Are you preparing for the Leading SAFe exam and feeling overwhelmed with the amount of material to cover? You are not alone. The Leading SAFe certification is becoming increasingly popular as more organizations adopt the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) for their software development processes. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on how to pass the Leading SAFe exam, including the key topics to study, study tips, and exam-taking strategies.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Leading SAFe Exam
Before we dive into the study tips, let’s first understand the exam for Leading SAFe. Part of the certification process of the Leading SAFe training course is passing the SAFe™ Agilist certification exam.
SAFe™ Agilist exam is designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and its implementation at an enterprise level. The exam consists of 45 multiple-choice questions, and you have 90 minutes to complete it. The passing score is 77%, which means you need to correctly answer at least 33 questions to pass.
Key Topics to Study
To pass the Leading SAFe exam, you need to have a solid understanding of the following key topics:
SAFe Framework
You should have a clear understanding of the SAFe framework, including its principles, values, and practices. You should know how to apply the SAFe principles and practices to support Agile teams and coordinate multiple Agile teams at an enterprise level.
Agile Product Management
You should be familiar with Agile product management, including how to define and prioritize features, create and maintain a product backlog, and manage the flow of value.
Program Increment Planning
You should know how to plan and execute a Program Increment (PI) in a SAFe environment. This includes understanding how to align teams to a common mission, define and prioritize features, and identify and manage dependencies.
Agile Release Train
You should have a clear understanding of the Agile Release Train (ART) and its role in delivering value to customers. This includes knowing how to identify and manage risks, resolve impediments, and continuously improve the ART.
Lean Portfolio Management
You should understand the principles and practices of Lean Portfolio Management, including how to align strategy and execution, prioritize initiatives, and manage investment funding.
Continuous Delivery Pipeline
You should be familiar with the Continuous Delivery Pipeline, including how to build, deploy, and release software in a continuous manner. This includes knowing how to integrate continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous deployment practices.
Study Tips
Now that you know the key topics to study, let’s discuss some study tips to help you prepare for the Leading SAFe exam:
Create a Study Plan
Create a study plan that covers all the key topics we discussed earlier. Allocate enough time for each topic based on your current knowledge and understanding.
Use Multiple Resources
Use multiple resources to study, including the SAFe website, books, videos, and practice exams. This will help you gain a better understanding of the concepts and reinforce your learning.
Take Practice Exams
Take practice exams to test your knowledge and identify areas where you need to improve. Use the feedback from the practice exams to adjust your study plan accordingly.
Join Study Groups
Join study groups to collaborate with other professionals who are preparing for the Leading SAFe exam. This will help you learn from others’ experiences and gain new perspectives.
Attend Training
Consider attending a Leading SAFe training course to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the framework and its implementation.
Utilize Exam Prep Courses
Utilize exam prep courses to practice your knowledge and get familiar with the exam format. One such course is Exam Prep for Leading SAFe provides practice exams and detailed explanations for each question. You can learn more about Exam Prep for Leading SAFe and enroll at https://scrumprep.com/product/leading-safe-practice-tests/.
Exam-Taking Strategies
Finally, let’s discuss some exam-taking strategies to help you pass the Leading SAFe exam:
Read the Questions Carefully
Read the questions carefully and understand what they are asking before answering. Pay attention to keywords and phrases that may affect the answer.
Eliminate Wrong Answers
Eliminate the wrong answers first, then choose the best answer based on your knowledge and understanding of the SAFe framework and its implementation.
Manage Your Time
Manage your time effectively during the exam. Allocate enough time for each question, and don’t spend too much time on a single question.
Review Your Answers
After completing the exam, review your answers to make sure you have answered all the questions and haven’t made any mistakes.
Conclusion
Passing the Leading SAFe exam requires a solid understanding of the SAFe framework and its implementation at an enterprise level. By creating a study plan, using multiple resources, taking practice exams, joining study groups, attending training, and utilizing exam prep courses, you can increase your chances of passing the exam and obtaining the Leading SAFe certification.
Additional References
Here are some additional references that can be useful for studying and preparing for the Leading SAFe exam:
- Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) website: https://www.scaledagileframework.com/
- Leading SAFe study guide: https://support.scaledagile.com/s/article/Exam-Details-Leading-SAFe-SAFe-Agilist-6-0?language=en_US
- Agile Alliance website: https://www.agilealliance.org/
- Scrum Alliance website: https://www.scrumalliance.org/
- YouTube videos on Leading SAFe and Agile methodologies: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=leading+safe+exam+preparation
These references can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the SAFe framework and its implementation, as well as provide practice exams and study materials to help prepare for the Leading SAFe exam.
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
The SAFe Agilist certification exam is provided through the Leading SAFe™ training course. This certification exam evaluates your understanding of SAFe principles, practices, and competencies, including Agile leadership, Lean-Agile budgeting, and Agile portfolio management. The exam consists of 45 multiple-choice questions, and you have 90 minutes to complete it. The passing score for the certification exam is 77%, which means you need to answer at least 35 out of 45 questions correctly to pass.
Official Leading SAFe™/SAFe Agilist exam details:
- Passing score: 77%
- Time limit: 90 minutes
- Number of Questions: 45
- Format: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer
- Difficulty: Intermediate/Foundational
- Language: English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, French, Spanish, and German
- Fee: First attempt included in the course registration fee if taken within 30 days of course completion. Each retake or attempt past the 30-day window is $50.
- Attend the Leading SAFe™ training course.
- Carefully read and understand the Leading SAFe Student Workbook.
- Take the Leading SAFe® 5.1 Agilist practices questions and simulation section of ScrumPrep’s Exam Prep for Leading SAFe™ and More until you consistently score 90-100%.
The time it takes to prepare for the exam depends on your previous experience with the SAFe framework and your learning style. On average, it takes 1-2 weeeks of preparing for the exam, however, it can be taken in less time depending on how much you’ve already mastered.
The exam is updated periodically to ensure that it remains relevant and up-to-date with the latest practices. Be sure to check for updates and changes to the exam content before taking the exam.
The Leading SAFe and SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) exams are both certification exams offered by Scaled Agile, Inc. However, they focus on different aspects of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). The Leading SAFe exam is designed for individuals who want to become SAFe Agilists and have a deep understanding of the Agile methodology, while the SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) exam focuses on the Scrum framework and its application within SAFe.
Yes, you can take the exam multiple times if you don’t pass on the first attempt. However, you need to pay for each attempt.
Passing the SAFe Agilist assessment demonstrates your understanding of the concepts, principles, and practices in Leading SAFe and your ability to lead Agile transformations in large organizations using SAFe to optimize value delivery at scale.
Benefits of passing the Leading SAFe™/SAFe Agilist assessment include demonstrating your ability to lead Agile transformations in large organizations and optimize value delivery at scale, which can lead to career advancement opportunities and a competitive edge in the job market. Additionally, passing the Leading SAFe™/SAFe Agilist assessment can increase your earning potential and provide a foundation for further SAFe certifications, such as the SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) or SAFe Agilist (SA) certifications.
Only students participating in the Leading SAFe™ training course have the ability to take the SAFe Agilist certification exam. You can find a list of training providers here.
The Leading SAFe certification is valid for one year from the date of certification. After that, you’ll need to renew your certification by paying a fee and completing the SAFe Agilist renewal exam. The renewal exam is designed to test your knowledge and understanding of the latest version of SAFe and its application within the Agile methodology. The renewal fee and exam may vary depending on your geographic location and the certifying organization.
