Associate MuleSoft

Developer Exam
Preparation Guide
Mule Runtime 3.6
March 3, 2015

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Table of Contents

PREPARATION GUIDE PURPOSE ............................................................................................3  

EXAM OBJECTIVE .......................................................................................................................3  
PREPARATION RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................3  
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE ............................................................................................................3  

INTENDED AUDIENCE ................................................................................................................3  

EXAM COST ...................................................................................................................................4  

EXAM REGISTRATION ................................................................................................................4  

EXAM FORMAT.............................................................................................................................4  

EXAM PASS REQUIREMENT .....................................................................................................4  

CERTIFICATION VALIDITY ........................................................................................................5  

EXAM TOPICS (ANYPOINT PLATFORM ESSENTIALS OUTLINE) ...................................5  

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Associate MuleSoft Developer Exam Preparation Guide

Preparation guide purpose

The purpose of this guide is to help you understand what knowledge and skills are needed to
successfully pass the Associate Mule Developer exam. It does not provide that knowledge, but
includes information on how to obtain that knowledge.

Exam objective
The Associate Mule Developer exam was specifically designed to be a basic accreditation exam and an
end-of-class exam for the Anypoint Platform Essentials training course. It assesses core Mule
knowledge and development skills, without requiring significant real hands-on experience. In order to
pass the exam, you need to have a strong programming background and be able to apply the concepts
listed in the exam topics (the Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) included in this document. Note, that
the exam questions do not necessarily map exactly to the course content; you will need to apply the
knowledge acquired in the course.

Preparation recommendations
The best preparation for the exam is to attend the Anypoint Platform Essentials training course. Data
shows that people who take the course usually pass the exam and people who do not take the course
are unlikely to pass unless they have months of hands-on Mule experience. If you do not take the
course, be sure to review the exam topics (the Anypoint Platform Essentials outline) included in this
document and make sure that you have experience with all the topics. For the latest Mule product
documentation, go to http://www.mulesoft.org/documentation.

Required experience
There is no official requirement for the amount of Anypoint Platform experience you need to pass the
exam. If you attend the Anypoint Platform Essentials course and have the appropriate programming
background, you should be able to pass the exam at the end of class without additional study or
experience. If you do not attend the course, you need to obtain the equivalent knowledge and
experience.

Intended audience
The target audience for the Anypoint Platform Essentials course and the exam are people that have:

• Experience with Java (preferred) or another object-oriented language.

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• A basic understanding of data formats such as XML, CSV, and JSON.
• A basic understanding of typical integration technologies such as HTTP, JMS, JDBC, REST, and
SOAP.

This typically maps to roles including:

• Program Managers
• Developers (various languages)
• System Integrators
• Project Managers
• Business Architects
• Solution Consultants
• Technical Architects

Exam cost
If you do not take the Anypoint Platform Essentials course, the exam fee is $100 USD per person. If
you take the Anypoint Platform Essentials course, the exam is free; it is bundled with the course. You
will receive a voucher at the end of class to take the exam. Other purchase bundles may also be
available that include this exam; to check, see http://training.mulesoft.com/catalog.

Exam registration
The exam is administered via the Webassessor testing platform. To register for the exam, go to
https://www.webassessor.com/home.do?page=PUBLIC&branding=MULESOFT&tabs=1, create a user
profile, log in, select Register for an Exam, and select the Associate Mule Developer exam. On the
payment screen, you will have the option of paying by credit card and/or entering a voucher code.

Exam format
Format: Multiple-choice, open-book, unproctored
Number of questions: ~40
Duration: Typically around 30-60 minutes, but up to 90 minutes are permitted
Language: English
Delivery method: Available online anywhere via the Webassessor testing platform
Availability: On demand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, either immediately upon registration
or later at your convenience

Exam pass requirement

A score of 75% or higher is required to pass the Associate Mule Developer exam.

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Certification validity
The Associate Mule Developer accreditation expires two years from the date of passing.

Exam topics (Anypoint Platform Essentials outline)

The topics covered in the Associate Mule Developer exam correspond to the topics covered in the
Anypoint Platform Essentials course. The outline for the course is included below.

Module 1: Introducing the Anypoint Platform

• Learning what Anypoint Platform is and the problems it can help you solve
• Getting familiar with the components of the Anypoint Platform

Module 2: Building Integration Applications with Anypoint Studio

• Understanding Mule applications, flows, messages, and message processors
• Creating flows graphically using connectors, transformers, components, scopes, and flow control
elements
• Building, running, testing, and debugging Mule applications
• Reading and writing message properties
• Writing expressions with Mule Expression Language (MEL)
• Creating variables

Module 3: Consuming Web Services

• Understanding RESTful and SOAP web services
• Learning about what RAML is and how it can be used
• Consuming RESTful web services with and without RAML definitions
• Consuming SOAP web services

Module 4: Connecting to Additional Resources

• Connecting to files, databases, and JMS queues
• Connecting to SaaS applications
• Discovering and installing connectors not bundled with Anypoint Studio

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Module 5: Transforming Data
• Getting familiar with the different types of transformers
• Transforming objects to and/from XML and JSON
• Using Jackson annotations for more complicate JSON to object mappings
• Using JAXB annotations for more complicated XML to object mappings
• Streamlining complex data transformations with DataSense and the DataMapper
• Creating custom transformers with Java

Module 6: Refactoring Mule Applications

• Separating applications into multiple configuration files
• Encapsulating global elements in a separate configuration file
• Creating and running multiple applications
• Creating and referencing flows and subflows
• Understanding variable persistence through subflows and flows and across transport barriers

Module 7: Controlling Message Flow

• Understanding and creating synchronous and asynchronous flows
• Multicasting a message
• Routing message based on conditions
• Filtering messages

Module 8: Handling Errors

• Handling messaging exceptions in flows
• Creating and using global exception handlers
• Specifying a global default exception strategy

Module 9: Processing Records

• Processing items in a collection individually
• Understanding what batch jobs are and when to use them
• Creating batch jobs to process items in a CSV file or a database
• Restricting record processing to new records

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Module 10: Building RESTful Web Services with Anypoint Platform for APIs
• Understanding the benefits of RESTful APIs and web services
• Using the API Designer to define APIs with RAML
• Implementing a RAML file as a RESTful web service with Anypoint Studio and APIkit

Module 11: Deploying Applications

• Understanding the options for deploying applications
• Adding application properties
• Deploying and running applications on CloudHub
• Deploying and running applications on Mule ESB