CCA-F Exam Prep

A repeatable system for passing the Anthropic Claude Certified Architect – Foundations (CCA-F) exam.

What this is

A Claude Code (or Cowork) skill that runs a learner through CCA-F prep using a validated study system:

• Explain → Feynman → Quiz → Notes loop per concept
• Spaced-repetition learning log (intervals based on recall confidence)
• Distractor-pattern library (19 named patterns — the most reusable artifact)
• Session opener that surfaces what’s due before any new teaching

Originally built and validated by the author: 5 days from start of study to sitting the exam (913/1000 on the official practice exam, 805/1000 on the real exam).

Install

Cowork / Claude Desktop

Open Cowork → Customize sidebar → upload this skill folder as a zip.

Then in any chat: “let’s study CCA-F” — the skill auto-activates.

Claude Code

Drop this folder into .claude/skills/ of a project, or ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use.

How a learner uses it

Once installed, start a session by saying:

• “let’s study CCA-F”
• “CCA-F prep”
• “continue my Claude Cert study”

The skill will:

1. Check what reviews are due today
2. Drill any open watch-list items
3. Teach the next concept using the 4-step loop
4. Update your notes and learning log

Your study files live at .tmp/cca-f-study/. They’re created automatically on first use from the templates in this skill.

What’s inside

cca-f-exam-prep/
├── SKILL.md                       — main instructions for Claude
├── README.md                      — this file
├── reference/
│   ├── exam-blueprint.md          — domains, weights, exam structure
│   ├── study-method.md            — the 4-step per-concept loop
│   ├── spaced-rep-rules.md        — interval rules
│   ├── distractor-pattern-library.md — 19 named patterns
│   ├── session-opener.md          — how every session starts
│   └── quiz-format.md             — scenario MCQ format + tagging
└── templates/
    ├── domain-notes-template.md   — per-domain notes skeleton
    └── learning-log-template.md   — spaced-rep log skeleton

Requirements

• Access to the official Anthropic CCA-F Certification Exam Guide PDF (the skill treats this as the spine)
• A learner who wants to be pushed
• ~1 hour per session, ~2 weeks total (varies with prior Claude experience)

What the learner walks away with

• Per-domain study notes with consolidated learnings
• A spaced-repetition log that surfaces what to review and when
• A growing distractor-pattern library (starts with 19, grows as new patterns are named during study)
• A pass on the exam

Adapting it

The skill is CCA-F-specific by design. The method (Explain → Feynman → Quiz → Notes + spaced rep + named distractor library) is generic and can be lifted into any cert prep — but this skill bundles the CCA-F-specific blueprint, sample-question references, and pattern library.

Credit