Outline:
1. Get the syllabus
2. Memorize the syllabus
3. Underline the keywords
4. Understand the meaning of the keywords
5. Recall what you know already on the syllabus
6. Write your present understanding of the syllabus
7. Browse through the reference material

The prerequisites for a career option of any sort are a willing heart and a motivated spirit. You may be an amateur to the area of your (certification) study programme or with a meagre or larger understanding of the pursuit in question. It is always better to be sure and clear that you are an apt person with the right attitude and aptitude for the certification programme that you are going to plunge into.

Learning – an art of living!
With a cheerful mind, boost your curiosity and click your brain to contemplate on the know-how of your certification programme. Presume “It is me – the explorer, achiever and enterpriser – at the end of the day!”

Like the first step in the moon, to begin with your certification, avail the prescribed syllabus – the current version of it, in its full form. It is not much if you attempt to use it as your personal “Holy Book” because every word in the syllabus would lead you to understand as to what is expected from the learner during the whole process of certification. It is because the knowledge gained, both theoretical and practical, has to be prudently applied all along your career. Before entering into the actual in-depth study, a simple but worthwhile preliminary exercise on the syllabus is mandatory.

To begin with the exercise does not mean to just procure the syllabus but to carefully read it once, twice or more conscientiously but definitely not mechanically. While doing so, you would come to realise that certain terms seem quite new to you, some familiar and yet a few distinctive and focussed. Such repeated reading of the syllabus helps one getting the context imprinted in the brain folds, or in other words, you would have memorized the context of the syllabus.

The next step for a better understanding of the syllabus is to understand the keywords. Keywords are those often found exclusive and distinctive, explicitly indicating the core or theme of the subject area. The drive within you, blended with your inquisitiveness, would spontaneously force you to the realms of understanding those keywords. Make an earnest effort on this step. The dictionary is a good companion to an ambitious learner. It is better to indulge in understanding these keywords and correlating them in the context, to get a comprehensive idea of the topics.

Move on to the next step of giving a quick mental survey of your previous knowledge related to the current syllabus. Then, give yet another glance on the entire context of the syllabus. Now, try to correlate, understand and assimilate the core ideas and requirements spread over the various topics in the syllabus. No doubt, at this point, you would all have evolved a wholesome and comprehensive idea on the syllabus as per your own understanding, which is what we particularly aimed at.

If you are a novice, with no previous knowledge on the subject in pursuit, do not worry! Remember, it is a blessing in disguise because your thought process on the study would be clear without any ambiguity or confusion, and your focus would be single-minded, thereby leading to success.

To perfect this simple exercise, you should now spell out your understanding of the syllabus. Your own understanding, as conceived through this exercise, should be presented in a comprehensive manner. Your write-up may embrace the following aspects:
a) Aim and scope of the study
b) Central theme and core ideas
c) Sequence and interlinking of the various topics and sub-topics, converging to the core and scope of the study
d) Resources, tools, hand-on skills and techniques that are useful for the study
e) Any other aspects as per your own comprehension
(* Make your presentation simple and vivid)

Finally, browse through the references cited in the syllabus that would throw light on your present understanding of the syllabus.

Equipping oneself with a comprehensive idea of the (certification) study, as to what it is all about and its requirements, as an initial exposure, is our foremost priority. This is the purpose of this exercise.

Clarity and sincerity of your attempt on a purpose will always be rewarding!