Exam prep
How to use practice questions without just memorising them
Updated · 4 min read
Practice questions are the fastest way to find out what you do not know yet. They are also the easiest way to fool yourself, because a question you have seen before feels easy. Here is how to use them to learn instead of to collect scores.
The memorisation trap
Real exams reword questions and add new ones. If you only remember that “the answer was C”, you have learned the question, not the topic. The sign is a high score on repeated questions and a low one on fresh ones.
A method that works
- Learn the topic first. Read the official documentation or take a course, then test yourself. Questions are for finding gaps.
- Decide before you look. Commit to an answer, then check it. Guessing after seeing the options teaches you nothing.
- Read every explanation, including the ones you got right, and note why the wrong options are wrong.
- Keep a short list of misses by topic and go back to the source material for them.
- Return a few days later. Spacing the same topics out helps them stick better than repeating them the same day.
- Finish with timed practice exams so the pace of the real exam holds no surprises. See how to know you are ready.
Avoid exam dumps
Dumps are leaked or copied real exam questions. They break the exam rules, can get your result cancelled, and teach memorisation instead of understanding. Our study guide explains why they are not worth the risk.
Add hands-on practice
For role-based exams, questions only go so far. Spend time in a free tier or a sandbox doing what the exam describes. Something you have done yourself is much harder to forget than something you have only read.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheating to use practice questions?
No. Practice questions written for learning are a normal part of preparation. What breaks the exam rules is using leaked or copied real exam questions, known as exam dumps, which can lead to a ban or a cancelled result.
How many times should I repeat the same questions?
Repeat them only to check a topic you got wrong, a few days after you studied it. If you start recognising the answer by its position or wording, switch to questions you have not seen or to a different topic.
Should I read the explanation when I get a question right?
Yes. A right answer reached for the wrong reason is a gap that has not shown up yet. Reading the explanation confirms your reasoning, and it often teaches you why the other options are wrong.
When in my study should I start practice questions?
After you have covered a topic, not before. Use them to find what you did not understand, then go back to the documentation or a lab for those areas.
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