EXIN CDCS study plan

EXIN CDCS · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

EXIN CDCS

Map the full EXIN CDCS exam blueprint into a one-page topic checklist with weights per area
Define data governance, data management, and data quality in your own words and record where they overlap
List the main data roles (owner, steward, custodian, consumer) and write one responsibility sentence for each
Set up a spaced-repetition deck and seed it with 40 core terminology cards

A one-page blueprint map plus a 40-card terminology deck reviewed once

Week 2

Explain the difference between data governance and IT governance using two concrete scenarios
Draft a RACI matrix for a sample data quality issue involving business and IT stakeholders
Identify three common causes of poor data quality and match each to a preventive control
Summarize how data governance relates to privacy and security obligations

A written RACI matrix and a half-page scenario comparison of governance vs IT governance

Week 3

Describe the stages of a data lifecycle and name one governance control per stage
Compare centralized, federated, and hybrid governance operating models with pros and cons
Explain what a data policy, standard, and procedure each contain and how they cascade
Produce a short stakeholder-communication outline for a new data policy rollout

A one-page governance operating model comparison table with a recommendation

Week 4

Define key data quality dimensions and give a measurable indicator for each
Design a simple data quality dashboard concept with three KPIs and thresholds
Walk through a root-cause analysis for a duplicated customer record
Complete 30 practice questions on governance and quality and log every wrong answer with the reason

A data quality KPI sheet plus an error log of at least 30 reviewed practice questions

Week 5

Explain master data, reference data, and metadata and how each is governed
Outline a master data management approach for one business entity from source to golden record
Describe how metadata and a data catalog support lineage and impact analysis
Draft five interview-style questions on MDM and answer them aloud without notes

A one-page MDM and metadata governance outline for a chosen entity

Week 6

Summarize core data protection principles and lawful-basis concepts relevant to data stewardship
Map data classification levels to handling and access rules
Explain the data steward's role in a privacy incident response
Compare retention and deletion practices across two data categories

A data classification and handling matrix covering at least three levels

Week 7

Re-read all error-log entries and rewrite each weak concept as a corrected flashcard
Take a timed 40-question mixed practice set and score it
Explain how data governance delivers business value using two quantified examples
Draft a one-page executive summary of a data governance program

A timed practice score with a revised flashcard set covering every missed concept

Week 8

Run two full-length timed practice exams under exam conditions
Review only the highest-frequency missed topics and close each gap with a written explanation
Recite definitions of all core terms from memory in a final self-quiz
Confirm exam logistics and build a one-page pre-exam summary sheet

Two completed timed practice exams with scores and a final one-page summary sheet

Week 2: Can explain governance vs IT governance and draw a RACI from memory in under 10 minutes

Week 4: Scores at least 70% on a 30-question governance and quality practice set

Week 6: Can describe MDM, metadata, and data protection concepts without notes

Week 8: Scores consistently at or above 80% on full-length timed practice exams