Hi,

I am a tester for 5 years and planning to take up CSQE for the first time.
If you are already certified or have taken the test, I appreciate your feedback on following items:

1. How many hours of preparation does it require generally?
2. Do you think that the learning material available from Quality Council, Indiana (http://www.qualitycouncil.com/cm.asp) covers the entire curriculum? Books and/or CDs?
3. Which of those references recommended in ASQ site (http://www.asq.org/cert/types/csqe/references.html) are really worth studying?
4. If anyone is thinking of taking the test, hey... can we become study-buddies?
5. Any other piece of advice?

Appreciate your comments.

- Amila

Amila,
1. How many hours of preparation does it require generally?

If you are tester for the last 5 years, you may be very familar with sections related to Verification and Validation and Configurations management. I found these 2 sections relatively difficult. I attended a section referesher course 8 weeks X 3 hours and did self study of approximately 150 hours.

Study duration may vary from person to person depending on the experience related to body of knowledge.

2. Do you think that the learning material available from Quality Council, Indiana (http://www.qualitycouncil.com/cm.asp) covers the entire curriculum? Books and/or CDs?
Good start. Yes, it covers the BOK. Since it is a Primer, you may not find too many details on every sections. I have found that depth is reasonably adequate for exam preparations. I also used QCI primer and CD for my CSQE preparation.
Additionaly:
I also reviewed the following material :
Kan, Stephen H., Metrics and Models in Software Quality Engineering, 2nd ed., Boston: Addison-Wesley, 2003. ISBN 0201729156
Pressman, Roger S., Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach, 5th ed., New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000. ISBN 0072496681
Schulmeyer, G. Gordon, and James I. McManus, Handbook of Software Quality Assurance, 3rd ed., Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1999.

3. Which of those references recommended in ASQ site (http://www.asq.org/cert/types/csqe/references.html) are really worth studying?

See answer for Question 2.

4. If anyone is thinking of taking the test, hey... can we become study-buddies?
Contact your local ASQ Section Certification chair.This person may have name of the other people who are also interested in CSQE exam.

5. Any other piece of advice?
Sure. The common weakness I have seen from the SW Professional is lack of knowledge and experience in Auditing and Metrics/Measurement sections.You may want to review these sections more closely.

Good luck with your efforts.

Govind.

Govind:

I very much appreciate your feedback. Looks like there are more to it than I thought initially. But its worth going for.

- Amila

Greetings....

I am going for the CSQE in a few months... would appreciate a study budy.

Try contacting your local ASQ section (international Chapter) if any.
OR
ASQ Page identifies http://www.isq.org.il/ as Middle east international partner.
Here is another ASQ Page directing to international contacts:
http://www.asq.org/members/international/africame/index.html
Click "contacts" to know your nearest opportunity to group study/ASQ activity.
Good Luck,
Govind.