5 Tips to Clear the ITIL 4 Exam in 2023

What is ITIL 4 Foundation Exam?

AXELOS released ITIL 4 in early 2019. ITIL 4 is the latest version in the evolution of ITIL, the standard set of practices to support organizations through digital transformation. ITIL 4 is a start-to-finish IT services model for the delivery and operation of tech-enabled products and services. By following ITIL concepts, IT operations teams can fulfill a greater role in overall business strategy.

The ITIL exam is an entry-level certification that tests your general awareness of ITIL concepts. It covers the key elements, concepts, and terminology used in the ITIL service lifecycle, including the links between lifecycle stages, the processes used, and their contribution to service management practices. There are a total of 40 questions and the time limit is 60 minutes. You must score at least 65 percent (26 questions) to earn the ITIL Foundation Certification.

You can achieve AXELOS-accredited ITIL 4 Foundation certification by following these steps:

1. Take the test after completing the training.
2. Score at least 65% on the exam.
3. Earn two ITIL credits through successful completion of the exam.

A fantastic resource to prepare is Simplilearn’s ITIL Foundation Exam Study Guide. Chapters include:

• The need for ITIL certification
• The four levels of ITIL certification
• How to study for each chapter

Download the Comprehensive ITIL Career Guide to Become a ITIL expert.

Top 5 ITIL Exam Tips

1. Practice and Practice Harder

   Lots of practice cannot be understated when you are getting ready to take the test. One of the first steps is to familiarize yourself with the ITIL exam pattern. Then, work on official sample papers and practice questions to get an idea of what the real exam is like.
   
   While working on ITIL practice tests, make sure that you adhere to time constraints to be sure that you can finish the actual exam on time. One of the most common reasons for failing to pass is running out of time and turning in an incomplete exam. That why you should take practice tests.

2. Take Your Time to Understand the Material

   Take time to understand every question as many exam takers make mistakes due to not reading the questions thoroughly. Some questions will contain negatives that might trip you up — e.g., “which of the following is not a life cycle module?” If you miss the not in this question, you might end up submitting the wrong answer.  In other words, make sure you understand the question entirely.

ITIL Exam Made Easy - 4 Practice Exams, 41 PDUs

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3. Learn the Lifecycle and Capability Modules

   Although the intermediate level of ITIL qualification goes more in-depth into each lifecycle and capability module, your basic understanding needs to be reliable at the Foundation level. ITIL 4 Foundation Training is all about getting the basics right and understanding each stage of the ITIL lifecycle and capability modules. From abbreviations to jargon, make sure that you have a good grasp of all special terms.

4. Memorize the Keywords

   To pass the test, you need to get the keywords right. Keywords are terms used in ITIL such as:
   
   a) Service strategy
   b) Service design
   c) Service transition
   d) Service level agreements
   e) Operational level agreements
   
   In the ITIL framework, keywords like these link to other keywords. For example, customer value is linked to a service strategy module. Similarly, maintenance is linked to continual service improvement, and so on. This will help you answer the questions correctly and at a quicker pace.

5. Think ITIL only

   Many participants answer based on their current or previous organizational practices, which can backfire during the examination. Therefore, when taking the ITIL 4 Foundation level exam, think only of ITIL processes and best practices, not your previous experiences. This point of the exam is to evaluate your understanding of  ITIL processes, functions, and concepts, not about how your organization implements IT Service Management.

Things to Consider During the ITIL Exam

Taking an exam can be a stressful event, no matter how well you’ve prepared. Here are a few tips to help you get through the exam successfully:

1. Make sure you have everything you need for the exam, including your pencil and participant number.
2. Keep an eye on the clock, but don’t worry — the hour limit on the exam gives you about 1.5 minutes to answer each multiple-choice question.
3. Mark your answers clearly according to the instructions.
4. Pick out keywords in the structure of the question (e.g., not, could, must, incorrect, best, most, main, guarantee) that can help you eliminate wrong answers.
5. Answer the questions from an ITIL perspective rather than your personal experience. 
6. If you use your time wisely, you should have time, in the end, to review your answers and make sure you didn’t miss any questions.

Preparing for ITIL? Take the ITIL Foundation Practice tests to know where you stand!

After the Exam

Relax! If you prepared for the exam, you shouldn’t have much to worry about. It can take a few weeks to receive your results.

Achieving ITIL certification allows you to join the AXELOS community which provides members with free guidance from white papers and blogs to case studies. You will also get access to a full calendar of events and conferences so that you can stay up to date and network with your peers. Passing the test is the basis for becoming an ITIL 4 Managing Professional or ITIL Strategist, which could open up doors to further career development.

If you need more information and assistance, Simplilearn is the best destination for you. Either attend a two-day training delivered by experts or take Simplilearn’s online ITIL training for self-learning. Training from Simplilearn includes ITIL 4 Foundation practice tests. If you are already an ITIL v3 Expert, you qualify to take the ITIL 4 Managing Professional Transition Module Training to start you on your path the become an ITIL 4 Master.

Go through this Simplilearn video on “ITIL Foundation Tips and Tricks” delivered by our ITIL experts that covers all the basic exam tips. Hope you find it beneficial.