The 11th CDA Data Analyst Certification Exam ended successfully on December 28, 2019. This exam set up 37 test centers in 23 cities across the country.

Recently, we interviewed several excellent students who ranked among the best in this exam, and in this article we have compiled their test preparation and learning experience. I hope that test preparers can have some reference and achieve ideal results.

Today I bring you a few candidates who have achieved excellent results in the CDA certification exam Level Ⅰ. Let's take a look at their style below!

LEVELⅠ Outstanding Candidate

First place Li Chunyao

Be confident and prepare for the exam carefully, there may be unexpected surprises waiting for you

1. Opportunity to apply for CDA certification exam

I am currently a senior student from Guangdong Pharmaceutical University majoring in information management and information systems.

In terms of future employment, I do n’t want to be a pro-program. At the same time, I learned that data analysts have good prospects and a large talent gap, which is a good development direction.

After that, I searched the Internet for the skills and related certificates required by data analysts. Then I learned about the CDA data analyst, and found that the courses are very suitable for zero-based beginners. I can systematically learn the entire process of data analysis and the skills to be performed. At the same time, the CDA test preparation system is perfect. So I chose to apply for CDA Level 1. Many for the certificate, but also to urge myself to learn this knowledge.

2. How did I prepare for the exam

I was 19 years in July were reported, but the real focus is October -12 month review, because it is a less senior semester, courses can focus time and energy to review the library.

Learning arrangements:

Print out the examination outline and outline analysis, and arrange the review sequence and time according to the proportion of the knowledge points in the first part to the fourth part of the outline . Parts 1 and 4 are the focus and difficulty of the review, and most of the time will be spent on these two parts.

Study Part 1 first , I will carefully study the corresponding content in "Statistics" and take notes against the exam outline and outline analysis (notes are the focus of later review) . To do the exercises, do all the questions in the outline analysis, and "Statistics" and the matching exercises of statistics, do all the exercises for the knowledge points, for the wrong questions, you must understand why the mistakes occurred, and then return In the textbook, review the part of the knowledge that went wrong.

Abstract Study Part 4. This part has the highest percentage of scores and is also the more difficult part of the entire exam content. First, analyze the outline and combine "multivariate statistical analysis" to learn each part of the knowledge. If you don't understand the Internet, find the corresponding explanation video. For example, Wang Xuemin's "Multivariate Statistical Analysis" course in Mu class is very good. Part 4 : This is more about the principles and applications, and less about meticulous calculations.

For Part 3 , the focus of the review is the exam outline and outline analysis. This part of the content is mainly memory.

Finally, the second part , because this major has studied the principles and applications of the database, and the proportion of the score is repeated, so I only reviewed this part of the knowledge two days before the final exam.

After the first detailed study, the first part , the third part , and the fourth part all took notes. During the second review, according to the notes, the exam outline is checked, and the gaps are filled out. , Read the notes several times before the exam.

3. There are some knowledge difficulties in the preparation

Since I have studied data mining, only logistic regression and factor regression are more difficult for me. The two knowledge points have watched many corresponding videos online.

4. Recommended books and courses

· Examination outline and outline analysis are the guiding points of the examination.

· Jia Junping's "Statistics" seventh edition and supporting exercises

· He Xiaoqun's "Multivariate Statistical Analysis"

5. Suggestions for candidates

Be confident, as long as you arrange the time and prepare for the exam carefully, there may be unexpected surprises waiting for you.

6. Future career development plan

After graduating, I plan to work on data analysis in the military. I am currently looking for a data analysis internship in the direction of fast-moving consumer, and then participated in an online Internet data analysis project.

Second place Liu Guanghui

If you want to change, be cruel to yourself

1. Current work

Currently working as a data analyst at Beijing Jinxin Online Banking Financial Information Service Co., Ltd.

2. Opportunity to apply for CDA certification exam

Before I had a data analysis course in CDA , I wanted to pass the CDA exam to test my basic knowledge and practical level.

3. How did I prepare for the exam

It took three months to prepare for the exam.

Because the work is usually busy, the working day is basically 2.5 hours per day , and the time spent on learning on the weekend will be more; learning should be based on the syllabus for the preparation of the system, and the purpose of learning. .

4. What are the knowledge and difficulties in the preparation

Will often be on CSDN , know to look at the relevant content to explain.

5. Recommended books and courses

Recommended book " SQL Classic"

The CDA has two lecturers that impressed me: one is the lecturer Cheng Hao, the lecture can express complex problems in easy-to-understand language; the other is the lecturer Zeng Ke, with rich practical experience.

