Recently, I sat for the CKA exam using a 13-inch laptop. Since the exam environment uses an XFCE remote desktop, screen space can become a real limitation.
I thought I’d share a few practical tips that helped me during the exam.
Reduce Browser Zoom#
Decrease the zoom level in Firefox to around 80% or even 70% (if you’re comfortable with it).
This gives you more visible space, which is critical during the exam.
Be Prepared for Different Documentation Layout#
Some documentation layouts change when the browser window is small (or zoomed out).
For example, the Gateway API documentation switches layout at smaller screen sizes, which made it harder to quickly find the right sections during the exam.
So, make sure you’re familiar with key docs and how they behave at different screen sizes beforehand.
Use a Local Editor#
Edit your YAML/configs in VSCodium (or any editor) and then paste into the terminal.
This is much faster and reduces mistakes compared to editing directly in the terminal.
Manage Window Layout#
Keep your windows slightly offset of each other instead of fully maximized.
This makes it easier to switch between the browser and terminals quickly.
Adjust Terminal Zoom#
There is a separate zoom setting in the PSi browser.
Make sure it matches your browser zoom so everything feels consistent.
Practice with killer.sh#
Use the killer.sh environment before the exam.
It’s very similar to the real exam environment, so you can:
- Get used to the UI
- Test your workflow
- Identify any friction early
Check Your Mouse Scroll#
Make sure your mouse scroll works properly.
It sounds small, but it helps a lot when navigating docs quickly.
Bonus Tip: Fix Terminal Paste Behavior#
By default, right click paste behavior in the terminal might not work as expected.
You can fix this in the terminal preferences: https://docs.xfce.org/_detail/apps/xfce4-terminal/terminal-preferences-advanced.png
Practice this in the killer.sh environment so you don’t waste time during the exam.
Good luck with your exam!