I'm preparing for the Certified Kubernetes Administrator exam. I've finished a CKA course and am working through mock exams before starting a more advanced practice series. I've heard the exam now puts more emphasis on topics such as Helm, Kustomize, custom resource definitions, Calico and Flannel, cluster installation and upgrades, CNIs, and CRI runtimes. Helm seems to come up especially often, but the labs I've used so far only cover some of these areas at a basic level. I'm also somewhat familiar with the Gateway API and would appreciate advice on what to study there. Which additional topics and hands-on resources would best prepare me?
2 Answers
The advanced simulator is worth doing even if it feels harder than the real exam. Its scenarios provide useful practice with troubleshooting and less familiar topics, so reviewing every solution afterward can help fill gaps in areas like networking, upgrades, and cluster administration.
The topics you listed can all appear in the exam, although some may only be covered in a smaller scenario. Make sure you know how to navigate the official Kubernetes documentation quickly, since finding the right command or configuration is often just as important as memorizing the concepts. Gateway API deserves extra attention because its documentation is presented separately from the main Kubernetes docs. If you can complete the practice scenarios accurately and with time to spare, you’re probably in good shape.
The separate Gateway API documentation caught several people out. Practicing how to search the correct documentation site efficiently is almost a skill by itself, and being fast with the relevant examples can make a big difference.
Thanks! I’m guessing the Gateway API section may be combined with a TLS-related scenario, so I’ll spend some extra time studying that documentation.