CKA (Certified Kubernetes Administrator) Exam Report 2026: Don’t Rely on Old Guides (Mastering the Post-2025 Revision)

Source: Dev.to

Why I Am Writing This Article

If you search for “CKA Pass” you will find many experience reports. However, there are still very few articles written after the exam‑scope revision in February 2025. Having actually taken the exam, I felt that the “sense of difficulty” and “essential techniques” mentioned in older reports are no longer entirely applicable. I wrote this article as a reference for anyone planning to take the exam in the future.

Exam Results

It was my first time taking a hands‑on practical exam. Compared with multiple‑choice tests I felt constantly rushed – I couldn’t stop sweating. I didn’t finish everything within the time limit and had no chance to revisit the troubleshooting questions I had flagged.

Screenshots

Impressions of the New Exam Scope (Post‑Feb 2025) and Difficulty

To be honest, the exam felt significantly more difficult than the image I had from older experience reports. My personal impression is that it was about as challenging as the “Killer Shell” simulator (mentioned later).

Below is the revised exam scope; questions related to the newly added content made up roughly half of the exam.

• Helm
• Kustomize
• Gateway API (Gateway, HttpRoute, etc.)
• Network Policy
• CRDs (Custom Resource Definitions)
• Extension interfaces (CNI, CSI, CRI, etc.)

CKA Program Changes – Feb 2025

While I cannot disclose specific questions, you will likely struggle if your understanding of the topics above is weak.

Learning Resources Used

I used Udemy, KodeKloud, and Killer Shell. Many pre‑revision reports claimed that Udemy + Killer Shell were enough, but I only managed to stay afloat because I also completed the additional labs on KodeKloud.

Udemy

The standard Udemy course recommended in almost every report. I bought it during one of their frequent sales.

• Course: Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Practice Exam Tests
• Format: Video lectures + practice tests (hosted on KodeKloud).

Because my Kubernetes knowledge was literally zero, I first watched the videos for each component, then attempted the practice tests.

Study flow

1. Watch each lecture once.
2. Repeat any practice question I didn’t understand (up to 4 times).
3. For weak areas (Helm, Kustomize, Gateway API, CRD) re‑watch the relevant lectures several times.
4. Once I could solve > 80 % of the practice questions, I moved on to the three Mock Exams in the final section, repeating them until I could solve them perfectly (some required up to 4 rounds).
5. For explanations I still didn’t grasp, I asked an AI for help.

KodeKloud

The KodeKloud platform is included with the Udemy course:

• Course: Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

Since three Mock Exams felt a bit uncertain, I purchased an additional course that provides five extra Mock Exams:

• Course: Ultimate Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Mock Exam Series

Killer Shell

When you register for the exam you get two sessions of the “Killer Shell” exam simulator.

• It uses the same Remote Desktop environment as the actual exam, so you should absolutely use it to get used to the interface.
• In my case (MacBook), shortcut keys for commands change in the Remote Desktop, so the simulator helped me practice copy‑pasting.

Note: Each session expires after 36 hours. If you want to review after expiration, save the answer pages as PDF or HTML.

• Link: Killer Shell

Tips

No Need to Add Settings to .bashrc

Older reports often suggest “aliases for switching namespaces.” This is no longer necessary because the current exam format involves using ssh to switch between different environments for each task.

Memorize the Documentation URL

The browser in the exam does not auto‑complete URLs. Knowing the exact documentation page you need (e.g., https://kubernetes.io/docs/reference/kubectl/) saves precious seconds.

Use the Same Terminal Layout as the Exam

• Open two panes: one for kubectl commands, one for vim/nano editing.
• Keep the terminal font size small enough to view long outputs without scrolling.

Time Management

1. Read all tasks first (≈ 2 minutes).
2. Prioritize tasks you’re confident about; lock them in early.
3. Flag any task that looks tricky and return to it after you’ve completed the easier ones.
4. Keep a watch (or the exam timer) visible at all times.

Copy‑Paste in the Remote Desktop

• On macOS, use ⌘ C / ⌘ V inside the Remote Desktop window.
• If the simulator blocks clipboard access, use the “Copy to clipboard” button provided by Killer Shell.

Leverage the Official Documentation

• The exam allows you to open any page on kubernetes.io.
• Bookmark the most‑used sections (e.g., kubectl, PodSecurityPolicy, Ingress, Helm, Kustomize).
• Use the search bar (/ in most browsers) to jump directly to the relevant heading.

Practice “One‑Liner” Commands

Many tasks can be solved with a single kubectl command (e.g., kubectl get pods -o jsonpath='{.items[*].metadata.name}'). Knowing these patterns reduces the amount of typing you need to do under pressure.

Final Thoughts

The post‑Feb 2025 CKA exam is tougher and covers a broader set of topics than before. The combination of Udemy + KodeKloud labs + Killer Shell gave me the confidence to pass, but you should treat the newly added subjects (Helm, Kustomize, Gateway API, Network Policy, CRDs, and extension interfaces) as first‑class citizens in your study plan.

Good luck, and may your kubectl always return the expected result!

Quick Access to Documentation

When the exam starts, the documentation page opens automatically. Be ready to navigate quickly to:

https://kubernetes.io/docs

Learn Copy‑Paste Shortcuts for Remote Desktop

Being able to copy‑paste efficiently can be the difference between passing and failing. Practice these shortcuts in Killer Shell:

• Copy (Terminal): Ctrl + Shift + C
• Paste (Terminal): Ctrl + Shift + V

Prepare for Applied Questions

Don’t just memorize individual components—think about how they work together. For example, simply memorising Helm commands may not be enough for the tougher questions.

• Helm + CRD
• Migration from Ingress → Gateway + HttpRoute, etc.

Exam Environment

The exam environment must be a quiet, private space with no objects on the desk. I didn’t have such a setup at home, so I rented a private room in a co‑working space.

• Interaction with the proctor is chat‑only (no verbal conversation).
• Even slight background noise can be flagged, so a private room is the safest choice.

Proctor instructions were delivered in my native language (Japanese) but appeared to be machine‑translated, which made some directions confusing. Assuming the proctor was non‑Japanese, I replied in simple English (“OK”, “thanks”, etc.).

Following the proctor’s guidance, I used the webcam to show:

• The ceiling, floor, desk, and walls
• Both ears and both wrists
• My powered‑off smartphone

It took about 15 minutes to start the exam.

I didn’t use the external monitor available at the co‑working space; in hindsight, a larger workspace would have been helpful.

During the exam I didn’t feel the proctor’s presence, but when I was stuck on a problem and touched my chin, a chat message appeared:

“Please refrain from gestures that cover your face.”

Looking Ahead

Obtaining the CKA was a significant challenge, but I plan to take the CKAD while the momentum is still there. The second half of 2025 was rough at my company, and I felt zero personal growth, so I’m determined to make up for that in 2026.