I flew up to Sydney yesterday for the privilege of being (as far as I know) the first non-Mercury employee to sit for the LoadRunner CPC exam in Australia.

Feedback from people who had already taken the exam seemed to be almost universally along the lines of “there is a lot to get through. Know the subject thoroughly. You will not have time to look up documentation.” Mercury representatives said, “If you could do your LoadRunner CPS exam, then you should have no problems with the CPC.”

I had previously completed my LoadRunner CPS and had been using LoadRunner for a long time but, even so, I found the exam extremely challenging and used every minute of the allocated time.

The LoadRunner 7.6 CPC exam is to be completed in 1 day (8 hours). The pass mark is 70%, and a total of 134 possible points are allocated to the four exam sections as follows:

Section A – Scripting exercises.
60 points (45%)
3 hours.

Section B – LoadRunner Controller + Multiple choice questions.
28 points (21%)
2 hours 30 minutes.

Section C – Multiple choice questions.
36 points (27%)
15 minutes.

Section D – C programming.
10 points (7%)
30 minutes.

As can be seen from the recommended completion times for each section, Mercury’s estimates are definitely on the low side (adding up to only 6 hours, 15 minutes), and the possible scores for each section do not correlate with the suggested times.

I spent 4 hours and 30 minutes on Section A, and 45 minutes on Section D, with the rest of the time split between the two remaining sections.

The questions in Section A build on each other. If you cannot complete the first question, you will not be able to go on with subsequent questions. Having completed the exercises from the CPS comes in handy here, as some of the questions are similar. Ensure that you are familiar with parameterisation and correlation using both recording modes (as far as I can remember, the CPS only used URL mode). Try not to make assumptions about what is required. Follow the instructions to the letter. If you miss something on an earlier question, you will probably not have time to go back, make changes to all your previous scripts and re-run them. Remember that script execution for debugging purposes can be sped up by turning off “Animated Run” and closing the output window. Your script execution will be CPU-bound, and these items have a large overhead.

Section B focuses on creating and executing a scenario. There are no surprises here, but one of the key questions is based on how Mercury thinks a load test should be run, so your own experiences/prejudices may have little value. There is at least 30 minutes of execution time in this section that can be completed in parallel with Section C or D. Just remember that, as the Application Under Test will probably be running on the same machine as the controller, any compilations or searches through Acrobat files will affect the scenario results as they push CPU utilisation to 100%.

Section C is an opportunity to pick up some easy marks. There are 36 possible points for the 32 multiple-choice questions. There are some obscure questions here that you are guaranteed to have never encountered, but all answers can be found by searching through the documentation or experimenting with LoadRunner. As with the CPC, there are some very ambiguous questions, and even a question on the features of a type of graph that unintentionally leaves the name of the graph out of the question. When in doubt, deal with ambiguity by documenting your assumptions about what the question means.

Section D is the easiest section for guaranteed marks. You are given a script that contains compilation, logical and functional errors and must make it run against the Application Under Test. if you have a working knowledge of C, it shouldn’t be hard to track down the compilation errors. Start with the first error and work down the list. Remember that a “not writing pre_cci.ci” output message from the compiler can (non-obviously) push the real error off the top of the debug window. Once the compiler errors are taken care of, you must ensure that the script meets its stated aim. This will not be hard if you can successfully complete Section A.

Apparently the LoadRunner 7.6 CPC exam has a very high failure rate. I am not totally confident of receiving a passing grade myself. All questions were answered and all exercises were completed to the specifications, but my scripts were short on elegant solutions and clearly written code. My fingers are crossed for some generous marking.

Update: I finally received my results, and I passed this exam comfortably.

Update (December/2007) : This entry was written in mid-2004, and is no longer relevant to the new HP LoadRunner certifications. New LoadRunner certification exams are expected to be available in late Feb/March of 2008. I am involved in the review process for these exams and will post more information about where you can take the new certification exams soon.

