The Bottom Line
Pros
- Complete coverage from basics to advanced topics
- Includes video training & practice tests
- Includes full course materials and a concise study guide
Cons
- None
Description
- The smaller Exam Study Guide goes objective-by-objective and runs through the basics of what you need for the exam.
- The included CD contains several useful tools.
- Lessons are followed by activities, labs, fill-in-the-blank questions, and quizzes.
- Hands-on labs are very detailed and instructions for completing them are precise.
Guide Review - Official CIW Curriculum
CIW sent me the study guides for both the v5 Site Designer and v5 E-Commerce exams. Each study guide consists of two good-sized volumes of text, a CD, and an Exam Study Guide. The Self-Study Guides (vols. 1 & 2) include assessment questions, hands-on labs, case studies, review questions, and chapter quizzes. Lessons are cross-referenced to the video training on the CD and exam objectives are identified as they are covered throughout the lesson. I particularly like the objective being listed in the margin next to the corresponding topic. When I study I want to know that I have covered what I need to know about every objective on an exam and I usually have to track it myself. Maybe I am a little crazy, but very few study guides provide this minor detail and the overly fastidious part of me was pleased.Back on topic, the CD contains video training with a slick interface and good, if slightly dry, slideshow-style training. When needed, software is demonstrated through the Flash interface, which is much easier to understand than simple screen prints. On the CD you will find practice questions (from AssessPrep), answers to questions in the study guide, lab files for the labs in the guides, and an appendix.
In addition to all of this, the Self-Study Kits come with live mentoring and virtual labs. I did not access these options, but they can only add to your learning experience.
Overall, if I were going to take these exams, and wanted to be truly prepared, this is the product I would choose to buy. Package prices start at $99 for Foundations, and $149 for Site Designer and E-Commerce Designer.