Are you preparing for the A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming certification? This comprehensive guide offers expert study tips, exam-day strategies, and a comparison of practice tests versus dumps to help you ace the A00-420 exam on your first try.
A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming Certification: Everything You Need to Know
The A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming Certification is an essential step for professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge of SAS Viya’s powerful data management and analytics capabilities. The certification emphasizes practical skills such as working with CAS tables, using CAS-enabled procedures, and modifying traditional programming languages to run efficiently in SAS Viya. This blog will walk you through the core skills required, study tips, exam strategies, and the benefits of using practice tests over dumps to prepare.
A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming Certification: Exam Objectives Overview
The SAS Viya Intermediate Programming (A00-420) certification exam evaluates candidates across a range of core concepts and practical skills necessary for effectively using SAS Viya. Below is a detailed breakdown of the key objectives and their weightage in the exam:
1. Programming in SAS Viya Concepts (5-10%)
- This section covers the basic programming concepts required to work with SAS Viya. It includes understanding the fundamentals of the SAS Viya platform and learning how to write programs that leverage its in-memory processing capabilities.
2. Managing Data with CAS-Enabled Procedures (10-15%)
- The ability to manage and manipulate data using CAS-enabled procedures is crucial. This includes loading data into CAS, modifying it, and performing common data management tasks using procedures that fully utilize CAS’s distributed processing abilities.
3. DATA Step and SQL Programming in CAS (10-15%)
- Candidates need to know how to adapt DATA step and SQL code to run in the CAS environment. This section tests your ability to transition traditional SAS code for big data processing, focusing on optimizing and managing data in distributed systems.
4. CAS-Enabled Procedures and User-Defined Formats (5-10%)
- Understanding CAS-enabled procedures and creating user-defined formats for data is another important component of the exam. This skill ensures that candidates can apply formats to customize data outputs and analyze data in meaningful ways.
5. CAS Language Basics (15-20%)
- Mastery of the CAS programming language (CASL) is heavily tested. CASL is essential for interacting with CAS tables and executing CAS actions. This section ensures that candidates can write scripts and programs that communicate effectively with CAS to process data and execute distributed tasks.
6. Access Data with CAS Actions (5-10%)
- Being able to access data using CAS actions is another critical skill. This section focuses on learning how to retrieve and interact with data through specific CAS actions, enabling efficient data exploration and analysis.
7. Explore and Validate Data with CAS Actions (5-10%)
- In this portion of the exam, candidates are tested on their ability to explore and validate data using CAS actions. This involves assessing data quality, understanding patterns, and ensuring that the data is ready for further processing or analysis.
8. Prepare Data with CAS Actions (20-25%)
- This is the most significant portion of the exam, testing candidates’ ability to prepare data using CAS actions. It includes transforming, cleaning, and enriching data to ensure it is suitable for analysis. Understanding how to efficiently prepare data is critical for working with large datasets in a distributed environment.
9. Analyze and Summarize Data with CAS Actions (5-10%)
- The final component of the exam focuses on analyzing and summarizing data. This includes applying CAS actions to generate insights, create reports, and produce meaningful summaries from large datasets. Candidates must demonstrate their ability to perform data analytics using CAS’s in-memory capabilities.
A00-420 Certification Exam Details:
The A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming certification exam is designed for individuals aiming to demonstrate their proficiency in using SAS Viya for intermediate-level programming. Below are the key details you need to know before registering and taking the exam:
- Exam ID: A00-420
- Administered by: SAS and Pearson VUE
- Question Format: 65-70 multiple-choice and short-answer questions
- Time Allotted: 110 minutes
- Passing Score: 71%
- Certification Validity: The certification is valid for 5 years before needing renewal
A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming Certification: Pricing and Discounts
When preparing for the A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming certification, it’s important to consider the cost of registration. Here are the pricing details:
Exam Fee: $180 (USD) in the United States and most other countries.
Global Exam Pricing:
- Pricing for the certification exam may vary slightly in different regions. It’s recommended to check with SAS or Pearson VUE for country-specific exam fees and potential discounts that may apply in certain locations.
- SAS occasionally offers discounts and promotional pricing, especially for students or participants in training programs. Keep an eye on the official SAS website or inquire about any available vouchers for reduced fees.
