I’m excited to share another success story. Here, Larry tells us what it took for him to pass his IASSC Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
Ted,
I want to thank you for your construction of this study guide and your responsive connection to the subscribers. I have passed my IASSC Six Sigma Green Belt exam. The preparation materials including the videos, articles, mock tests and textbook content have all been a great part in my achievement.
I hope you enjoy your holidays as well!
Thank you again, Larry
Larry (email)
How Would You Tell a Friend to Prepare for the IASSC Six Sigma Green Belt Exam?
Larry had 2 main tips to fellow certification seekers:
- Follow in the footsteps of the people who came before you.
- Focus on all of the items in the Body of Knowledge.
I would tell others to read and listen to the stories of the others who’ve taken the test. Those stories really inspired me. I read them more than once, I would use them when I felt overwhelmed and stagnant.
Larry
Having an example that you can follow really helps from a psychological standpoint. After all, if other people have done this, so can you!
Another thing I would tell test takers is to keep your institutions body of knowledge in focus as you progress through the modules.
Larry
Every organization has different items that they focus on. It’s critical to keep the parts that are especially important to your passing the exam front-and-center. Be sure to regularly look at the materials in the BOK of your organization. In Larry’s case it he focused on the IASSC Six Sigma Green Belt BOK – and used all of the articles that I have written detailing these subjects at length to supplement his understanding.
Why BOK-Specific Focus Actually Matters
Larry’s second tip is easy to nod along with and still not actually practice. The real risk of studying generic “Six Sigma” material instead of your specific certifying body’s BOK is subtle: IASSC, ASQ, and Villanova agree on most core concepts but organize and weight them differently, and occasionally disagree outright on terminology or emphasis. A student who studies broadly without checking their own body’s BOK line by line can walk into the exam confident on topics that were never tested and underprepared on ones that were core to that specific body all along.
The Computer-Compatibility Lesson
Larry’s point about exam-day logistics deserves more weight than it usually gets. Studying hard and then losing time on exam day to a laptop compatibility check, a delayed proctor connection, or an unfamiliar testing platform is one of the most avoidable ways to underperform relative to your actual preparation. Most certifying bodies publish system requirements and offer a system check tool well before exam day, specifically to prevent exactly the surprise Larry describes. Run that check at least a few days ahead, not the morning of.
Congratulations again to Larry, and thank you for taking the time to write in with such specific, usable advice.
The Pattern Across Success Stories
Larry’s advice echoes a theme that shows up across nearly every student success story on this site: find people who’ve already done what you’re trying to do, learn from their specific mistakes rather than abstract advice, and treat exam-day logistics as seriously as the content itself. None of that is unique to Six Sigma certification, it’s just that the stakes (time invested, exam fees, career impact) make it worth being deliberate about rather than leaving to chance.
If you’re currently studying and feeling overwhelmed, Larry’s situation a few months ago was exactly that, and it didn’t stop him from getting to the other side. Keep going.
And if you’ve already passed and have your own story worth sharing, I’d genuinely love to hear it, these write-ups help the next person more than almost anything else on this site.
Reach out any time, and good luck to everyone still studying.
Stories like Larry’s are also a reminder that the certifying body’s own materials and this site’s articles are meant to work together, not as competing options, use both.
Prepare for Everything – Including Your Choice of Computer
Larry reminds us not to leave anything to chance. Simulate everything you can ahead of exam day. Pay attention to all requirements – especially those taking the exam virtually from home.
A few months ago, I would have told myself to know what to expect on exam day a bit earlier. I had a few surprises once I started the purchasing process and computer capability checks. The day of my exam, I found out that my laptop wasn’t compatible with the requirements which caused a delay. So, I recommend everyone to do the pre-checks and purchase your voucher way ahead of time.
Larry
Do the Work!
Finally, Larry reminds us that there’s no short cut. You have to do the work.
Everything else is straightforward. You wasn’t lying when you said that if you complete the modules you’ll pass the test!
Thanks a lot Ted. I will be in touch!
Larry
Follow in Dan’s Footsteps
The work Larry refers to is the Pass Your Six Sigma Green Belt study guide I’ve created. Inside you’ll find tons of helpful resources like practice exams, articles, thoughtful and detailed explanations of all questions, ways to optimize your time, and much more!
If this resonates with you, perhaps you’d like to also join Pass Your Six Sigma Green Belt.
