IBM Software Group

1. IBM Software Group Lotus Certification Update Barbara Bowen, Manager, WW Professional Certification Programs Bill McCook, Manager, Exam Development September 23, 2003

2. Today we'll talk about • Quick Review & Status of new IBM Certified Professional Program • Notes and Domino 6.5 • Upcoming conferences • Logo merchandise! • Exam development • Questions and answers

3. IBM Certified Professional - a refresher course • New role and title structure across all software brands • New skill level structure for all brands • Associate, Professional, Advanced Professional • Limited number of "roles" (job categories or titles) - just six • Lotus "program" remains the same • Certification requirements remain the same - same exams, same number of exams, same certification paths • Lotus private web site and Clippings continue • Program managed by Lotus (customer service, operations, management)

4. IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified System Administrator - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified Advanced System Administrator - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus QuickPlace 3 IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus Sametime 3 IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Workflow 3 IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus QuickPlace 3 New Lotus titles

5. New Lotus titles, con’t. IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Sametime 3 IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Domino.Doc 3.0 IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus Discovery Server 1.0 IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus Domino.Doc 3.0 IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions IBM Certified System Administrator - Lotus Collaborative Solutions IBM Certified Associate Instructor - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 IBM Certified Instructor - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Application Development IBM Certified Instructor - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Administration IBM Certified Advanced Instructor - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Application Development IBM Certified Advanced Instructor - Lotus Notes and Domino 6 Administration

6. New Certification Program Marks Complete usage guidelines are available in the Private web area Yes, you can add your title and suggestions are in the usage guide. Yes, you can use up any existing materials you have before using these Start using them now!

7. Did Your existing certification title change? Certification Your title on certificates earned after August 1 Will you receive a new certificate? Notes Release 5 No change to titles Existing titles will be printed on new certificate designs as they are issued Notes and Domino 6 Your title will be updated Candidates can choose to order new certificates with new titles - no need to delay! Not automatically, please order one via the on line services area Collaborative Solutions Your title will be updated Candidates can choose to order new certificates with new titles - no need to delay! Not automatically, please order one via the on line services area

8. New Program Operations Update • Roll out date of August 1 was met • not without some issues (as always) • Certification titles for ND6 and Collabortatibe Solutions were updated in the DB • As new certificates for ND6 and Collaborative Solutions are earned, new new titles and new certificates and cards are going out. • You can order a new certificate with a new title • Marks and usage guidelines are available on the private website • Public and private website text has been updated

11. Notes and Domino 6.5 • No upgrade will be required • Most changes in 6.5 are not related to certification skills • Existing exams and certification paths will remain the same • No updates to exams themselves - they will remain 6 • No changes to titles - will remain "Notes and Domino 6" certified

12. Upcoming conferences • WebSphere Portal Technical Conference - Boston, MA Oct. 1-3. • certification testing available N/C for QuickPlace and Sametime • Lotusphere! • January 25 - 29 Orlando Florida

13. At long last, certification merchandise to buy! Mid October - watch for announcements

14. Preparing for the Exam - Exam Guides and Experience • Listing of competencies that could be covered on the exam and that you should know with sample items • Determined by your peers - not Lotus • Lotus study showed a positive correlation between using the exam guide and a passing score • Go through each competency thoroughly • many CLPs find that searching in the help file on each competency helps • Experience - you must use the product • we recommend 90 days minimum

15. Preparing for the Exam - Exam Development Context • Our model for exam development employs experts in the roles your peers • Competencies determined by your peers through job task analyses • Exam questions written and/or reviewed by experts in the roles • Expert teams participate in reviews to set passing scores

16. Training Materials • LAEC Courses • Instructor led, On-line • Check WW schedule • CBTs • NetG • SmartForce • Practice Tests! • SelfTest Software • CertFX • Advanced CLP • Thomas Tester

17. Training Materials • Other reference books and materials • Redbooks, Lotus documentation • Third party publisher books • The View, E-Pro Magazine • Tutorials in Lotus section of IBM's developerWorks • Product Release notes and help files • Forums • Lotus Certification Forum • LDD • SearchDomino

18. Test Taking Strategies • Plan your exam time • Arrive early • "Relax", "take deep breaths" • Initial review • Read through the exam questions • Mark items where your confidence is very high • Second review • Answer the marked items • Spend most of your time on unmarked items • Review the question "stem" only - Can I answer? • Review question options • How do the options differ? • How do the differences relate to the question "stem"? • Eliminate options/no penalty for guessing

19. Exam Structure and Results • Exam Structure • More than one equivalent "form" is used • Forms are equivalent in difficulty and content • Are assigned randomly to test takers • Typical exam has 40 scored items and 5 unscored items • Unscored items are used for replacement purposes • Results • Results are presented by content groups within the exam • Scoring provides focused feedback • Beta Exams • Typically 100 to 120 items; "one pass through" • Scores provided at the end of the Beta period • Lower exam fee

20. Some common test taking myths • Answer Options • The longest answer is the correct one • Answer C is the most likely correct answer • Trick Questions • The exam writers are trying to "trick" me! • Remember - the questions were designed and/or reviewed by peers

21. For more information • Questions to certification@lotus.com • Transition Guide on Web: http://www.lotus.com/certification • Subscribe to Clippings: link on http://www.lotus.com/certification • More information on other IBM Software brands http://www.ibm.com/certify • E-mail me barbara_bowen@us.ibm.com • SearchDomino.com Best of Web links: Certification

22. Questions? Submit your questions now by clicking on the “Ask a Question” button in the lower area of your presentation screen. Thank you! You can send additional questions to Barbara Bowen via editor@searchdomino.com.