IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2 Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the A1000-100 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 4 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 4 domains to pass the A1000-100 exam
IBM Cloud Platform Fundamentals
Application Development and Deployment
Cloud Services Integration
DevOps and Application Management
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2 exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- IBM Cloud Platform Fundamentals
- Application Development and Deployment
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Cloud Services Integration
- DevOps and Application Management
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2 exam
Complete Study Guide for IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2
The IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2 certification (A1000-100) validates your ability to develop, deploy, and manage applications on the IBM Cloud Platform. This associate-level certification demonstrates proficiency in cloud-native development, service integration, and DevOps practices specific to IBM Cloud infrastructure.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Application developers working with IBM Cloud
- Cloud engineers focusing on application deployment
- DevOps engineers managing cloud applications
- IT professionals transitioning to cloud development
- Software architects designing cloud-native solutions
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of cloud computing concepts
- Familiarity with at least one programming language (Node.js, Java, Python, or Go)
- Experience with REST APIs and web services
- Basic knowledge of containerization and microservices
- Understanding of CI/CD concepts
Official Resources
IBM Training and Credentials Portal
Official IBM certification portal with exam details and requirements
View ResourceIBM Cloud Documentation
Comprehensive documentation covering all IBM Cloud services and features
View ResourceIBM Cloud Architecture Center
Reference architectures, best practices, and design patterns for IBM Cloud
View ResourceIBM Developer
Tutorials, code patterns, and technical articles for IBM Cloud development
View ResourceIBM Cloud CLI Documentation
Complete guide to IBM Cloud Command Line Interface tools
View ResourceIBM Cloud Foundry Documentation
Official documentation for deploying applications using Cloud Foundry on IBM Cloud
View ResourceIBM Cloud Kubernetes Service Documentation
Guide to deploying and managing containerized applications on IBM Cloud
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Recommended Books
Cloud Native Development with IBM Cloud
by IBM Press
Comprehensive guide to building cloud-native applications on IBM Cloud platform
View on AmazonKubernetes in Action
by Marko Luksa
Essential for understanding Kubernetes deployments on IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service
View on AmazonCloud Native Patterns: Designing change-tolerant software
by Cornelia Davis
Design patterns applicable to IBM Cloud application development
View on AmazonBuilding Microservices
by Sam Newman
Microservices architecture patterns relevant to IBM Cloud development
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
IBM Cloud Free Tier
Free tier access to IBM Cloud services for hands-on practice without cost
View ResourceIBM Developer Tutorials
Step-by-step tutorials and hands-on labs for IBM Cloud services
View ResourceIBM Cloud Code Patterns
Complete sample applications demonstrating IBM Cloud integration patterns
View ResourceIBM Cloud Garage Method
Best practices and hands-on practices for cloud-native development
View ResourceIBM Skills Network Labs
Interactive labs for IBM Cloud services and development practices
View ResourceIBM Cloud CLI Practice
Command-line exercises for mastering IBM Cloud CLI operations
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
IBM Cloud Community
Official IBM Cloud community for questions, discussions, and best practices
Join Communityr/IBMCloud
Reddit community for IBM Cloud developers and certification discussions
Join CommunityIBM Developer Blog
Technical articles, tutorials, and updates on IBM Cloud technologies
Join CommunityStack Overflow - IBM Cloud
Q&A for specific IBM Cloud development challenges and issues
Join CommunityIBM Cloud YouTube Channel
Video tutorials, webinars, and technical deep-dives on IBM Cloud
Join Communityr/CloudCertifications
General cloud certification community including IBM Cloud exam experiences
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Hands-On Practice Strategy
- Create an IBM Cloud free tier account immediately and practice with real services
- Deploy at least 3-5 complete applications using different deployment methods (Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes, Code Engine)
- Practice every CLI command from the documentation - muscle memory is crucial for the exam
- Break and fix applications intentionally to practice troubleshooting skills
- Document your own quick reference guide for commonly used commands and configurations
Service Integration Focus
- Build a sample application that integrates at least 4-5 different IBM Cloud services
- Understand service credentials and binding mechanisms deeply - these are heavily tested
- Practice both console-based and CLI-based service provisioning and binding
- Create diagrams of service interactions to visualize architecture patterns
- Focus on Watson services integration as they are commonly featured in exam scenarios
DevOps and Deployment Mastery
- Create multiple complete CI/CD pipelines using IBM Continuous Delivery
- Practice blue-green deployments and understand when to use each strategy
- Learn to interpret application logs and monitoring data from LogDNA/Sysdig
- Understand auto-scaling configuration and when to use horizontal vs vertical scaling
- Practice rollback scenarios and disaster recovery procedures
Exam-Specific Preparation
- The exam is 60 questions in 90 minutes - that's 1.5 minutes per question, so practice time management
- IBM exams often focus on 'best practices' rather than just technical capability
- Understand the 'IBM way' of doing things, which may differ from other cloud providers
- Pay special attention to IAM and security questions - these appear frequently
- Review IBM Cloud service names carefully - IBM has specific naming conventions
Documentation Mastery
- Bookmark and familiarize yourself with IBM Cloud documentation structure
- Read the 'Getting Started' guide for every major service category
- Review API documentation for key services - understanding REST endpoints is valuable
- Study the Architecture Center for reference architectures and patterns
- Create flashcards for service capabilities, use cases, and limitations
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Don't confuse IBM Cloud Foundry with generic Cloud Foundry - IBM has specific implementations
- Understand the difference between Classic Infrastructure and VPC resources
- Know when to use Cloud Functions vs Code Engine vs Kubernetes - each has specific use cases
- Don't overlook monitoring and logging - these are significant exam topics
- Practice with IBM Cloud CLI syntax - it differs from AWS and Azure CLI conventions
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive at testing center 15 minutes early or ensure your online testing environment is properly configured
- 2Read each question completely - IBM exams often include scenario-based questions with important details at the end
- 3Watch for keywords like 'best practice', 'most efficient', 'recommended approach' - these indicate IBM's preferred solution
- 4If unsure about a question, eliminate obviously wrong answers first to improve odds
- 5Flag difficult questions and return to them after completing easier ones - maintain momentum
- 6The passing score is 70% (42/60 questions) - don't panic if some questions seem unfamiliar
- 7For scenario-based questions, identify the core problem first before evaluating solutions
- 8Watch the clock but don't rush - you have 1.5 minutes per question on average
- 9Trust your hands-on experience over memorized facts when evaluating practical scenarios
- 10Review flagged questions carefully if time permits - first instinct is often correct but verify your reasoning
Study guide generated on January 7, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2 Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the A1000-100 certification exam offered by IBM. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 4 exam domains in detail:
- IBM Cloud Platform Fundamentals (25%)
- Application Development and Deployment (30%)
- Cloud Services Integration (25%)
- DevOps and Application Management (20%)
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the IBM Cloud Platform Application Development v2 exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.