS: Includes similar exam test with same difficulty, answers provided.
• PROS: One document have it all, focused target.
  

2- Self Study multiple resources

If you want to save the cost of previous study guide & study from a complete set of free available resources. You will need to:

1. Download X191-TOGAF® BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE LEVEL 1 CONFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. It contains all required sections required for the exam, and with links to free resources from TOGAF publications.
   
2. It references the following resources:
• G18A-Business Models
• G189-Business Capabilities
• G178-Value Streams
• G190-Information Mapping
• G176-Business Scenarios
• C182-TOGAF 9.2 Standard
  

3- Training courses

All TOGAF® 9 Accredited Training Courses are available in this link, previously I have made a small comparison below, but if you intend to select this way better to go with the full list for more updated options:

Course / Link	Cost	Duration	Notes
The Open Group Accredited Course Training Calendar	1395 USD	6 hrs - 2 days	Expensive
Good e-Learning - TOGAF® Business Architecture Level 1 eLearning	529 USD	7 hours for 6 months access	Include free exam voucher Include 2 exams Sometimes offer discounts up to 20%
EA Learning - TOGAF® Business Architecture Level 1 - eLearning	450 – 529 USD	7 hours for 6 months access	Include free exam voucher
EA principals - Applied Business Architecture	1395 USD		Active contributor in EA, and author of official TOGAF Study guide (Steve Else). Classroom or live online. Expensive

Register for home online exam

1. Start from “Pearson VUE The Open Group” page.
2. Click “Pearson VUE launch page”.
3. Review personal information that is from the open group profile page that will be used to create or login to Pearson VUE, before clicking “Proceed to Pearson VUE”.
4. In dashboard, click “View Exams”.
5. Select “OGB-001” “TOGAF Business Architecture Part 1”.
6. Select “Online from my home or office”, click “Next”.
7. In agree to online exam policies, please read carefully, and mark checkboxes, click “Next”.
8. Click “Next”
9. Select suitable date. Your local time zone will appear, select best way to view the timing 12/24hr.
10. Value with estimated tax is 362.25$
11. Click “Proceed to Checkout”.
12. Read and agree to policies, click “Accept”. (These important policies will be sent to you by email after completion).
13. Add card details, click “Next”, then “Submit order”.
14. ESL will be added after complete exam registration as long as you register from one of the ESL countries. Exam length 90 minutes!!!
15. Check-in time will be 30 mins earlier.
16. You will receive email with details of invoice, and policies / useful information.
17. For customer service online chat, use this link.

 

For detailed checklist for OnVUE exam preparation, please check this blog post Online Proctored Exams (OnVUE) Checklist

 

Getting exam results

After exam completed with 15 mins, I received email with subject "Score Report Available Notification". You will need to login Pearson with credentials of The Open Group, and you will find the link "View score report" and you will see your score and detailed report.

After the exam with around 8 hours, I received another email with subject "The Open Group issued you a new badge".

References

• Official exam site.
• TOGAF® Business Architecture Part 1 Exam
• TOGAF® BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE LEVEL 1 CONFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
• TOGAF® Business Architecture Level 1 Credential Definition
• The Open Group: Certification Examination Fees
• The Open Group: Online Proctored Exams (OnVUE)