AIOps Foundation exam-day guide
AIOps Foundation · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact identity document named in your booking confirmation. The name must match your registration. If you are unsure which documents are accepted for online proctoring versus a test centre, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Booking confirmation and appointment time
Save a copy offline (screenshot or PDF) showing your appointment time, time zone, and session type. Check whether your slot is stated in local time or UTC and convert it to your own clock the day before.
Test-centre logistics or online-proctoring setup confirmed
For a test centre, note the address, transport route, and arrival buffer. For online proctoring, run the system check on the same device and network you will use. Exact arrival and check-in windows vary, so confirm with the provider.
Compatible computer with working camera, microphone, and speakers
Use a device that passes the provider's system test. Close background apps, disable notifications, and make sure the camera and microphone are not blocked by another application.
Stable internet connection with a backup
Wired or strong Wi-Fi is preferable. Have a phone hotspot or a second network ready in case the primary connection drops, and know the provider's reconnect procedure.
Quiet, private, well-lit room (online sessions)
Clear the desk of notes, phones, and smart devices. A plain background and even lighting help the proctor verify your environment quickly. Requirements for permitted items on the desk vary, so confirm with the provider.
Power and charging
Charge your laptop and keep the charger plugged in. For a test centre, check whether power outlets are available if you bring an approved device.
Permitted-items list checked in advance
Most providers restrict what you may bring to the desk. The AIOps Foundation exam is typically closed-book, but do not assume. Confirm the permitted-items and calculator policy with the provider.
Syllabus and a one-page personal summary
Review the official syllabus to confirm the domains and weightings, then condense your weak areas onto one page for the final review. Do not bring this page into the exam unless explicitly allowed.
Practice questions completed under timed conditions
Do at least one full timed set in the last 72 hours to rehearse pacing. Note which question types slow you down so you can plan your time per question.
Logistics for interruptions
Plan for childcare, work meetings, and travel so the exam window is protected. Know whether breaks are allowed and how they affect the timer. Confirm with the provider.
Provider support contact and incident procedure
Save the provider's support phone number or chat link. If the platform fails, know whether the attempt is paused, rescheduled, or voided. Confirm the exact policy with the provider.
Plan the day
Confirm the appointment details, session type, and time zone. Run the system test if you are testing online, and resolve any camera, microphone, or browser issues now rather than on the day. Re-read the official syllabus and mark the domains where you are weakest. Complete one full timed practice set and review every wrong answer against the syllabus, not against memory. Build your one-page summary from the errors you made, focusing on service-level objectives, monitoring and observability concepts, incident and problem management, automation and orchestration, and the role of machine learning in IT operations.
Do a second, shorter practice set focused on your weakest domain. Rehearse definitions in your own words: the difference between monitoring and observability, between an incident and a problem, between a symptom and a root cause, and between descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics. Practise explaining why automation needs guardrails and human approval for high-risk changes. Stop adding new material at the end of this day and switch to consolidation.
Review only your one-page summary and the syllabus headings. Confirm the ID document, booking confirmation, and, for online sessions, the room setup. Check the weather and transport if travelling to a test centre, and set two alarms. Avoid cramming new topics late at night; sleep matters more than one extra fact. Confirm whether any permitted items, such as a calculator or blank paper, are allowed, since policies differ.
Eat a normal meal and hydrate. Do a five-minute review of your summary only. For online sessions, log in early, close all other applications, silence your phone, and complete the check-in steps. For a test centre, arrive with buffer time and keep your ID accessible. Read the instructions on screen carefully, including how to flag questions and how to navigate back.
Do a first pass answering the questions you know, flagging anything that needs thought. Watch the clock and keep a steady pace rather than perfecting one item. For scenario questions, identify what the question is really asking, for example whether it wants the first diagnostic step, the root cause, or the long-term fix. Eliminate clearly wrong options before choosing. Return to flagged items with the remaining time, and only change an answer when you can state a reason. Submit deliberately and confirm the submission screen.
Note which topics felt uncertain while they are fresh. If you did not pass, use the score report to target the weakest domains before rebooking. Check the provider's retake and waiting-period rules, since these vary.
Rules to check
Present the exact identity document named in your booking. The name must match your registration. If you are unsure which documents are accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day.
Follow all proctor instructions. For online sessions, keep your face in view, do not leave the camera area without permission, and do not use phones, notes, or unauthorized applications. For test centres, follow the invigilator's rules on personal items.
The AIOps Foundation exam is generally closed-book, but do not assume. Confirm the permitted-items, calculator, and scratch-paper policy with the provider, and never bring unauthorized material to the desk.
Know the break policy before you start. Some sessions allow scheduled breaks and others do not, and unscheduled breaks may be recorded or may stop the timer. Confirm with the provider.
Understand the scoring before exam day: the number of questions, the time limit, the pass mark, and whether wrong answers are penalized. These details are published by the provider and can change, so verify them on the official page rather than relying on forum posts.
Do not attempt to record, screenshot, or share exam content. Attempting to capture or distribute questions is grounds for invalidation and may carry legal consequences.
If a technical failure occurs, stop and contact provider support immediately. Do not restart the exam on your own. The resolution, whether the attempt is resumed or rescheduled, follows the provider's incident policy, so confirm it in advance.
Report any suspected irregularity or environment problem to the proctor as soon as it happens. Raising it during the session is easier to resolve than after submission.