 

Published On: June 19, 2004Tags: , ,

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75 Comments

  1. Stuart Moncrieff July 7, 2004 at 4:00 pm

    Ahkman,

    Providing answers or detailed information on exam questions would defeat the purpose of having a certification exam.

    Mercury changed their LoadRunner certification from a take-home exam to a one day in-house exam because too many answers could be found with Google, and some people were work-shopping the exam.

    My entry was deliberately vague on concrete details. I signed a confidentiality agreement, so I can’t give you information on the questions even if I wanted to. All the (useful) information I have provided is either

    * freely available from the Mercury website
    * easily learnt through a quick phone call to your local Mercury representative
    * a standard debugging or execution technique (you should know this already)

    Study hard 🙂

  2. Ahkman July 6, 2004 at 4:02 pm

    do you have answer? please send it to me asuriygapi@hotmail.com

    BEST REGARDS and thank you in avance

    Ahkman

  3. oldsidney January 18, 2005 at 4:12 pm

    Congratulation!!

    I have pass too.

  4. stephen cheney July 11, 2005 at 6:22 am

    I have a GREAT deal of problems with people like asuriygapi@hotmail.com; The whole reason the CPS was changed to a classroom setting (CPC) is because of people like that. There’s also seems to be plenty of people who take the CPC and are willing to give the answers out. Props to Perf Creep for not responding to that retard’s request.

    The CPC is very expensive; and is probably one of the only ways, in this current job environmet(i.e. people of questionalbe integrity entering the field) for employers out of the know to determine the qualification of candidates. To ask for or give away answers to it is just stupid. And for the people that had to spend the money to take it; is unbelievably unfair.

    This basically is like having people pay a couple grand for a test that has no merit. Those of us in this niche; need to guard against people like asuriygapi@hotmail.com.

  5. Aditya Chinni September 1, 2005 at 7:17 am

    Congrats. Great work

  6. David Cater March 23, 2006 at 10:47 pm

    Congratulations Stuart,

    I recently took the LoadRunner v8.0 CPC exam in the UK. It is now reduced in duration to 6 hrs, and includes a section on LoadRunner Analysis. The last time I looked the Mercury web site still refered to the v7.6 exam.

    More than that I am not allowed to divulge, except to say I also passed, and it’s still hard!

  7. Faraz May 24, 2006 at 3:09 pm

    Congrats to All of You who passed the exam !
    iam also going for exam on LoadRuner 8.1.
    can we pass the exam if go through the Mercury documentation and Mercury Support website Meterial and also the practical experience on LoadRunner. how you gays do you preparation for it.
    Suggest me i will be thankful to you .

  8. Manoj June 13, 2006 at 2:48 am

    Anybody having any idea about free online testdumps for winrunner

    Pl. email me if any one knows about it.

    srmanojkummar@yahoo.co.in

  9. vignesh December 25, 2006 at 11:47 pm

    could you let me know how to go about preparing for CPS exam, and if there is any material for it? could anyone share it? what are the areas for concentration?

  10. Richard January 26, 2007 at 8:02 am

    It’s supposed to be hard, but, realisticly attainable…..which the one for the past 2 years until last October was not attainable unless you had the inside track. That was because they had to weed out all the wannabees who copied the take home exam. I rather enjoyed the take home exam and learned a great deal working on it back in 1999. I am really sad they had to do away with it due to the cheaters. Of course, I can’t count the number of times I’ve been brought in behind a “certified” professional to clean up and get the job done. This is all due to those cheaters. Hey, we should gather at one spot at the next Mercury World, or, is it, HP World, in June 2007….It would be really really helpful to have legitimate study materials like other organizations have prepared so we could know what to expect, prepare for it, and legitimately know it…..

