WGU's WSV1 aka CIW Web Design Specialist 1D0-520

Mike-Mike

Man, I forgot how much I don't like the CIW study kit. Am I stupid, or is it just random PDF's? Am I doing something wrong here? I know there are quizzes and whatnot, but does not have an actual course like a LabSim or Skillport course is set up?

petedude

I didn't end up opening those books. I used the Foundations kit, uCertify and web resources to study for it.

Mike-Mike

WGU gave you uCertify?

phonetic.man

Mike-Mike wrote: »

Man, I forgot how much I don't like the CIW study kit. Am I stupid, or is it just random PDF's? Am I doing something wrong here? I know there are quizzes and whatnot, but does not have an actual course like a LabSim or Skillport course is set up?

This is exactly what I was thinking.

After reading so many whitepapers, technical documentation, and books from Sybex and Cisco Press I found the CIW material to be less than fun to deal with.
I did the CIW Database course last month and disliked the primary material. I thought ucertify material had a better flow (really, a cohesive presentation). I don't think it helped that it wasn't an area I was interested in.
For that matter, I haven't been impressed with LabSim either (it looks comprehensive but I got burnt out on it after about 5 sub areas in a chapter... too slow). I guess for the courses I like (MS, Cisco,) I will stick to material that I know works. For the rest I will just need power through as fast as possible.

Mike-Mike

See, I really liked the LabSim for my CCNA

swild

I know this seems like a real waste, but I printed out all of the PDFs and collated them in a binder. I am about the start my last CIW course, database 1, and so far the text alone is far more than I have needed for all of the CIW exams.

I just worked through it like a text book. Now the MTA Web Dev Fund text is a different story.

demonfurbie

i found out yesterday i need to do the database and the web design classes ... i sure hope i can get them done in 6 weeks

petedude

demonfurbie wrote: »

i found out yesterday i need to do the database and the web design classes ... i sure hope i can get them done in 6 weeks

Plan on eight weeks, finish in six. Some people can pull it off, but YMMV.

Mike-Mike

I ended up buying the UCertify on my own for CIW web design and JavaScript

swild

demonfurbie wrote: »

i found out yesterday i need to do the database and the web design classes ... i sure hope i can get them done in 6 weeks

The web design course is a lot of material, around 2000 pages. However, you can skip almost the entire 2nd volume. You only need to skim the first chapter on Flash, and then skip the rest of the flash chapters. Then skim the rest of volume 2. I only had 1 or 2 questions total about Flash and they were very general. The advice from David Kidd in his video in the community is spot on. Unless you want to learn Flash, don't bother. If even you do want to learn Flash, you can do it after WGU, just keep the pdfs.

Still working through the Database I course. I've been swamped at work this week so I am about 4 days behind where I want to be. Hopefully, I will be able to catch up this weekend.

ThePrimetimer

I know this is an old thread, but did some searching and found it.

Anyways, do any of you guys remember what you did for chapters 17-24? Did you study for the Expressions, Dreamweaver, etc.., or did you just skim over these chapters as well?

I'm taking swild's advice going through this course and have this scheduled for the 29th.

Thanks guys!

boredgamelad

I only read the first 16 chapters, skipped 17-24, then did some of the practice exams from the other domains to familiarize myself with some of the terms.

KeithC

I skimmed through them for buzz words that were in the practice exams. Last minute I read and studied the multimedia chapters. I think there were a question or two about the html programs on the actually exam.

gdeusthewhizkid

I have to take this certification soon at WGU. Why they act like it's so hard.. I had to speak to two mentors on being approved for this assessment...

Psoasman

It's not a difficult exam, but your range of questions will vary. I had a lot of questions on Flash, for example, so I am glad I went through all the lessons on that. The CIW practice exams are good for this, too.

jlee0409

Any other advice from those who have successfully completed this class? I just started this week, took the Pre-Assessment exam and passed 82% so I plan to go ahead and take the exam next week. I'm not a fast reader and get distracted easily so I'm trying to just hit on the points that are most important and those which I'm less familiar with. I appreciate any advice.

Psoasman

I found it helpful to have created some web pages and played around with CSS. Know any of the terms in the glossary. You may or may not get questions on Flash, but I'd go through the labs just in case. Know the security well, too. Good luck.

swild

There is no reason to study the chapters about alternate programs that do the same thing. Don't remember the exact examples but I am pretty sure that their were not and program specific questions, just general questions about how to do something.

Psoasman

I found it helpful to go through he material, as I had limited experience with flash, etc. Exams can change anytime and it doesn't hurt to take some time to go through the material.

NotHackingYou

Passed this today. Spent 3 weeks studying the provided material. Read all the provided PDFs, did the course mastery and practice exams. Supplied material covered what I needed and practice exams were good. It is now called CUV1.

Psoasman

Congrats on passing.

CenturionMario

I wanted to know what chapters are not necessary to read (or can just be skimmed). It look like 17-24 aren't necessary, but I want to be completely certain about this. Is there any other advice not mentioned in this thread that will be helpful in passing the exam?

Psoasman

I read through all of the labs, it helped for the exam. I didn't want to not study something and have the exam hammer it.

Grant082005

Any advice on places to find acurate study information? Trying to use this cert to get into WGU

markulous

Grant082005 wrote: »

Any advice on places to find acurate study information? Trying to use this cert to get into WGU

If they are taking CIW certs, there's an easier one than this. I believe it's Web Foundations. For that, I've heard you don't even have to study if you have any IT experience. Double check though to see if they are still accepting these. You may have to get a better cert.