The Salesforce Architect exams each come with a resource guide, which includes helpful links for each section of the exam. I have found those incredibly useful in my study. Resource guides don’t currently exist for the standard exams, so I have compiled content into a series of resource guides. This is the Salesforce Platform App Builder resource guide.
The Salesforce Platform App Builder certification focuses on the different declarative functions available to an admin. Development and code are not included, but it focuses heavily on how to use the Lightning platform to design, build, and deploy custom applications and capabilities. It also dives into security and data models, as well as automation and business processes.
Understanding the Tests
As I mentioned in a previous post, understanding the intention and structure of the exams is key to passing. Salesforce provides a study guide for every certification test. In those guides, they provide a breakdown of the different sections and their relative weight. Take note of those while studying.
Breakdown
Topic | Weighting | # of Questions |
Business Logic and Process Automation | 27% | 16 |
Data Modeling and Management | 20% | 12 |
User Interface | 14% | 8 |
Security | 10% | 6 |
Salesforce Fundamentals | 8% | 5 |
App Development | 8% | 5 |
Reporting | 5% | 3 |
Mobile | 5% | 3 |
Social | 3% | 2 |
Under each topic in the study guide, there are bullet points that describe the information you need to know. For example, the ‘Salesforce Fundamentals’ section, the bullet points are:
- Describe the capabilities of the core CRM objects in the Salesforce schema.
- Given a scenario, identify the boundaries of declarative customization and the use cases for programmatic customization.
- Identify common scenarios for extending an org using the AppExchange.
These commonly break out into general understanding and best practice recommendations. Make sure you understand the intention behind each bullet point. For example, in the above point #2, you will need to understand what is and is not possible in declarative and programmatic tools. Thinking through the types of questions Salesforce asks, you can expect a few scenarios where you will be asked to make a recommendation, while keeping in mind the limitations of declarative tools.
Resources
BUSINESS LOGIC AND PROCESS AUTOMATION – 27%
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for record types.
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for formula fields.
- Describe the capabilities of, use cases for, and implications of roll-up summary fields.
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for validation rules.
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for approval processes.
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for workflow, visual workflow, and Process Builder.
- Given a set of business requirements, recommend a solution to automate business processes.
- Describe the ramifications of field updates and the potential for recursion.
DATA MODELING AND MANAGEMENT – 20%
- Given a scenario, determine the appropriate data model.
- Describe the capabilities of the various relationship types and the implications of each on record access, user interface, and reporting.
- Identify the considerations when changing a field’s type.
- Given a set of requirements, identify the considerations and select the appropriate field type.
- Describe the capabilities and considerations of the schema builder.
- Describe the options and considerations when importing and exporting data.
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for external objects.
USER INTERFACE – 14%
- Describe the user interface customization options.
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for custom buttons, links, and actions.
- Describe the declarative options available for incorporating Lightning Components in an application.
- Given a scenario, determine the appropriate user interface design.
SECURITY – 10%
- Describe the features and capabilities available to restrict and extend object, record, and field access.
- Given a set of business requirements, determine the appropriate sharing solution.
SALESFORCE FUNDAMENTALS – 8%
- Describe the capabilities of the core CRM objects in the Salesforce schema.
- Given a scenario, identify the boundaries of declarative customization and the use cases for programmatic customization.
- Identify common scenarios for extending an org using the AppExchange
APP DEVELOPMENT – 8%
- Describe the key milestones and considerations when managing the application lifecycle.
- Describe the differences between and considerations when using the various types of sandboxes.
- Describe the capabilities of and considerations when using change sets.
- Describe the use cases of and considerations when using unmanaged packages.
- Given a scenario, determine the appropriate deployment plan.
REPORTING – 5%
- Describe the features and capabilities available when creating reports, report types, and dashboards.
MOBILE – 5%
- Describe the declarative customization options available for the Salesforce mobile application user interface.
- Given a set of requirements, determine the appropriate global and object specific actions and action layouts to optimize the Salesforce mobile application user experience.
SOCIAL – 3%
- Describe the capabilities of and use cases for social features.
Ready for the Exam?
Book your exam now, even before you start studying. There’s no better way to drive you to study than booking your exam. Pay special attention to these posts: Which Automation Tool do I Use?, Notes on Changing Custom Field Types, and Control Who Sees What. Really understanding the limitations and recommended use for the automation tools is crucial to this test. There are several questions on field types, and what could happen if you were to change one. And finally, key to this test and many future tests is comprehending visibility in Salesforce. What does a profile vs. role control? Where do org-wide defaults, group sharing, role hierarchy, etc. fall?
If you can get a good understanding of those core topics, you’ll do well on this exam. As always, please reach out if you have questions or concerns. I do my best to respond as quickly as I can.