  11. srini ippili February 14, 2007 at 11:16 pm

    Hi,

    Do you have any sample exam papers for Loadrunner CPC exam? if so please send it my email (srini_ippili@yahoo.co.in)..

    thanks
    srini

  12. Aparna February 20, 2007 at 11:58 pm

    Hi,

    I have been eyeing the Loadrunner certification exams for quite some time now. I have worked on Loadrunner for more than a year and I would rate myself around 6/10 in Performance Testing and Loadrunner. Can anyone advise if this is the right time for me to take the CPS exam ? or will I be advised to get some more experience in Perf testign and LR ?
    I do not have much knowledge / expertise in the area of bottleneck resolution/analysis.

  13. Tuwanda Smith March 27, 2007 at 2:20 am

    Hi, I have been studying for the cpc exam, I have been using the cpc exam book for 2007. Can you give me some idea if I am going in the right direction for home study.I would like to take the loadrunner test.

  14. Ramesh July 3, 2007 at 4:15 pm

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India .

  15. Nye July 12, 2007 at 4:36 am

    Hello, I am a current graduate in the medical field I would like to self study at home to prepare for the exam. Can you provide me with the necessary information needed to prepare myself?

  16. Raman July 31, 2007 at 6:48 pm

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India .

  17. linda August 2, 2007 at 3:51 am

    I would like to take the test on loadrunner. Please tell me the procedure.

  18. praveen August 3, 2007 at 7:31 pm

    hi i want LOAD RUNNER study material to write CPC exam.Can any body provide that.

  19. Shailesh August 10, 2007 at 12:57 am

    Hi All,
    I am planning for Certification in LoadRunner. Please do guide and help me , I stay in India. What are the possible centers and material required for it.
    Please do help me.

  20. Abadon August 21, 2007 at 5:45 am

    Problem isnt LR, but langulage barrier, so share results pleas:) Documentation is often hard to understand for born englisher, ok ok but better than Moldavian english of Jmeter..

  21. Srini September 27, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    Can any one send me CPC sample exam papers?

    Thanks in advance.

    Srini

  22. Dmitry Motevich October 20, 2007 at 9:32 pm

    Very usefull information about LoadRunner CPC Exam. Thank you for haring it…

  23. Dmitry Motevich October 20, 2007 at 9:36 pm

    I’ve missprinted 🙂
    Thank you for sharing it!

  24. aravind November 20, 2007 at 2:10 pm

    I want to attend the CPC exam on LR 8.0, i am in southern california could you let me know the procedure.

  25. Srinath December 7, 2007 at 1:13 am

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India .

  26. Srinath December 7, 2007 at 1:14 am

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India . Kindly mail me the details and the reference documents which i should refer.

  27. roy December 19, 2007 at 3:34 am

    do u have any samle paper /dump for loadrunner CPS exam ..

  28. roy December 19, 2007 at 3:35 am

    do u have any samle paper /dump for loadrunner CPS exam ..

    then please mail me at : tryfor1@gmail.com

  29. Pats December 27, 2007 at 8:45 pm

    Hello all,

    I have been with Loarunner for more than 3 years didnt thought of certification till now. I went thru HP website but it has no clear indication on how to take exam and exam fee or registration.

    I would like to know if any one recently took CPC to provide me links or details to take certification and the course material for same.

    I am in Mumbai, India. email : patvir@rediffmail.com

    Thank you in advance

  30. Ramakrishna Devaki January 9, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Hello all,

    I have been with Loarunner for more than 3 years didnt thought of certification till now. I went thru HP website but it has no clear indication on how to take exam and exam fee or registration.

    I would like to know if any one recently took CPC to provide me links or details to take certification and the course material for same.

    I am in Hyderabad, India. email : ramu_812@yahoo.co.in

    Thank you in advance

  31. Gopi January 22, 2008 at 12:08 pm

    Hope this might be of little help , even I am planning to take this exam please help with any info.

    http://h10017.www1.hp.com/certification/about_exams.html#three

  32. Paul Richards January 23, 2008 at 11:54 am

    Ramakrishna,

    The Mercury CPC exam is no longer offered due to the HP Aquisition of Mercury. HP now offers the Accredited Systems Engineer in HP Performance Centre instead of the CPC.

