Tips To Get Prepared For ITIL Foundation Certification Exam

You are preparing for ITIL Foundation examination and like everyone wish to pass in the very first try. It does not matter, if you have selected self-study route or taking guidance from ITIL Training Dublin.

Tips to get prepared for ITIL Foundation Exam

Practice, practice and practice

Work on ITIL practice questions and sample papers because this will help you assess your preparation. While you practice ensure to follow time duration. This will help in time management for actual exam. Many candidates fail due to lack of time, therefore it is wise to practice a lot for speed and perfection.

Understand the course material

Read every question carefully because missing on a single word like ‘not’ can change the answer completely. For example, ‘Which of the option given below is not life cycle module?’In case of paper-based examination, it is helpful to circle keywords to crack the solution. If it is a computer-based examination then you will need to read slowly because you cannot jot down notes.

Think ITIL and not your organization

Remember to give ITIL based answers and not solutions that suits your organizations. Candidates are assessed on how well they recognize the ITIL processes, roles, functions, general concepts and tools as provided in ITIL books. You are not tested on how your organization functions.

Learn the keywords

Some ITIL concepts include keywords associated. Learning these keywords will point you towards the right direction in your practice and exams. For example, phrasing like transparency & fairness, imagine Governance. For word relationship think SACM process or related tools.

Avoid legalese & use measurable targets

SLAs written in complex legalese will not be read. They need to be written in simple, clear and concise way as well as be completed. All the targets in OLAs, UCs, and SLAs need to be measurable. Immeasurable targets can lead to arguments and possible mistrust between IT and organization.

Link each process with phase/book

Remember which book or phase covers a specific process. For example, service strategy includes 4 processes; the Service Design comprises of 7 processes and Four ‘P’s, Service transition includes 7 processes. In this way, you will be able to remember quickly.

Remember not to stress out because it is not a competition because your score will not be revealed to anyone. Trust your guts while answering multiple choice questions, if you get stuck on one just move on and try the next ones.

History, Necessity and Eligibility of ITIL Certification

ITIL History

ITIL framework is designed from several best practices, which helped many organizations to attain excellent management of IT services. ITIL foundation tracks back to late 1980s, when the British Government desired to regulate design performance, process and protection of their IT-related services and set up specific guidelines.

Since then many ITIL versions have been made public, as service standard. Overtime, the entire IT environment has seen revolutionary changes. Today, British Government owns ITIL. An organization’s ITSM need to be based on ITIL, so as to be valid for ISO/IEC 20000, which is the most acclaimed ITSM international standard.

What actually is ITIL?

ITIL or Information Technology Infrastructure Library is a technique widely applied in the IT sector. It is a set of practice to handle and organise IT projects. ITIL certification is most sought after to be eligible for best career in ITSM. Disney and NASA make use of ITIL practice to enhance overall service experience. International banks, IBM, HP, British Telecom and more are renowned brands that include ITIL as their core ITSM operations.

ITIL qualifications & credit system

ITIL qualification makes use of modular credit system. There are five qualification levels including different credit scores.

1. ITIL Foundation (2 scores) - No prerequisite to take this exam of 40 multiple-choice questions.
2. ITIL Intermediate (15 credits) - Open to people, who have ITIL Foundation certificate from an accredited establishment.
3. ITIL MALC level (5 credits) - Candidate needs to have passed the first and second level of ITIL. This level is a gateway to attain ITIL Expert certificate.
4. ITIL Expert Level - Candidate needs to have collected 22 credits from the three levels.
5. ITIL Masters level - Candidate needs to hold an ITIL Expert level certification from accredited training centre.
   

Where to attain ITIL certification?

ATO centres like ITIL Training Cardiff is licensed to conduct training but only AXELOS training materials must be used. If you obtain ITIL certificate then make sure to get enrolled in an ATO, which is accredited by any one from the 9 examination Institutes licensed by AXELOS.

Why ITIL certificate is needed?

There are plenty of things to plan, analyze, materialize and avert ITSM related issues like staff retention, ROI on IT, IT assets, training costs, analysis, alignment of services, measurement of performance with relation to provided benchmark, etc.

Eligibility Criteria for Different Levels of ITIL Certification Courses

Large organizations have adopted ITIL guidelines to execute, manage and handle IT issues in their establishments. For building career in ITSM (IT Service Management), you will need to acquire an ITIL certificate. This certificate demonstrates that you are well-trained and capable of contributing significantly in the IT services of an organization. It is a good addition to your portfolio and can get you prioritised by potential employers.

Eligibility requirements for each level are given below.

ITIL Foundation - Entry level Certification

It provides general awareness about key concepts, elements and terminologies. No specific requirement is needed for this level. It is suitable for those looking to enhance their basic understanding of ITIL framework.

ITIL Intermediate - 2nd Certification Level

It is divided in two streams.

1. Intermediate Service Lifecycle

   Modules include:

• Service strategy
• Service design
• Service transition
• Service operation
• Continual service improvement
  

Eligibility criteria - You need 2 credits from ITIL Foundation course, attended 21 hours of instruction sessions at accredited training centre like ITIL Training Bristol and 2 years work experience.

1. Intermediate Service Capability

   Modules included:
   

• Service agreements and offerings
• Release, manage & validation
• Operational analysis & support
• Planning, safety & optimization
  

Eligibility criteria - You need 2 credits from ITIL Foundation course, attended 30 hours of instruction sessions at any accredited training centre and 2 years work experience.

ITIL MALC (Managing across Lifecycle) - 3rd Certification level

This certificate will display your knowledge about ITIL concepts.
Eligibility criteria - You will need 17 credits including 2 credits from Foundation and 15 credits from Intermediate levels and 30 hours formal guidance from accredited training school.

ITIL Expert - 4th Certification level

This certification will display your vast skills and knowledge about ITIL’s best approach to ITSM. No examination is undertaken in this level but you must hold balanced awareness across ITIL best practice spots.
Eligibility criteria: You will need to hold 22 credits (Three levels including 2+15+5)

ITIL Master - Final Certification level

ITIL Master empowers you to apply ITIL methods, principles and techniques, at workplace. This final certification level does not include supporting exams but you will be assessed on the basis of oral interviews and written submissions.
Eligibility criteria: An ITIL Expert certification is a MUST, 5 years experience in ITSM (managerial or senior management advisory role) and show sufficient proof of your involvement in executing ITIL practices.