Exam level 1

Hi there,

I'm studying hard for the FCP X level 1 exam.
Have your got any tips, recommendations or things I should really be paying attention of?

I must say that I'm really enjoying the preparation: I'm learning a lot every day again by studying the book.

Kind regards,
Eric

As an Apple trainer who's both taken and given this test several times, here's my advice:

First, be sure "Second Edition" is on the cover of the book. If not, you need to get the Second Edition of the book. That is what the current test is based on. The Second Edition is based on 10.0.7, the previous book was based on 10.0.3. So the version of the book you use is VITAL!

All questions are multiple choice. Some have only one answer, some have more than one answer. Meaning you'll check one or more of the listed answers (usually 4 or 5).

Go through the test quickly once, do the questions you know for sure, the ones you're not sure about mark for review (check box top right), and leave the ones you do NOT know blank. At the end you have a review list of all questions, showing what has or has not been answered, and what has been marked for review. Then go back and struggle with the tough ones. Work your way from the easy questions, to the more difficult, to the plain brain stumpers, in that order.

Good news is, you'll get a clue to one or two more difficult questions from the answers to one or two of the easier questions. But then there are something like 80 others you'll need to know without help.

Know the details! The questions in the book are valid questions, but represent the most easiest questions on the test. The test is MUCH more difficult than those questions. Do the book cover to cover at LEAST twice before taking the test. It is a tough test.

Email me (in my profile) and I can send you some sample questions I did for my students that shows how really difficult the questions can be. All of my students who thought they were ready failed my 5 practice questions and went back to the book with a whole new perspective. I do not (as I'm not legally allowed to) use questions directly from the test, but they are very, very similar the I think give a good taste as to what you can expect.

Relax, breath, one question at a time, but work swiftly. There is a time limit.

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS! Don't sweat the most esoteric keyboard shortcuts.

Most questions are word questions. Some show a small section of the FCP X screen, and ask "If you were to do XYZ operation, where would you click in this image?" The catch it, the image doesn't show the XYZ operation directly. So you need to figure out what you'd click to "get to that operation eventually". Some are shots of video. Just one and they ask to achieve the state that video is in, what had to have to have been done to it. Two side by side, what operations were done to make the changes.

Know what ALL buttons do, know where ALL menu items are, know the workflows described in the book (not as we do them here on forums or in other tutorials). Know the terminology used in the book (not as we speak here on forums or in other tutorials). Know every detail of mutliclips, syncing clips, and how keyword and favorite/rejects ranges work in the Browser, are created, etc. Every detail in that book, the tiniest details, WILL be on the test.

Don't mean to scare you, but, a number of folks don't pass the first time. All my students have passed on the first try. But they take my advice and some do the book cover to cover three or four times. Don't do the book just once, you'll get tripped up.

Sounds like good advice BenB.

Hello guys..I have no experienced about the exam but this information is very valuable for me because i gain a lot of knowledge about the exam..If you guys give me more information i shall be very thankful to you.

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Hi Ben, I'll certainly take your advice to heart.
Thanks a lot, you're very helpful.

E

I'm doing some studying with this PDF from Apple: training.apple.com/pdf/fcpx-exam-prep.pdf

Just FYI, that PDF is simply a list of all the questions at the end of each lesson the APTS book. Easier to access, though.

Absolutely correct, Ben. It lists the questions but more importantly, the answers...so it's great for initial self testing.

Exactly as the book does.

I'll just say those questions are misleading, they are way more easy than the real questions on the test.

I've sor of wondered about this test I keep hearing about...and wonder should I look into it further? Would it benefit me? In what ways? Aaaaand now I'm thinking after ben's description that ....naaah forget it.

Hi Don, for me it's very useful doing the exam.
It's a lot of study, but because of the high standard at the exam it forces me get to know the program through and through. I haven't passed the exam yet, but from the (exam)question I can tell that's not going to be easy.
And above all the FCP level 1 book by Weynand is a very good book. So, for me I'm glad I'm doing the exam.
I learn a great deal every day again.

Kind regards,
MBF

I have an Apple authorized class and certification guide posted. All the info you need about what they are and how they work, with links to all of the resources are in it. Download here.

The real advantage in the certification course is exposing you to areas of the software or ways of doing things that you may not be aware of. My big takeaways from the 2-day NAB exam prep was the / key to loop around a clip or playhead, and all the amazing ways I realized I could use the Timeline Index.

It was tough to sit in a class for 2 days when I was missing so many other sessions I would have loved to attend, but I'm glad I did it, and passed with 94%

And bear in mind you got what is normally at 3 day class in only two. There is a ton of information in them. And as trainers, we always throw a lot of extra stuff in, too, that you don't get from the book by itself.

What is the cost of certification classes on average?

I'm curious because while I do learn things from books and training videos such as Lynda.com, I also like instruction.

I teach them at LSU and they run $390-something, because of Univ policy they have to charge what regular continuing ed classes charge. Its not really continuing ed, its a hybrid program they do, but policy forces the pricing there. I'm sure my Dean would love to charge what other AATCs charge!

Other AATCs will charge from $700-something to $1000-something. It can vary a great deal. Find your local AATCs and check their prices.
training.apple.com/locations

Yep. I just checked with the closest training center which is two-hours away from where I live and the classes are $1200-$2000. I guess I'll just have to get the book and go through the book a few times.

I just found another place that is 3 hours south of my town that have classes. We'll see how much those run.

Luckily, I have friends that live in both towns (Charlottesville, VA and Charlotte, NC). So I could stay with them if I end getting to take classes.

Although attending a classic person is not "required", there are advantages. You get to ask questions, interact with other students, make contacts, etc. That said, if you do the class, you'll still want to go through the book cover to cover on your own, also.