    The New exam will be offered in Feburay/March 2008. This date has been slipping though since the original planned release in December 2007.

    HP have published information regarding the correlation between the HP and Mercury certification path. This is available at : http://www.hp.com/certification/docs/HPSoftware_CredentialPathChart-FINAL.pdf

    I have asked for a list of the test topics which is planned for the new HP ASE Performance Cerficiation, though I have not received the early release of the information yet. If you have eny enquieries regarding the certification, you can contact the Asia Pacific HP Professional Support Office through support@hpcp.biz.

    I don’t believe that you can grandfather your LoadRunner CPC credential across any more. This was an option given in September. As a summary to your question, unfortunately you will have to wait until the new HP ASE certification exam is ready.

    best regards,

    Paul R.

  33. Kesava February 14, 2008 at 7:01 pm

    Hello all,

    Can any one send me CPC sample exam papers?

  34. satish.k February 21, 2008 at 6:59 pm

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India . Kindly mail me the details and the reference documents which i should refer.And aslo iam 1 year of expernice let me know which site is prefer to prepare for exam

    i am in hyderabad,india,email:satish.kakkirala@gmail.com

  35. Smita March 4, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Can u send me a CPC exam paper?

  36. Smita March 4, 2008 at 5:34 pm

    Can i get a CPC exam paper pattern?

  37. Pradeep Reddy March 5, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    I have been eyeing the Loadrunner certification exams for quite some time now. I have worked on Loadrunner for more than a year and I would rate myself around 6/10 in Performance Testing and Loadrunner. Can anyone advise if this is the right time for me to take the CPS exam ? or will I be advised to get some more experience in Perf testing and LR ? I worked more on LR 8.1 with Citrix Protocol.
    If any one has sample papers, please mail me at pradeep.kancharla@yahoo.com and also please let me know the procedure of how to take the CPC exam. I am based out of Hyderabad,India.
    Any hyderabad guys out there, please help me out.
    Thanks in advance,
    Pradeep K
    +91 9704659992

  38. jasmeet singhg March 10, 2008 at 9:10 pm

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India . Kindly mail me the details and the reference documents which i should refer.And aslo iam 1 year of expernice let me know which site is prefer to prepare for exam

    i am in chennai, india ,
    Email ;- jasmeets@maveric-systems.com

  39. Srinivasa Rao P March 11, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    Hi All,

    Pls send me the LoadRunner Sample Question Papers to my mail id (pothinedis@inbox.com)

    I am awaiting for Reply

    Thanks in Advance

  40. Alim Sharif March 14, 2008 at 2:53 am

    First contact HP and get registered to get a Student ID # .. Here is some information you need to get CPC Exam.

    Training & Certification Links and Phone Numbers

    Student IDs:
    Phone: 1-800-544-9976, speak Business Center Operations (US); 1-800-392-7024 (Canada)
    Email: partnersupportcenter@hp.com

    Course Catalog for HP Partners:
    HP Partner Portal: http://www.hp.com/partners/us (US); http://www.hp.com/partners/ca (Canada)
    • Login and select ‘Training’ to view course catalogs

    Instructor-Led Training (ILT) Courses:
    HP Education & Training: http://www.hp.com/go/training

    Web-Based Training and Course documentation:

    Web-based Training (WBT) Courses:
    HP Learning Center: http://www.hp.com/go/onlinelearning

    A Prometrics ID should be obtained prior to taking a Certification Exam. You can contact Prometrics at:

    Thomson Prometric exam registration:
    Testing Centers (HP0 exams): http://www.2test.com or call 1-800-366-EXAM (800-366-3926)
    Internet Based Testing (HP2 & HP3 exams): http://ibt.prometric.com/hponline-americas