6. Future career development plan

If you want to change, be cruel to yourself. In the future, I will continue to dive into actual combat and learning in the fields of machine learning and data mining. I hope that I will become an ideal and skilled data scientist in the future.

Third tied Duan Qingkang

Passing the exam does not mean ending, but just beginning.

1. Opportunity to apply for CDA certification exam

I am currently working as a product manager in a state-owned enterprise. I have been paying more attention to data visualization. I have studied Excel systematically before and seem to gradually come into contact with the field of data analysis. When I saw the CDA test by accident , I signed up decisively and used the preparation to urge myself to study.

2. How did I prepare for the exam

I took the exam in December . I started studying in July and August . The average study time is about 2 hours a day. I'm almost zero-based, I just took a course in statistics in college, but that was 10 years ago.

By the end of the test preparation period, I have reviewed it almost three times around the exam. If I do n’t understand it, there will be more Baidu. There will always be a great god who will explain the complex concepts more thoroughly.

3. What are the knowledge and difficulties in the preparation

The SQL and statistics parts are relatively simple, and you can master them with more practice.

The more difficult thing is multivariate statistics. If you haven't studied it in a statistical major, it will be difficult to understand.

Principal component analysis, factor analysis, cluster analysis, classification analysis and other concepts are very difficult to understand, let alone apply, in fact, these are also the weak parts of my grasp.

It is recommended to learn more through videos, watch more times, and gradually build up the thinking and logic of multi-statistics through the teacher's explanation.

4. Recommended books and courses

· LEVEL 1 Preparation Manual

· Jia Junping's "Statistics" books and supporting exercises

· "Multivariate Statistical Analysis" by teacher He Xiaoqun

· " SQL Classic" book

5. Suggestions for candidates

First of all, there must be sufficient time to prepare for the exam. Temporarily holding the Buddha's feet may be lucky enough to pass the exam, but it is not very helpful for you to master the knowledge. After all, the exam is for learning, and it is not possible to turn things upside down.

Secondly, there must be perseverance. Simple knowledge is not careless. Until you learn it transparently, don't be afraid of complicated places, and die in the end. You must erect a belief in lifelong learning. Passing the exam does not mean ending, but just beginning.

Third, there must be ways to increase efficiency. For beginners, most of the problems you can encounter are solved by the great god and written as a blog . You can search on CSDN . I believe you will have a lot of gains.

6. Future career development plan

Although I have been working for many years, I am fortunate that I have never lost the good habits of continuous learning that I developed during my student years. I will continue to adhere to the study gradually, through the efforts of Level 2 and Level 3 exam. Excavation work.

Tied for third Huang Jinghua

If you choose the direction of data analysis, it is very important to keep learning and thinking.

1. Current work

After graduation, do data analysis in an insurance company

2. Opportunity to apply for CDA exam

When I first started working, I learned that there are colleagues in the company who are also taking the CDA . At the time, I had just graduated for three months, and I had spent more than half a year as an intern in the company. I learned deeply that if I want to continuously improve my professional knowledge, the exam is a good way to learn!

Because I am a statistician myself, I decided to start the exam at Level 1 . This is to consolidate the knowledge that I have learned before, and it is worth paving the way for the Level 2 exam in the future .

3. How did I prepare for the exam

I met CDA in July 2019. After understanding the outline, I found that many recommended books have been studied. Therefore, I have reorganized the entire learning context with the books recommended by the outline since July.

I usually read a book for 2 hours after work every day. At work, I will also apply the knowledge I have learned, especially Python and Excel , to my work to deepen my impression and consolidate knowledge.

On the weekends, I usually spend 3 hours reading each morning and afternoon, and at night, I will recall what I have learned, when it is to sort out and relax myself.

In October, I formally applied for Level 1 , and in the next two months , I mainly followed the syllabus analysis and study to thoroughly understand the knowledge and exercises of the syllabus.

4. What are the knowledge and difficulties in the preparation

In the process of preparing for the exam, I think there are two difficulties. One is the repetitive matrix in machine learning, and the other is factor analysis and correspondence analysis.

5. Recommended books and courses

· Theoretical knowledge category: Jia Junping's "Statistics", "Applied Time Series Analysis" Third Edition Wang Yan, "Applied Multivariate Statistical Analysis" Wang Xuemin

· Language and software: "Use Python for data analysis", "Left-hand data, right-hand chart", " SQL must know must know"

6. Suggestions for candidates

If you just want to get a knocking brick for the certificate, the exam itself is not difficult. If you are trying to learn more, or even to the development of data analysis, it is recommended to follow the recommended books of the outline to study and sort it out.

