Video: Example of a performance-based question

[AnnaBrown]

Hi Community! 

If you haven't heard, you can now code in some of the SAS exams (for example, Base Programming Specialist, Advanced Programming Professional and Predictive Modeler). SAS' Mark Stevens takes you through an example of a performance-based Q/A in this video:

[#2]

Passed the Advanced SAS exam with the new performance-based questions. The coding wasn't bad at all! 

[AnnaBrown]

Congratulations, @anonymous_user! That's great to hear!

[CathyVI]

@anonymous_user
What materials and how long did it take to prep for the advance based ?

[#5]

Hi!!!!

The exam was a lot easier than I expected. I know you'll do great on it!

1) SAS Certification Prep Guide: Advanced Programming for SAS 9, 4th Edition

-Read this back-to-back

-Focused on the end-of-chapter quizzes and figuring out why I got certain concepts wrong.

-You can read this book for 10 days(?) for free if you sign up for a free trial via http://safaribooksonline.com

-It's a VERY long book and kinda tough to read at some points, but I got a solid foundation for stuff I would otherwise not know. 

-Important note: right before the exam, go through ALL of the bullet points in the Complete Exam Guide (link: https://www.sas.com/en_us/certification/exam-content-guides/advanced-programming.html) against the information available in this book. 

2) SAS E-Learning Classes

Completed from start to finish (did most of the coding exercises, finished all the quizzes, etc.).

• SAS Macro Language 1: Essentials
• SAS Programming 3: Advanced Techniques
• SAS SQL 1: Essentials

There are some Google-able practice exams for A00-212. These exams were okay but not great because the actual exam requires a lot of logical, critical thinking and deduction.

3) It took me a solid 1-2 months to feel okay with taking the exam (I rescheduled the exam A LOT out of unfounded fear). Just dedicate a couple hours each night for at least a month and you should be okay! 

4) Keep calm and SAS ON!!! (KCSO). You got this and don't stress out too much about the exam --- I thought it was so much fun taking it lol.

[AnnaBrown]

Great tips, @anonymous_user, thanks for posting!

[zimu94681]

Are you able to use "help" book icon during the exam? 

Thanks! And congradulations!

[#8]

I'm not sure if there was a help book option available. I honestly don't remember using anything like that.

Thank you so much ; don't sweat too much over the exam---it's not bad at all!! 

[Mark2010]

SAS Help is available during the exam. If you are using the Display Manager interface the Help icon (A purple book) will provide access to help.

Also, there are shortcuts within Internet Explorer to provide access to documentation.sas.com during the exam as well. There is not open internet access, so you will not be able to access search engines such as Google or Bing, or community sites such as community.sas.com