Beginning with OutSystems every aspirant target for passing the Reactive Exam Certification. It’s not only the interest of contenders but also the requirement of organizations in the industry for hiring the OutSystems Analyst.  I often receive emails, messages, and requests from beginners asking for tips to pass this exam. In the community, you will hear this from lots of experts saying Reactive is the simplest exam in OutSystems among others but that doesn’t mean to underestimate it! I have seen lots of candidates have failed twice, or even thrice in this exam.  No! I am not scaring you but indicating to prepare seriously before appearing for the exam. A planned preparation for each of the topics may help you to Get OutSystems Reactive Certification on the first attempt. 

The OS Reactive Certification Exam

The topic in the Associate Reactive Developer exam is focused on fundamental knowledge of low code programming with OutSystems. The exam is to check your practical knowledge based on the scenarios and coding experience.  The exam comprises 50 multiple choice questions where each question has only one correct answer. You get 2 hours of maximum time for completing the exam and 35 questions should at least be correct to pass the exam. The tip is: that you should look at eliminating the wrong options instead of focusing on the correct one! 

Topics & Preparation Tips

As said the exam focuses on the fundamental knowledge of web development with low-code (OutSystems) and the topics you’ll need to cover are –
  1. Aggregates – You will get around 6 questions from Aggregates which could be based on the operators, functions, joins, and practical scenarios. While learning, focus on the use of Data Tables, their Properties, Aggregate Function Attributes, and uses. 
  2. Application Troubleshooting – You will get around 1 – 2 questions to debug the application. The questions could be based on Breakpoints, Debug Environments, and the Logic of debugging. 
  3. Block Events – You will see around 4 questions based on Blocks and Events. While learning these topics focus on different events, passing values to the blocks, their scope, and validations. 
  4. Bootstrap Data from Excel – You may see 1 question on Data Bootstrapping as well. So, try bootstrapping yourself in the service studio, and notice its behaviour of adding data, attributes, their data types, and table name. A general practice question may be from this exercise. 
  5. Buttons and Links – Around 2-3 questions from Button & Links widget may appear in your exam. Read carefully about the behaviours of both, their possible targets and actions, differences, and scopes. 
  6. Client and Server Actions – 2 questions related to Client & Server Actions. You should focus on their scopes, their dependencies, and uses. It will help to pass these questions. 
  7. Client Variables – Around 1 or 2 questions will be related to Client Variables. You should be aware of its definition and uses. 
  8. Data Relationships – Look into 1-1, 1-M, and M-M relationships may help you to pass around 2 questions based on Data Relationships. Check definitions, rules of deletions, and how to create the relations between tables, and normalization. 
  9. Entities & Static Entities – Around 3-4 questions based on CURD, Entities’ Actions and their properties. The uses of Static entities and their actions are some important points to cover. 
  10. Exception Handling – 1 or 2 questions will be related to Exceptional Handling. The questions should be straightforward but you need to know the exact definitions and scope. Also, look at how to handle Exceptions with dependent modules. 
  11. Fetching Data on Screens – The topic is related to Aggregate and how the data is fetched through it! Check aggregates and screen lifecycles properly with knowing all the concepts of fetching data on screens. 
  12. Form Validations – You may face around 4 questions on validating the forms. It could be from built-in validation or custom validation. So, advise it to practice this validation through exercise and by doing some random changes in the exercise to know more concepts of validations. 
  13. Input Widgets – There may be ~2 questions based on the Input Widget where that question will be asked based on the properties of widgets. For instance length validation, type validation, display property, and so on.
  14. Logic Flows – Together with Exceptional Handling there will be around 5 questions on Logic Flows and Exceptions. The focus should be on executing the logic displayed on the screen and finding the correct solution. You should know how the IF, Switch, and other logical widget behaves like assign and so on. 
  15. Modular Dependencies – 2 questions for Module Dependency asking for the practical scenarios like how the dependency refreshes, when we need to refresh it, what are behaviours for consumer and producer when we consume any of them and vice versa. 
  16. Pagination and Sorting – Though while learning the Reactive Course you get pagination ready with the Tables you should look into the mechanism of how it works. There will be questions based on the variables and properties of the record that handle pagination and the related properties of aggregate to load the data like Max, Length, Empty, and so on. Verify the definitions and uses of these terms. 
  17. Role-based Security – 2 questions for the Role-based Security will be there based on the exercises you have performed while learning the Guided Course. Read out the questions carefully about which role is assigned to whom, and what is used in Registered and Annonymous Role. 
  18. Screen Lifecycle – In regards to the lifecycle the scenarios make this topic bit tough. The question will not be straightforward. You should keep in mind what loads first and in each step what may happen. For instance when the first aggregate will be called, when the server action executes, what happens when you load the screen the very first time as well as navigate from one to another? Most importantly, with the loading lifecycle also read about the screen destroy lifecycle. 
In the same ways, the questions come from Site Properties, Blocks, and Widgets that display data on the screen I am sure that the Guided Path provided by OutSystems is enough to clear this exam. It has enough information and everything is covered clearly but you need to learn the chapters in the ways to put information practically and observe what the service studio does for you.  I have noticed in past from many attendees that sitting in the exams they can recognise the topic was taught in Guided Path but cannot confirm the answer because they didn’t listen to the topic with that much attention to recognize the correct definition and they got failed in the first attempt.  I have shared the information above with a wish to give you a proper direction to learn as well as practice the exercises. 

Practice Questions

I’m preparing some small practice question sets and soon will add them here. 

The Exam Day

Finally! The day comes when you have to sit for your exam. Please make sure you have checked the Exam Tool (ProProctor) and find it working properly. It happened in past that the software didn’t work in some systems and they missed the exams. Also, read your appointment mail carefully and follow all instructions before the exam. In case you need any support regarding the exam or certification, you can write a mail to [email protected]   All the best 👍