CKA Exam Updates (v1.34 - Feb 2025)

As of February 18, 2025, the CKA exam has evolved. The new curriculum reflects the modern platform stack: less manual wire-tying, more extensive automation (Helm) and standard interfaces (Gateway API).

Exam Date

If you sit for the exam on or after Feb 18, you will be tested on these new domains.

1. The Big Shift: Troubleshooting (30%)

Troubleshooting is now the single largest domain. It is no longer enough to just "build" things. You must be able to fix broken:

• Nodes (Kubelet, Container Runtime)
• Networking (Services, CNI)
• Components (CoreDNS failures, Etcd latency)

2. New Competencies Added

Gateway API (Traffic Management)

The Ingress object is slowly being superseded by the Gateway API.

• Why? Ingress was too simple. Gateway API allows splitting routing logic (HTTPRoute) from listener logic (Gateway).
• Study Task: Learn to create a GatewayClass, Gateway, and HTTPRoute.

Helm & Kustomize

Previously, CKA was pure kubectl apply -f file.yaml.

• Now, you must show you can install components using Helm.
• You must understand Kustomize patches (overlays) to modify manifests without editing the original file.

Custom Resources (CRDs) & Operators

Kubernetes is a framework for frameworks.

• You don't need to write Go code, but you do need to know how to:
  1. Install a CRD.
  2. Create a Custom Object instance.
  3. Debug why an Operator isn't picking up your object.

3. Domain Weightage Breakdown

Domain	Weight	Focus
Troubleshooting	30%	Logs, Events, Networking, Broken Nodes
Architecture & Install	25%	Kubeadm, RBAC, Upgrades, Helm
Networking	20%	Gateway API, Ingress, ClusterIP, CNI
Workloads	15%	Deployments, Auto-scaling, ConfigMaps
Storage	10%	PV/PVC, StorageClasses

Strategy

Spend 50% of your study time breaking clusters and fixing them. The 30% weight on Troubleshooting + 20% on Networking means half the exam depends on your ability to debug connections.