Preparation Tips for the A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming Certification:
Allocate Specific Time to Cover Up Each A00-420 Exam Domain:
- Before diving into preparation, familiarize yourself with the A00-420 exam format. This exam assesses your proficiency in SAS Viya Intermediate Programming, including data management, programming fundamentals, and analytics. Knowing the number of questions, time limits, and sections ensures that you tailor your study plan effectively.
- Allocate time to each section based on its weight and complexity, helping you feel confident during the exam. Review the exam blueprint thoroughly, so you can identify which areas require the most focus.
Master SAS Viya Essentials:
- The A00-420 certification focuses heavily on SAS Viya, an advanced platform for data analysis. Ensure you have a strong grasp of core SAS Viya functionalities, such as managing CAS (Cloud Analytic Services) tables, programming with the DATA step, and using common SAS procedures.
- Practice each of these concepts with real-world datasets, so they become second nature. Incorporating hands-on sessions is key to fully understanding how SAS Viya works.
Study with A00-420 Sample Questions:
- Practicing with sample questions for the A00-420 exam can give you a clear idea of what to expect. Review each question, identify areas where you struggled, and focus on improving those areas.
- Sample questions mirror the exam’s difficulty and help you develop time management skills, ensuring you can complete the test within the allotted time. Many resources online provide realistic practice questions, which simulate the exam environment.
Use Official SAS Documentation:
- Official SAS documentation is one of the most reliable sources for preparing for the A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming exam. Review SAS’s official materials related to SAS Viya programming, analytics, and data management.
- These resources are regularly updated, ensuring you learn the latest techniques and best practices. Study the documentation alongside practical exercises to better retain the material.
Simulate Exam Conditions with A00-420 Practice Test:
- As your exam date approaches, simulate the real A00-420 exam conditions by completing full-length practice tests under timed conditions. This will help you gauge your readiness and manage test anxiety.
- Pay attention to how you manage time during the simulation, ensuring you don’t rush or get stuck on difficult questions. Replicating the pressure of a timed exam will prepare you mentally for the actual test.
Exam Day Strategies for A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming:
- Arrive Early and Be Prepared: On the day of the A00-420 exam, make sure to arrive at the test center or prepare your online environment well ahead of time. Ensure you have all necessary materials, including identification, login credentials, and any allowed resources.
- Manage Your Time Effectively: During the A00-420 exam, time management is crucial. Start by answering easier questions first, then circle back to the more challenging ones. Allocate your time so that you don’t run out of time toward the end of the exam.
- Stay Calm and Focused: It’s natural to feel nervous, but staying calm will help you focus better. Practice breathing techniques or short meditations if you feel overwhelmed. Remember that thorough preparation will guide you through the difficult moments.
- Review Your Answers: If time permits, review your answers to ensure there are no mistakes or overlooked questions. This is especially important for the multiple-choice format, where a second glance can catch small errors.
- Keep Track of Your Time: Keep a close eye on the exam timer to ensure you’re pacing yourself correctly. Allocate specific times to different sections based on difficulty and move on if you get stuck on a question for too long.
Why A00-420 Practice Tests Are Better Than Dumps?
- Mimics Real Exam Conditions: A00-420 practice tests simulate real exam conditions, helping you develop time management skills and familiarize yourself with the test format. Dumps, in contrast, often fail to capture the true experience of the exam.
- Encourages Conceptual Learning: Unlike dumps, which encourage rote memorization, practice tests encourage deep learning by testing your understanding of key concepts. This is especially valuable for the A00-420 certification, which emphasizes applied knowledge.
- Higher Retention of Information: Studies show that active practice enhances retention better than passively reviewing answers from dumps. With practice tests, you learn from mistakes, helping you retain information longer.
- Ensures Ethical Preparation: Using dumps can violate the ethics of the certification process, while practice tests are a legitimate and reliable tool for preparation. Ethical preparation ensures your certification is truly earned.
- Builds Confidence: As you consistently perform better on practice tests, your confidence in tackling the real A00-420 exam grows. Dumps, on the other hand, provide no genuine assurance of readiness for the actual test.
Concluding Thoughts:
Preparing for the A00-420 SAS Viya Intermediate Programming certification can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can excel. From mastering the exam structure to leveraging practice tests over dumps, this guide covers everything you need to succeed. Follow these tips, stay consistent, and build the confidence you need to ace the exam on your first attempt!
