Where can I find study material to help prepare for the ACE exam?
Adobe recommends that you use their free Exam Bulletin to help prepare for the exam. It is basically a PDF listing the topics that the questions will be based upon in the official exam and not a regular, periodic bulletin. You can download it by clicking on the link below and then following the links on the aptly titled page "Become an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in four easy steps."
Adobe also suggest working your way through the User Guide for the relevant product, the Classroom in a Book series, making use of an Adobe Authorized Training Center, Adobe online training from Element K, Tutorials and materials from Total Training and, of course, other training resources. Some of these suggestions are very expensive, while others are reasonably priced and affordable but do require a greater investment of your time. The cheaper alternatives can work out even cheaper when offset against the booking fee should one fail once or twice (and people who have not prepared or allowed enough time to study before the exam do fail). You can find all the Adobe recommended ACE related information, PDFs and links at www.adobe.com.
However, when it comes to studying for the ACE exam, I naturally have a bias towards exam aids that I produced! They were written with the specific intention of helping people study for the Photoshop and Illustrator ACE exams. They are packaged as standalone applications that run on the PC and the Mac. You can find testimonials and further details at www.examaids.com.
How soon will I know if I have passed or failed?
Soon enough is the answer (too soon for some!). By the time you have left the test room and reached the reception desk of the testing centre, your results should be waiting for you. If you have passed, you will be sent details of how to download the Adobe logo for use in your personal stationery and on your Website.
As we all know, products are frequently upgraded. When that happens, your Adobe Certified Expert designation stays valid for 90 days once the product that you sat the exam for has been upgraded and released. Adobe will send you a reminder when your certification is due for renewal. If you decide to recertify, you can qualify for a 25% discount. However, you must give the discount code before you make the booking. The current discount code is RETEST (and before you ask, no, you don't have to capitalize it!).
Have you heard the one about the ACE, the specialist and the master?
With the release of the Creative Suite, Adobe has increased the choice of ACE designations. You can elect to certify for a single product, specialize in print, Web or video work, or acquire the grand designation of master. Here's how it works: to become an ACE Print Specialist, you need to acquire pass marks in the exams for Adobe InDesign, Adobe Acrobat and either Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. To become a master, you need to acquire pass marks in all the products in the Creative Suite. That means Adobe Acrobat, Adobe GoLive, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop.
So, there you have it. Becoming an ACE is comparatively easy if you know the product and you can discipline your mind to pass an exam. Once acquired, the ACE designation has the potential of bringing you many benefits: it can make you stand out from your competition, help your résumé get noticed, make your business card more memorable, bring unsolicited job opportunities your way, give you leverage to negotiate a higher salary/fee and increase your standing amongst your clients. Furthermore, it is widely recognized in the print, video and Web industries. And, who knows, you may even become more attractive to the opposite sex as a result!
Testimonial
David Creamer of I.D.E.A.S. Training writes:
- When reviewing designers resumes, one of the hardest things to discern is the applicant's actual knowledge of a program. I can't tell you how many people I come across who call themselves "advanced" or "expert," but don't know a layer mask from a Halloween mask!
However, when I see an Adobe Certified Expert listing on the resume, I know the person has a decent knowledge of the program. While they may not be true "experts," they have shown an ability to take a comprehensive test that can only be passed by being familiar with the software. More importantly, they show they have the ability to study and learn -- a relatively rare find in today's world.