    Creating and maintaining your Profile after certification:

    HP Certified Professional Program:
    http://www.hp.com/certification/americas
    Technical, Sales, Pre-Sales, Oper Sys:
    1-800-273-4812, option 5, option 3
    (certification.americas@hp.com)
    Services, Break/fix:
    1-800-544-9976, say Business Center Operations (partnersupportcenter@hp.com)

    Modify Student Profile:
    https://wwss2pro.cce.hp.com/training/student/studentlogin.asp
    Login to view or modify your profile, including changing your mailing address, email address, and your phone numbers (initial login is your last name).

  41. Sonika March 21, 2008 at 6:08 am

    I wanna attend the CPC exam, could you please let me know where i can get the study material for it. I’m currently located in California. Also, please let me know where i can give this exam and is it enough to do a self preparation for it or do i need to attend some trainig classes.

  42. Anna April 1, 2008 at 7:05 am

    Hi,
    Do you know if HP0-M84 HP is equivalent to the CPC exam offered by mercury.

    Thanks
    Anna

  43. William April 2, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    Why all indian based testers are asking questions papers and answers instead you should not write the exam

  44. Revana April 2, 2008 at 5:19 pm

    U can get it from http://www.testingmagazine.com

  45. Mrigs April 2, 2008 at 9:24 pm

    Thanks Paul for the helpful information on the HP ASE Performance Center Certification.

    Best wishes for all the aspiring candidates.

  46. Rayehan April 4, 2008 at 2:02 am

    Can someone tell me what is the diffrence between CPS and CPC, I am completely new at these stuff. I am interested in taking the certification exam. Just got new job and the company is willing to train me on that. Can someone please provide me with some guideline. Congrats to all of you who passed and good luck to all of you who are going to take it.

    Thanks
    Rayehan

  47. Shainesh May 19, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    Hi i want to give Hp load runner certification…i am from bangalore..please let me know the procedure and study material for preparation…also let me know the fees…

  48. NandhakumarPalani June 3, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    Hi i want to give load runner certification…i am from Chennai..please let me know the procedure and study material for preparation…also let me know the fees… and how to registration

  49. MUHIL June 6, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    Hi,
    Iam planning to write CPC exam. Can pl give the informtions regarding when the next EXAM Date, where i can write, where i can get material and wt was the FEE?
    I am at Chennai.

  50. Prateek June 30, 2008 at 10:26 pm

    I wanna attend CPC exam on LR 8.0 , Could you please let me know the procedure …I am from India . Kindly tell me the details and the reference documents which i should refer.And aslo iam 1 year of expernice let me know which site is prefer to prepare for exam.

  51. Charles E. James July 16, 2008 at 2:33 am

    I have been tasked with training on HP LoadRunner. I would like to hear what you have found to be the minimum prerequisites to becoming a LR test engineer.

    I am attempting to ascertain the qualifications of the trainee’s to make sure they have the ability to acquire the expertise to be a test engineer.

    I do hope you are still viewing this site.

    Respectfully,

    Charles

  52. cgpandey August 28, 2008 at 11:25 pm

    pls help i need free study material

  53. Naveen September 4, 2008 at 4:40 am

    Hi, I am preparing for HP loadrunner certification exam. can somebody(who has already taken this exam) tell me whether this exam includes questioned relate to web (HTTP/HTML) protocol only or for all the protocols that Loadrunner can work with.
    Also, please share some of the sample questions and how difficult is the exam?

  54. Ramakrishna September 11, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Hi Guys

    can anybody please send me details regarding HP-loadrunner Certification program

    and send the sample papers(old) and fees details

    Regards
    rama
    rkbathula@gmail.com
    9873599904

  55. shashank October 21, 2008 at 10:07 pm

    please visit loadrunner_help@googlegroups.com this group is having sample question related to loadrunner exam

  56. Vaasu November 4, 2008 at 8:02 pm

    Hi all,

    I am planning to write Loadrunner certification test. Could any body please send the questions and model question to my mail id vaasu_t@yahoo.co.in…….

