C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification (CPA) Practice Exam

The C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA) certification, offered by the C++ Institute, validates your fundamental understanding of the C++ programming language and core object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. It's designed for individuals seeking to enter the programming field or aspiring programmers aiming to solidify their grasp of C++ basics.

Who should consider the CPA Certification?

This certification is ideal for:

• Entry-level programmers: Individuals starting their programming careers and wanting to demonstrate their proficiency in C++.
• Students: Computer science or related IT students seeking to strengthen their C++ skills and gain a recognized credential.
• Career changers: Professionals looking to transition into a programming career and seeking validation of their C++ foundation.
• Anyone seeking to:
• Enhance their resume and marketability in the programming job market.
• Gain a solid understanding of C++ syntax, semantics, and essential programming principles.
• Validate their knowledge for potential employers or educational institutions.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

While not directly tied to specific job roles, individuals with the CPA certification may be involved in tasks such as:

• Writing basic C++ programs: Implementing simple algorithms, data structures, and functionalities using C++ syntax and concepts.
• Understanding and applying object-oriented programming principles: Creating and manipulating classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation in C++.
• Debugging and troubleshooting basic C++ code: Identifying and resolving errors in their own or existing code.
• Contributing to larger software projects: Participating in the development process under the guidance of experienced programmers.

Exam Details:

• Exam Name: C++ Certified Associate Programmer (CPA)
• Exam Provider: Pearson VUE
• Format: Multiple-choice questions
• Number of Questions: 55
• Duration: 65 minutes
• Passing Score: 80%
• Delivery: Testing center or online proctored

Course Outline

C++ Certified Associate Programmer Certification (CPA) Exam covers the following topics - 

Perform discovery, planning, and analysis (5-10%)

• create high-level entity relationship diagram
• create and document mock-ups
• identify document data for migration and integration
• determine out of the box (OOB) functionality
• validate functional requirements
• select artifacts necessary for a proof of concepts (POC) of functional solution designs

Absolute basics

• machine and high-level programming languages, compilation process,
• obtaining the machine code: compilation process,
• writing simple programs,
• variables,
• integers: values, literals, operators,
• characters: values, literals, operators,
• dealing with streams and basic input/output operations.

Flow control and more data types

• how to control the flow of the program
• floating point types: values, literals, operators,
• more integer types: values and literals,
• loops and controlling the loop execution,
• logic, bitwise and arithmetic operators.

Functions

• functions,
• declaring and invoking functions,
• side effects,
• different methods of passing parameters and their purpose,
• default parameters,
• inline functions,
• overloaded functions.

Accessing data and dealing with exceptions

• converting values of different types,
• strings: declarations, initializations, assignments,
• string as an example of object: introducing methods and properties,
• namespaces: using and declaring,
• dealing with exceptions.

Fundamentals of the object-oriented approach

• class,
• objects,
• class components,
• constructors,
• referring to objects,
• static members,
• classes and their friends,
• defining and overloading operators.

Class hierarchy

• base class, superclass, subclass
• inheritance: how it works
• types of inheritance
• inheriting different class components
• multiple inheritance

More on classes

• polymorphism: the notion and the purpose,
• virtual methods: declaration and usage,
• inheriting virtual methods,
• abstraction and abstract classes.

Exceptions - dealing with expected and unexpected problems

• what is an exception,
• catching and throwing exceptions,
• different classes and hierarchy of exceptions,
• defining your own exceptions.