How to Pass the CKA Exam in 2024: Complete Study Guide

The Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) exam is one of the most sought-after certifications in the DevOps and cloud-native ecosystem. With a pass rate that hovers around 50%, proper preparation is crucial. This guide provides everything you need to succeed.

Exam Overview

Duration: 2 hours
Format: Performance-based (hands-on tasks in a real cluster)
Passing Score: 66%
Cost: $395 USD (includes one free retake)
Validity: 3 years

Exam Domains and Weights

Cluster Architecture, Installation & Configuration (25%)
Workloads & Scheduling (15%)
Services & Networking (20%)
Storage (10%)
Troubleshooting (30%)

Essential Study Resources

Official Documentation

The Kubernetes documentation is your primary resource during the exam. Learn to navigate it efficiently.

Hands-on Practice

Theory alone won’t cut it. You need to practice:

Setting up clusters with kubeadm
Troubleshooting broken nodes
Configuring networking and storage
Managing RBAC and security

Mock Exams

Taking realistic mock exams is the single most important preparation step. At Sailor.sh, our exam simulator provides:

Real Kubernetes clusters (not simulations)
Unlimited retakes
Instant feedback on your answers
Exam-identical interface

Pro Tips for Exam Day

Use kubectl aliases: Set up alias k=kubectl immediately
Enable autocompletion: Run source <(kubectl completion bash)
Bookmark important docs: You can use the official documentation
Manage your time: Skip hard questions, come back later
Use imperative commands: kubectl run and kubectl create are faster than YAML

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not practicing with a timer
Relying too heavily on notes instead of the official docs
Ignoring the troubleshooting domain (30% of the exam!)
Not using the --dry-run=client -o yaml flag

Start Your Preparation Today

Don’t leave your CKA success to chance. Practice with Sailor.sh’s free mock exams and walk into your exam with confidence.