FCP Certification Exam

aravance

aravance

Well-known member
I'm looking to take the FCP Certification Exam (Level 1) within the next month. I've been going through the Apple Pro Training Series book to help prepare myself, but I was wondering if there was any advice from other Certified users on the board about the exam? Example questions? Things to know? Do we need to memorize every keyboard shortcut?!? j/k.

But seriously. Do we? :crybaby:

Any help would be most appreciative.
 
Please someone share some details about the exam. I am gearing up to take it.
Any example questions or anything that can help? I actually have the advanced editing book because I new most of the stuff in the "Apple Pro training Series: Final Cut Pro 5"
I'll make it easy do I need to know how to?
Import footage other than mini-dv?
Know the shortcut keys to the toolbar tools
Know the shortcut keys for basic editing (markers,in/out point,etc.)
Know anything about Livetype or Soundtrack Pro
Know anything about framerates or frame sizes
Know about compression/transcoding or Compressor
Know about the motion tab settings
Know about Color Correction
Know about audio editing (peaking/levels/pan/effects/sorround sound)
Know about proxy clips or subclips
Know about the Media Manager
Know about different timecodes types
Know what functions are under what file menu
Know about composite modes or alpa types

Thats all I can think of right now that I am not sure will be on there. Is it multiple choice? Do you have to take a class to get the Level Two Certification - Advanced Editing?
Thanks everybody
 
I'm a certified Apple Trainer for FCP 5. Email me off-board if you really need help. Bascially, the test varies. It pulls from a HUGE pool of questions, so another person's experience may differ from yous. What won't change is the difficulty. Do the book, cover to cover, TWICE! Take an Apple Certification Class if you can, it really will help! Much more than doing the book on your own. But, the book on your own, if you really learn it ALL REALLY WELL, will be enough. But be ready, cause Apple End-User tests are not easy. Imagine what we trainers go through... yikes...

Can be done, but just know that book really well, PERIOD!

Not to mention that after you learn that book, you'll cut your own production time at LEAST BY HALF! I swear it!

It is multiple choice, but not that clear! Apple with through you curves! BE ON YOUR TOES!

You can take the Level 1 End User test just doing the book on your own, but you have to take a class for all other End User certifications above that.

Not just cause I'm a trainer, but you really do get so much more out of a class. You meet folks who work in ways you never thought of, quetions that you never thought to ask that will help you, etc. But you can do the Level 1 test with just the book on your own. I did and passed. But I regret it and wish I had taken the class...

Now I'm a freakin' trainer and author...
 
Thanks BenB. I sent you a pm. For everybody that might be considering the exam get the book and check out lynda.com. I learned alot.example - name sequences with a blank space then name so they all go to the top of the browser.
Naming conventions,backup techniques,etc. they also sell the cdroms.
 
Everything on the test is taken DIRECTLY from the Apple Pro Training Series book!

Other tutorials will not give you the Apple terminiology, and will not help with the test.

This book IS the test: learn it, live it, love it, pass the test.
 
BenB said it, but I will re-state it. Know the book.

I felt quite proficient in FCP before the test, but went through the book before I took it just in case. Although some was review for me, it was a wealth of info for the test and beyond. Good luck on the test.
 
Well I passed. I'm now a Certified Pro User.

I didn't find the exam all that hard, having gone through all the lessons in the book and prepared a 30-page study guide. I was surprised to find that I was not tested on a lot of the more complicated keyboard shortcuts, but I was okay with that. I think the hardest part were that some of the questions were just worded very strangely and were hard to interpret.

But yeah, if you go through the book and all the lessons and have a pretty good idea of where everything is and what everything does, you'll be fine.
 
SO you think even if your not interested in becoming certified this book is worthwhile?
 
I would say yes. You get a good general grasp of what FCP is capable of doing and where to find everything, such as keyboard shortcuts, menus, etc. It also serves as a great reference for editing techniques (multicam) and keyframing (time remap). Although, I think being tested is good because it really forces you to memorize things you would just glaze over otherwise.

But yeah, I think if you are just wanting to learn how to use FCP or want a general reference book, it's a solid investment.
 
Let me state one last time, if you want to be certified, the test IS the book! Nothing else will prepare you for that specific test.

Apple Pro Trainingn Series: Final Cut Pro 5

And if you want to master the basic tools, the same book, noting gets it done better. Other tutorials are great, but teach tricks, not the basic building blocks of those tricks.

Just get the book and do it.
 
Thanks for the emphatic advice. I just ordered "Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5" as well as "Apple Pro Training Series : Advanced Editing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 5".

I've been editing in FCP for awhile now, but I've definitely been working harder, and not smarter. Time to get serious!
 
aravance said:
Well I passed. I'm now a Certified Pro User.

I didn't find the exam all that hard, having gone through all the lessons in the book and prepared a 30-page study guide. I was surprised to find that I was not tested on a lot of the more complicated keyboard shortcuts, but I was okay with that. I think the hardest part were that some of the questions were just worded very strangely and were hard to interpret.

But yeah, if you go through the book and all the lessons and have a pretty good idea of where everything is and what everything does, you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
how well did you do on the test. How many questions? I am on page 450 right now. I have been highlighting all the important stuff along the way. If I go back over the book and study the chapter reviews do you think I will be okay? What was the hardest question or what did they go over the most?
 
There are 80 questions. I scored an 87.5%, which is 70 out of 80. I probably would've done a little better if I had gone back through some of the questions, but I finished it in a hurry because I know I didn't miss enough to qualify a failing grade.

Yes, if you go over all the chapter reviews and feel pretty confident about those end-of-chapter questions, then I'm sure you'll be fine.

My only advice is to know exactly where everything is on the interface and what everything does. There are many tools I ignored completely when I first started using FCP, and it's these tools you'll want to learn more about.

And lastly, know the terminology. Like BenB has said numerous times before: The test is the book. Learn it, love it, live it.

Cheers!
 
There is a very large pool of questions the system pulls from. Some folks get hit harder on some things than others. You just don't know, so you have to prepare for it all.

Also, there are a few test questions at the begining so you get used to the layout of the test. And you can "mark" questions to come back to later. It also lets you jump around.

Take your time, think clearly, think like the book.

Congrats Aravance! Now you can look at the advanced tests (there are a total of 4 FCP tests)!
 
Study Guide

Study Guide

Aravance-

I am taking the test on Monday, and was wondering if you would like to share your study guide with those of us that are now in your shoes? I have completed the book, but would like to know what you reviewed because you were successful. Thanks!

Oh, I was wondering, does your test score immediately post when you finish? Is it always 80 questions? What percentage is required to pass? 80%?
 
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