ISEB exams - how practical (and permitted) is self study ?

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I thought this may be useful to some who are thinking about the ISEB series of qualifications.

For those who don't know about ISEB :

ISEB qualifications come in Foundation, Practitioner and Higher level to suit each individual candidate.

ISEB qualifications allow candidates to learn new skills in specific business and IT areas which measure competence, ability and performance. This helps to promote career development and provide a competitive edge for employees.

ISEB offers IT professionals a variety of internationally recognised qualifications, with 8 major subject areas in:

ITIL® / IT Service Management
Software Testing
Sustainable IT
Business Analysis
Systems Development
Project Management and Support
IT Governance, Information and Security
IT Assets and Infrastructure

Full details can be found at : http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.5732

OK, so what about self study ?

Many of the exams are geared around courses (expensive !) but I have queried with ISEB what can be taken at Prometric/Pearson Vue exam centres and what can be done by self study (with an exam in London).

Here's what they said :

"In answer to your query I have listed below those exams that are available via Pearons Vue and/or Prometric. There are no current plans to make any more of our exams available at these test centres in the future. With regards to self study for other exams, I have also listed these, but the exams will be held at our London office, so will involve travel."

Pearson Vue

Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management (FCITSM) v3
Foundation Certificate in Project Management
Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

Prometric

Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis
FCITSM v2
FCITSM v3
Programme & Project Support Office, Essentials
Software Asset Management
Foundation Certificate in Software Testing

Self Study – Exams in London

Applications Management Essentials
Practitioner Certificate in Business Continuity Management
Data Protection
Intermediate Certificate in Enterprise & Solution Architecture
Practitioner Certificate in Enterprise & Solution Architecture
Freedom of Information
Practitioner Certificatein Information Risk Management
IS Consultancy Practice
Foundation Certificate in IT Assests & Infrastructure
Foundation Certificate in IT Enabled Business Change
Foundation Certificate in Systems Development


I hope this thread is of use to those considering ISEB. If it's really useful maybe an admin could "sticky" it ?

 

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Great job Kev. Some good information there. Thanks.

 

Disappointingly, no

Not even sure if they're going to continue with it.

 

Just an update to this thread :

1) Prometric are not currently listing the Certificate in Business Analysis as an available exam

2) Pearson Vue comes up with a message saying BCS requires you to have a totally seperate account with Pearson for taking ISEB exams - why ?!

I have queried both with ISEB

 

Answers from ISEB :

1) Please accept my apologies for the error, but the BA Foundation is only available via Pearon Vue and not via Prometric

2) With regards to registering with Pearson Vue, please ask them to explain why a separate account is needed as ISEB does not know how this works I’m afraid.

Oh well, now you know

 

Pearson Vue responds with :

It is a rule from the British Computer Society. You have to go to www.pearsonvue.com To create your account.

Seems like one hand doesn't really know what the other is doing - what a surprise !

 

Great post, the info above has helped me a lot.

Thinking of studying for the foundation cert in Software testing. Would you agree that the below is the best resource to study for the exam?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Software-Te...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268482313&sr=8-1

Is there any other resources anybody else can recommend?

Thanks

 

You might want to get the book from Bookdepository - free shipping worldwide
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781902505794/Software-Testing

I bought another ISEB book from them and it was delivered within a couple of days.

 

That book is perfect for the exam. Has some sample questions at the end of each chapter too - it's an excellent read, but make sure you get the revised edition. The new one is about 50 pages longer than the original.

If you want anything further you might consider purchasing a past paper from ISEB, although the sample questions in the textbook give you a good idea of what the exam questions are like.

James

 

Hi,

I've just passed the Requirements Engineering and BA Essentials modules with TCC. Work paid for these course and unfortunately, I probably won't be able to convince them to send me on the remaining modules that are needed for me to get my diploma.

I've been looking at self- study and was wondering if I could just get away with buying the Business Analysis book shown here: Business Analysis: Amazon.co.uk: James Cadle, Malcolm Eva, Keith Hindle, Debra Paul, Craig Rollaston, Dot Tudor, Donald Yeates: Books ?

Would this give me enough information or is there another book/ books you'd recommend? I've got the reading list, but I don't quite fancy getting 5 books or so per module!

Thanks!

 

I think you may find that after the Essentials you have to do a course and can't self study. Not had time to check the BCS website for this but I'd check with them before you start shelling out for books.

 

Ouch