Wednesday 27 August 2014

TOGAF Certified Architect in two weeks

In April 2013, I happened to meet an interviewer who looked at all my qualifications and experience (17 years - all in Software Industry) then as part of the bargaining process, he said I do not fit as an architect because I do not have any certification to prove my expertise or experience. I felt really dumped. I took the offer to join the company but decided that I would have an architect certification before I joined the company and the joining date was just 3 weeks away from the day I took the interview. I decided to go for the TOGAF certification and I decided that I will do it in 2 weeks' time. In the two weeks of preparation, all I did was, make myself thorough with the concepts in the Foundation Guide. There were not many sources to test my knowledge in the TOGAF guide. So, I challenged myself by asking my son to randomly ask questions from the foundation guide. The questions he asked were sometimes too low-a-level or call it silly but then, I decided to take it as a challenge and answer as much. It also taught me another lesson in the sidelines - never underestimate the power of a little one! This was the time when I also decided that there could be a website or app that could have section-wise questions of the TOGAF chapters and it can be helpful to the aspirants. I decided to keep it aside and concentrate on  the exam preparation process - one week to get thorough with TOGAF ADM and another one week to attempt advanced level questions - my only testing tool was the mock exams (around 50-60 questions) - part of the package that comes as soon as you register for the TOGAF exam. In the process, i realized that the advance level is easy if you are good with the basic concepts. Although the exam  fees was also high, the driving factor was to prove myself that I can pick up any concept at any time albeit TOGAF or rocket science - provided if you have the interest! I just didn't think too much about the after-effects, took the exam on the scheduled date. Once i completed the foundation level exam, i was fairly confident about my performance, because the questions weren't as tough as what my son had asked! The advanced level was a bit tougher than foundation but my concepts helped me. I never referred the guide while taking the exam although that is allowed for the advanced level. Once i finished my exam, I was fairly confident I would pass but slightly a bit jittery. I was surprised to see the result since my foundation scores weren't as good as the advanced level scores but I was happy i passed with just 2 weeks of preparation and I'm now TOGAF certified!
The thought of a site was still lingering in my mind. One year later, here I'm - building a site - www.togafexamprep.com - providing section-based tests for each of the chapters. I'm sure this will be a big repository of TOGAF questions very soon. Register and use it and check the personalized dashboards. Will be glad if it helps all the aspirants. Cheers!!!!

Wednesday 6 August 2014

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<quiz xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="quiz.xsd">
  <questions>
    <mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, A deployed and operational IT system that supports
business functions and services is called -
      </question>
     
      <answer>Application Architecture</answer>
 <answer correct="yes">Application</answer>
      <answer>Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
      <answer>Enterprise Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to definition of Application in page
33 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
 <mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, Applications use data and are supported by multiple ______
components but are distinct from the ______ components that support the
application.
      </question>
     
      <answer>architectural, technology</answer>
 <answer correct="yes">technology, technology</answer>
      <answer>technology,architectural</answer>
      <answer>architectural,architectural </answer>
      <answer>data,architectural </answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to definition of Application in page
33 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, A description of the major logical grouping of
capabilities that manage the data objects
necessary to process the data and support the business is called -
      </question>
     
     
 <answer>Application</answer>
      <answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer correct="yes">Application Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
      <answer>Enterprise Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to definition of Application
Architecture in page 33 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, the fact that Application Architecture falls after ______
and _______ architectural phases in the ADM is clearly covered in its
definition.
      </question>
      <answer>technology and data</answer>
<answer>business and technology</answer>
      <answer>technology and architecture vision</answer>
 <answer correct="yes">business and data</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to definition of Application
Architecture in page 33 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. Application Architecture is
 a description of the major logical grouping of capabilities that manage the
data objects
necessary to process the data and support the business.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, Architecture is defined as
      </question>
    
<answer>A formal description of a business, or a detailed plan of the business
at component level to guide its implementation</answer>
 <answer correct="yes">A formal description of a system, or a detailed plan of
the system at component level to guide its implementation</answer>
      <answer>A formal description of data, or a detailed plan of the data at
component level to guide its implementation</answer>
 <answer>A formal description of a technology, or a detailed plan of
the technology at component level to guide its implementation</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to one of the definitions of 
Architecture in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. Architecture is a formal
description of a system, or a detailed plan of the system at component level
to guide its implementation
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, the structure of components, their inter-relationships,
and the principles and guidelines governing their design and evolution over
time is called -
      </question>
    

 <answer>Application</answer>
      <answer correct="yes">Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
      <answer>Enterprise Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to one of the definitions of 
Architecture in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. Architecture is the
structure of components, their inter-relationships, and the principles and
guidelines governing their design and evolution over time.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
Which one among the following is used to classify architectural elements from
generic to organization-specific ones?
      </question>
    

 <answer>Application</answer>
      <answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
      <answer correct="yes">Architecture Continuum</answer>
      <answer>Enterprise Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Continuum in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
Architectural elements in the continuum are classified from generic to
context-specific ones. Which one among the following corresponds to a generic
element in the continuum?
      </question>
    

 <answer correct="yes">basic building blocks</answer>
      <answer>industry-specific architectures</answer>
<answer>organization-specific architectures</answer>
      <answer>All of the above</answer>
    