If you choose to analyze data, it is very important to keep learning and thinking.

7. Future career development plan

I personally feel that the CDA test outline and recommendations are still in line with my study plan, and I plan to continue to take the second and third levels in the future.

Because my academic performance has always been the first in my studies, I am well aware of the importance of insisting on learning and thinking. I hope that at any stage in the future, I can always maintain a humble attitude towards a more professional data analyst.

Tied for third Lin Xiaoling

If you really want to engage in data analysis, honestly learn Python , Excel and SQL !

1. Opportunity to apply for CDA certification exam

I am a senior student in Applied Statistics from Zhaoqing College of Guangdong Province.

At that time, I felt that I lacked a professional-related certificate, and this certificate happened to be a certificate that conformed to my professional content. I was introduced by a roommate who had passed the first-level exam. First, to consolidate my professional theoretical knowledge, and secondly, to pave the way for future data analysis.

2. How did I prepare for the exam

My test preparation time is from mid- September to the night before the exam. Because I have to take classes during the day, I usually study at night, about 3-4 hours a day.

I divided the review process into 3 rounds:

The first round is the textbook learning and review: the time is from mid- September to mid- November , mainly to return to the textbook to learn, lay a good foundation, the learning sequence during this time is: Jia Junping "Statistics" ( version 6 , 7 ), He Xiaoqun's "Applied Regression Analysis" and "Multivariate Statistical Analysis", Wang Yan's "Applied Time Series Analysis", " SQL Entry Classic" ( 4th Edition), CDA LEVEL 1 outline analysis. In these books, I have learned "Applied Regression Analysis" and "Multivariate Statistics", and "Time Series Analysis" is a professional course this semester, so I focus on the study of "Statistics" and SQL . The 6th edition of "Statistics" has more comprehensive knowledge points, and the 7th edition adds some knowledge about the index, so I studied together in two books, read the chapter in 2 days, and combined it with "Applied Regression Analysis" This book organizes notes together and does corresponding exercises in statistics. After studying "Statistics", I started to review the "Multivariate Statistical Analysis" I learned before, mainly to understand the ideas, formulas, application premises and analysis processes of various models. Since I have n't studied SQL in my undergraduate degree , I will put this book at the end, and combine the outline to analyze part of SQL . Knowledge learning and practical operation will be carried out simultaneously. During this period, some knowledge that I don't understand or that is easy to confuse will be sorted out.

The second round is the knowledge review and outline study: the time is from mid- November to early December . This period of time is mainly to review the knowledge that I have sorted out again, and carefully study the CDA LEVEL 1 outline analysis.

The third round is to do simulation questions. At the same time, understand each option of the simulation questions and check for gaps. Since the foundation has been laid in the early stage, the simulation questions have basically 80 points during this period , but they still need to be consolidated. Knowledge and review.

3. What are the knowledge and difficulties in the preparation

Personally, I feel that "Applied Time Series Analysis" and "Multivariate Statistical Analysis" are too difficult. The derivation process of some models involves professional knowledge of mathematics. It is recommended that you can skip them selectively when learning and master the relevant knowledge of each model, such as The model idea, formula, scope of application, application conditions, inspection method, etc. are sufficient.

4. Recommended books and courses

· CDA LEVEL 1 outline analysis

· Jia Junping's "Statistics" ( 6th and 7th editions) and 7th edition of supporting exercises

· He Xiaoqun "Applied Regression Analysis" ( 4th Edition)

· " SQL Classic" ( 4th Edition)

· He Xiaoqun's "Multivariate Statistical Analysis", Wang Yan's "Applied Time Series Analysis"

5. Suggestions for candidates

Jia Junping's "Statistics" must be carefully read at least twice and make notes. "Multivariate Statistical Analysis" and "Applied Time Series" can only focus on the key points and learn the spss output results. There are some real observations. If you do n’t understand, you can ignore it temporarily, such as the mathematical derivation process. Then take this SQL book and learn while practicing. Finally, repeatedly study the CDA LEVEL 1 outline analysis, and make the after-school exercises and simulation questions in the outline analysis clear for every question including every option. You can find a small partner to learn and communicate with during the test preparation. Finally, if you really want to engage in data analysis, honestly learn Python , EXCEL and SQL !

6. Future career development plan

If you want to engage in data mining, you are more inclined to recommend the system. The plan is to take both the CDA second-level big data analyst and the third-level data scientist!