Sitting the Alteryx exam so early on at The Data School can be scary and overwhelming. Especially since you've never come across Alteryx before joining DS!

I sat my first ever Alteryx core exam this morning and I got 71.1% (I didn't pass) but that's okay! 2 weeks prior to this I was learning how to upload my first file on Alteryx and its crazy to think I've been able to get more than 50% on the exam.

If you fail the first time you sit the exam, just be proud at how far you've come since the beginning. It's how you grow and improve that people really care about!

The Alteryx exam is made up of 80 questions, comprised of; multiple choice, select few and practical questions. The exam is 2hrs but fear not, it is open book - so you can have google or Alteryx designer opened.

How To Prepare:

• The Core Prep Guide is extremely useful! Try work though the questions on the tools and challenges set.
• Try the Core Exam Practice Question! - this will help you understand what questions might come up and how the exam will be structured.
• The Alteryx website has very informative videos on each tools that will be assessed on the core exam. If you feel weak on a specific tool, watch the video and hopefully you'll have a better understanding of it after.
• ALTERYX CHALLENGES!! Give the basic and some intermediate challenges a go to improve your understanding (On the Core prep guide, there is a list of challenges to do on the last page, give them a go!!)

Tips During The Exam:

• Don't stress! - The more you panic, the more you're not helping yourself! None is expecting you to pass first time and no-one will shame you if you fail, so why are you stressing for? The worst case scenario is that you fail and have to take it the next week and what's wrong with that?
• Flag the question and MOVE ON! - If you're stuck on a question, JUST MOVE ON!! If you loiter on a question you will run out of time and time is precious during this exam! At the end, you can always google the answers if you have time!
• Have 2 screens: - Make sure you have 2 screens when sitting the exam! Have 1 screen with the Alteryx exam and the other with the Alteryx designer/ google up. It will deffo help!
• Don't Select More Than 2 Questions If You're Not Sure! - the questions that require to select more than 1 answer, DO NOT GUESS! On these specific questions, you will be negatively marked for each incorrect answer you submit. So better be safe than sorry, unless you know for sure that's the answer, don't select it.

Most importantly, just have fun with it. I know its an exam, but its also a time to show your understand and knowledge of Alteryx.

If like me you fail, at the end of the exam you'll be given a breakdown of the tools you need to spend more time on. So you can focus more on these and next time you'll pass!