    Thanks in advance.
    Vaasu

  57. vibhor November 24, 2008 at 11:09 pm

    Hi,
    Do you know if HP0-M84 HP is equivalent to the CPC exam offered by mercury.
    I also need material for the HP0-M84 HP
    Thanks
    Vibhor

  58. SA December 1, 2008 at 7:19 pm

    Hi, I would like to know if we need to pass AIS HP Performance Center v9 exam before appearing for AES HP Performance Center v9.
    For clearing AIS, do I need to clear both core exam and elective exam or only clearing core exam would do?

  59. Anil December 9, 2008 at 7:17 am

    Hi,

    This is Anil, I am planning to do Load runner CPC. Currently I am in New Jersey. I am looking for test conducting center in New Jersey.

    Can anyone please tell me the test ceter in New Jersey?

    Thanks in advance
    Anil

  60. Mel December 16, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Hi,

    I will be starting my review session this January 2009 , can anyone give me review materials for the LoadRunner Certification.

    email me @ rommel.m.asegurado@accenture.com

    thanks so much!

  61. kedar December 27, 2008 at 2:58 am

    Hi friends,

    I had 2 yrs of exp in manual testing.i am very much intrested in learning load runner, could any body suggest me the best book for load ronner and what and all the certification present.

    u can write to me on hr_kedar@gmail.com

    Thanks in avance.

  62. Marcia Hosang-Miller January 21, 2009 at 12:14 pm

    Do you offer free cps questions on pass papers

  63. Marcia Hosang-Miller January 21, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    do you offer free pass eaxm papers on cps

  64. ASHOK February 5, 2009 at 1:24 am

    I need the fee details for HP Loadrunner Certification please?

  65. krishna February 26, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    How to set up load runner environment.

    how to set up the database server and network server.

    please send to me the answer my mail: krishna_mannam@in.com

  66. nandhakumarpalani March 13, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    I had 3 yrs of exp in manual testing.i am very much intrested in learning load runner and QTP, could you any body suggest me for certification in QTP (Quick Test Professional) and Load Runner.

    I am learning with 15 days trial version its very usefule for me, itself i need certification details

    u can write to me on nandhakumarpalani@yahoo.com

    Thanks in avance.

  67. Tamil May 9, 2009 at 5:18 am

    Hi, im preparing for HP Load Runner AIS certification. I am learning from the VuGen User guide. Not sure about the preparation materials. Could anyone please send me the exam materials, sample questions etc., to tselvi83yahoocoin

  68. Karthikeyan June 24, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    Hi, I have three month of exp in performance testing and using LoadRunner. But I don’t have much exp the same. please somebody advice me how can i learn more and which certification is better performance testing.
    U can write to me on jkarthikqa@yahoo.com

  69. shashank August 14, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    for exam materials and exam questions ..visit loadrunner_help google group

  70. yub uddin January 10, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    hello all. my name is yub uddin. i need help for learning load runner 9.5 . i want to take cpc exam if any body have question plz send me all to maxi32484@gamil.com . thanks

  71. yub uddin January 10, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    sorry there in an error mean load runner exam questions.

  72. Phani March 18, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Can any one please send me the LoadRunner certification Q&A to go2phani@gmail.com !?

  73. V. Senthil kumar June 7, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    Tips for cpc exam
    Model question papers of cpc exam

  74. V. Senthil kumar June 7, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    Tips for cpc exam
    Model question papers of cpc exam

    Please mail to the above mail address

  75. Vali August 7, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    Hi Friends,

    I am preparing for Loadrunner Certification, if any one has the dumps, plz send to my mail: validandu@rediffmail.com.

    Thanks,
    Vali

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