EXIN DevOps Foundation

The exam is 40 multiple-choice questions delivered in one hour. It is closed book, and electronic equipment is not allowed, so you cannot rely on notes or a device during the sitting. That works out to roughly 90 seconds per question, so practise pacing yourself with a timed sample exam before booking.

The pass mark is 65%, which means 26 of the 40 questions. Because the margin is not generous, do not leave questions blank if there is no penalty for guessing; a single extra correct answer can matter. Aim to be consistently above 80% on practice attempts before sitting the real exam.

It is a Foundation-level exam, so it tests basic knowledge and understanding rather than deep technical implementation. The challenge is breadth: four subject areas, each weighted equally on this page, covering origins and benefits as well as principles and practices. Candidates new to DevOps should expect to study the required reading rather than rely on general IT experience.

EXIN describes DevOps Foundation as a stepping-stone to the EXIN DevOps Professional certification, and it confirms understanding of DevOps origins and the benefits of its principles and practices. Treat it as preparation and a confidence check rather than a formal gate; check EXIN's Professional page for any entry requirements before you plan that step.

Start with the required reading, Oleg Skrynnik's DevOps – a Business Perspective (Van Haren Publishing, 2018, first edition), which underpins the exam. Then work through the four main subjects: DevOps Basics, DevOps Principles, DevOps Key Practices, and Practical Application of DevOps. Finish with EXIN's Preparation Guide and the downloadable and online sample exams to check your readiness.

EXIN provides a Preparation Guide plus a downloadable sample exam and an online sample exam, offered in several languages on the certification page. Use the sample exams to learn the question style and to time yourself. Supplement them with original practice questions that cover all four subject areas rather than drilling one topic repeatedly.

The exam is offered in Chinese, Dutch, English, German, and Japanese. Sample exam materials are published in matching languages. If you are not studying in your first language, practise with the sample exam in the language you will actually sit, because terminology translation can slow you down under a one-hour limit.

The usual causes are skipping the required reading, memorising definitions without understanding why practices benefit an organization, and running out of time because they never practised under the one-hour limit. Another trap is neglecting Practical Application of DevOps, which carries the same weight as the other three subject areas.

The certification is worth 2 ECTS credits, which matters if you are mapping it to a study programme. EXIN's certification page states the credits but does not state a validity period or a retake policy, so confirm both directly with EXIN or your accredited training partner before you book.