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Continuum in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. The architecture Continuum
begins with foundational definitions such as reference models, core
strategies, and basic building blocks.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
Architectural elements in the continuum are classified from generic to
context-specific ones. Which one among the following falls mid-way in the
continuum?
      </question>
    

 <answer>basic building blocks</answer>     
<answer>organization-specific architectures</answer>
<answer correct="yes">industry-specific architectures</answer>
      <answer>All of the above</answer>
    
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Continuum in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. The architecture Continuum
begins with foundational definitions such as reference models, core
strategies, and basic building blocks. From there it spans to Industry
Architectures and all the way to an organization's specific architecture.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, which one among the following is a constituent of the
architecture model that describes a single aspect of the overall model?
      </question>
    

     
 <answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
<answer correct="yes">Architecture Building Block</answer>
     <answer>Enterprise Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Building Block (ABB) in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, which one among the following is a step-by-step approach
to develop and use an enterprise architecture?
      </question>
    

     
 <answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
<answer>Architecture Building Block</answer>
     <answer correct="yes">Architecture Development Method (ADM)</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Building Block (ABB) in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, which one among the following is not an architectural
domain?
      </question>
    

     
 <answer>Business</answer>
<answer>Data</answer>
      <answer>Application</answer>
 <answer correct="yes">Technical</answer>
<answer>Technology</answer>
   
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Domain in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
An architectural area is also called as -
      </question>
<answer>Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Business Domain</answer>
<answer correct="yes">Architecture Domain</answer>
 <answer>Data Domain</answer>
<answer>Technology Domain</answer>
   
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Domain in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
In TOGAF, BDAT is a mnemonic to remember -
      </question>
      <answer>the business domains</answer>
<answer correct="yes">the architecture domains</answer>
<answer>the data domains</answer>
<answer>the technology domains</answer>
   
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Domain in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. BDAT stands for Business-Data-
Application-Technology Architecture Domains.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
In TOGAF parlance, BDAT stands for -
      </question>
      <answer correct="yes">Business-Data-Application-Technology architecture
domains</answer>
<answer>Business-Data-Application-Timeline architecture domains</answer>
<answer>Business-Database-Application-Technical architecture domains</answer>
<answer>Business-Data-Application-Testing architecture domains</answer>
   
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Domain in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide. BDAT stands for Business-Data-
Application-Technology architecture domains.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, which one among the following is a structure to develop
enterprise architecture?
      </question>
    

     
 <answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
<answer>Architecture Building Block</answer>
     <answer correct="yes">Architecture Framework</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Framework in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, the continuum in the term enterprise continuum means -
      </question>
<answer>increasingly continuous</answer>
 <answer correct="yes">increasing detail and specialization</answer>
      <answer>continuous integration</answer>
<answer>decreasing detail and specialization</answer>
     <answer>All of the above</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Continuum in page 34 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, a conceptual structure used to develop, implement, and
sustain an architecture is also called as -
      </question>
<answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
  <answer correct="yes">Architecture Framework</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
<answer>Architecture Building Block</answer>
  
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Framework in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
A qualitative statement of intent that should be met by the architecture is
called -
      </question>
<answer correct="yes">Architecture Principle</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
  <answer>Architecture Framework</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
<answer>Architecture Building Block</answer>
  
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
principle in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, architecture principles have -
      </question>

<answer>a supporting document</answer>
  <answer>a main character</answer>
      <answer>a supporting character</answer>
<answer correct="yes">a supporting rationale</answer>
  
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
principle in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, a succinct description of the Target Architecture that
describes its business value and the changes to the enterprise that will
result from its successful deployment is called -
      </question>
<answer>Architecture Principle</answer>
<answer correct="yes">Architecture Vision</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
  <answer>Architecture Framework</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Vision in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, which one among the following can serve as a boundary for
detailed architecture development?
      </question>
<answer>Architecture</answer>
<answer>Application Architecture</answer>
  <answer>Architecture Framework</answer>
<answer correct="yes">Architecture Vision</answer>
      <answer>Architecture Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Architecture
Vision in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, _________  can be changed only through formal change
control procedures.
      </question>

<answer>a base</answer>
<answer  correct="yes">a baseline</answer>
  <answer>a framework</answer>
      <answer>a Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Baseline in
page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, A specification that has been formally reviewed and agreed
upon, that thereafter serves as the basis for further development or change is
called -
      </question>
<answer>a basis</answer>
<answer>a base</answer>
<answer  correct="yes">a baseline</answer>
  <answer>a framework</answer>
      <answer>a Continuum</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Baseline in
page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
<mchoice>
      <question section="4.2">
According to TOGAF, A building block -
      </question>
<answer>can consist of a name or an outline description</answer>
<answer>may be decomposed into multiple supporting building blocks accompanied
by full specification</answer>
<answer>can relate to architectures or solutions</answer>
  <answer  correct="yes">All of the above</answer>
      <reason>
        This is the best answer according to the definition of  Building Block
in page 35 of TOGAF Foundation Guide.
      </reason>
    </mchoice>
</questions>
</quiz>