TOGAF® — 10 Exam tips you need to know

Pass the TOGAF® exam and you’ll prove you're able to implement the world’s most reliable Enterprise Architecture (EA). By using TOGAF® in your organisation, you’ll be able to develop an EA that’s flexible, consistent, and employs best practice.

How difficult is TOGAF®?

To become TOGAF® certified, you must pass both the Level 1 and Level 2 TOGAF® Enterprise Architecture exams. Fail one of these exams and you won’t achieve an overall pass result. However, you can retake the one you failed.

You may choose to sit the certifications separately or as a combined course. A Bridge course is now also available for those who want to update their certification from version 9 onwards.

Getting the TOGAF® certification is a time investment — it can be achieved with hard work, determination and a good knowledge of the material.

There are no shortcuts, but these TOGAF® exam tips will help!

1. Pace yourself on the exam

You have a fixed amount of time to complete the questions in your TOGAF® exams; once the clock starts, there’s no stopping it.

Level 1 lasts 60 minutes, with 40 multiple-choice questions; you need to get at least 55% right to pass. Level 2 is 90 minutes, with 8 complex multiple-choice scenario-based questions. Again, 60% is the passing grade.

During the exam, make sure you keep an eye on the clock: it will be shown at the top of your screen throughout. Not a native English speaker? Select the “English as a Second Language (ESL)” option to get more time — increasing Level 1 duration to 90 minutes and Level 2 duration to 135 minutes.

In the Level 1 exam, you only have an average of 90 seconds per question to make your decision. If one tough question is dramatically slowing your progress, you may want to skip it or risk missing easier questions that can be answered quickly.

Complete the Level 1 section and you can choose whether to move onto Level 2. If you complete Level 1 with time to spare, don’t rush onto Level 2. You won’t get more time for the Level 2 section and you won’t be able to return to Level 1 to make any last-minute eureka changes.

2. You don’t have to pay for TOGAF® exam prep

From exam simulators to ebooks, there’s a massive range of TOGAF® revision resources online that you don’t have to pay for.

3. Don’t waste time on questions you can’t answer

There’s no point spending extra time on the trickier questions if there are easier ones you could be answering, as every question carries the same number of points.

Answer the questions you know first and then return to the trickier ones. Mark those you can’t answer in under 90 seconds on the electronic exam system. After the last question, you’ll be able to revisit your marked questions from the summary page.

Only return to questions you know you’ll be able to answer. Avoid spending time on hard questions when there are easier ones waiting!

4. Make the most of The Open Group website

The Open Group administer the TOGAF® exam, so don’t underestimate their website as a resource.

You’ll find the TOGAF® 10th Edition Standard courseware, a list of popular TOGAF® publications, whitepapers, and information on the Certified TOGAF®  Practitioner Program, which you may want to consider after becoming a TOGAF® certified professional.

5. How to score on TOGAF® Level 2 exam scenarios

Unlike Level 1, Level 2 exam is open-book, and you’ll have access to an electronic copy of the specification that’s built into the Prometric test software.

The Level 2 exam consists of just 8 scenarios, each with 4 possible multiple choice answers. These answers are graded: 5 points for the correct answer, 3 for the next closest, 1 for the next and 0 for the furthest.

Level 2 and Bridge students will also have to complete Learning studies to become TOGAF® Enterprise Architecture Certified using the new 10th Edition standard.

To conquer these scenarios, take your time to analyse and understand them. Consider which phases of the Architecture Development Method (ADM) cycle are relevant as well as stakeholder concerns.

Before you choose, eliminate the wrong answers and work your way back to the most logical answer. If you can eliminate just one wrong answer, you’ll still earn points for that question.

Avoid getting side-tracked by the TOGAF® PDF documentation, even though you have access to it; you’ll have to be smart with your time. It’s a great tool that should be used as a source of reference to assess your own judgement, rather than as an in-exam revision guide.

6. Your personal experience isn’t always the correct answer

Seasoned Enterprise Architects might be tempted to refer to personal experience when taking the exam, but you need to take the word of TOGAF® as law.

It’s brilliant if you have a wealth of personal knowledge and experience, but the exam is designed to test your knowledge of TOGAF® and there’s no room for interpretation. What matters is the correct implementation of the TOGAF® Framework, not what worked for you in the past.

7. Learn the TOGAF® language

Be sure to brush up on your definitions before diving into the exam. TOGAF® exam questions and answers are precisely phrased using language defined in the TOGAF® documentation. You may find it helpful to compile a glossary to refer to when studying. 

8. Memorise the ADM diagram

The Architecture Development Method (ADM) forms the core of TOGAF® and is supported by the other main parts of TOGAF®: TOGAF® Enterprise Continuum and TOGAF® Resource Base.

The ADM is summarised succinctly in a diagram; take time to memorise it and it will help you during your exam.

9. Practice the exam

There are several practice TOGAF® exam resources available online. Although we would always recommend The Official Open Group Practice Exams, these TOGAF® Practice Questions, hosted by Test-Questions, are a really useful tool to give you a taste of the style and type of questions you may expect during a TOGAF® examination.

(NB, TOGAF® is a registered trademark of The Open Group. The Open Group does not endorse and is not affiliated in any way with Test-Questions.com or its products and services.)

10. Self-study isn’t the only option

Self-study is ideal for TOGAF® students with time to revise, but it’s not for everyone. There are several classroom and online courses available.

If you’ve got limited time and/or would simply like to optimise how you learn, check out our accelerated TOGAF® certification course options. We offer both classroom-based and online courses, including everything you need to get certified in record time. 

We also offer official courseware from the official publishers to The Open Group, labs and practice exams.

Upon completion, digital certification Open Badges are also available for you to share your achievement on multiple platforms across your network. Getting certified will give you the knowledge to build a functional digital framework for your business of any size and we offer a fully immersive learning environment to achieve your certification.

Get certified faster with Firebrand

For the past twelve years in a row, we’ve been named one of the Top 20 IT Training Companies in the World. We offer accelerated courses, Skills Bootcamps, and Apprenticeships from key players in the tech space. Perhaps one of them is right for you? See our TOGAF® courses.

TOGAF® is a registered trademark of The Open Group.