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ACE Exams

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    • #63690
      Billy Chase
      Member

      I've been using InDesign for a good while and I consider myself and advanced user, at least in the company of most of my designer friends. I'd like to become an ACE but I can never tell if I'm ready. The money it takes to take the test is a bit steep so I want to be sure that I pass.

      Does anyone have any tips on prep and confidence for the ACE exam?

      Thanks,

      Billy

    • #63691
      David Blatner
      Keymaster

      That's exactly why we did the “The InDesignSecrets Guide to the InDesign CS5 ACE Exam” ebook!

      Unfortunately, we don't currently have plans to update this for CS6, but I think the CS5 book would certainly be a good place to start.

    • #63692
      Billy Chase
      Member

      Excellent.

      So if I'm undertanding this correctly, once you become certified then all you need to do is take the recertification exams as new versions come out? There's a huge price difference in the tests.

      Building up my confidence is the main factor I think.

    • #63693
      David Blatner
      Keymaster

      That's right. And the recert is online, so it's cheaper and easier.

      Check out the sample chapter from the ebook. Test yourself. I bet you'll do better than you fear! Gam-ba-te!

    • #63730
      angharad09
      Participant

      I can vouch for the InDesign Secrets book — it was very helpful when I studied for the test. The Adobe exam guide is good, too. A few things to keep in mind, confidence and test-survival wise (my opinions only): 1. the test is very comprehensive, but the score required to pass is not super high (it may tell you somewhere on the website or the test guide). Most people use only a portion of INDD's capabilities, but they have to test you on a good cross-section of everything for the credential to be meaningful (that's my $0.02). Focus some of your studying on getting familiar with the parts you're *not* a power user in. 2. You may be used to creating beautiful documents and solving wicked tough problems, now practice answering multiple choice questions. It's a whole different mindset, so get comfortable with it before you walk into the exam room. 3. I dimly remember (check, don't take this on faith) that there may be some option to re-test if you don't pass the first time, you might call your local testing center and ask, if you think that would help you worry less. 4. I don't know if this would work for you, but I basically took every skill mentioned on the test prep booklet, figured out how to do it, and made a table with questions/prompts in the left-hand column and answers in the right, and reviewed it till I had it memorized. That was not enough to get me a brilliant high score, but I passed. 5. Long ago, I took the road test for my moped license with a half dozen Hells Angels looking guys. They were on Harleys, I was on a rooty-toot scooter and could barely make a left turn. I passed, and several of them didn't. why? I followed instructions. There's a lesson in there. 6. Darlin', if I could pass the ACE, you can pass the ACE. Good luck! I found it to be a great experience, both the stressed-out studying part and the celebrating after, and I bet you will, too.

    • #63820
      Lancelot
      Member

      @OP,

      If you are taking the exam for the first time, you better study hard across all subjects as listed in Adobe's exam guide. As mentioned by Amanda, the exam covers the entire programs capabilities over multiple categories. Study all visual cues (InDesign has a ton) and shortcuts… frankly, if the re-certification isn't online and cheaper, I would not have bother re-taking it myself and keeping the certification updated (see my long reply in another CS6 exam thread). Personally, staying as ACE is more for work recognization. At least for me, it has not serve to advance my career nor earn a bigger check (no direct cause-n-effect here)…as most people really dunno what an ACE is or does… of the few that is aware of Adobe's program, those few are the ones that will appreciate your knowledge.

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