7 Days Before Salesforce Certified Platform User Experience Designer — What You Should Study
With only one week left until your Salesforce Certified Platform User Experience Designer (Plat-UX-101) exam, the pressure is on. This certification is unique—it blends core UX methodology with deep platform knowledge . You won't just be tested on aesthetics; you'll need to know how to apply human-centered design principles using Salesforce's declarative tools and the Lightning Design System .
To conquer this in your final week, you need a high-yield strategy. Here is your day-by-day study plan to ensure you walk into the test center with confidence.
Days 7-6: Master the Heavy Hitters (Declarative Design & SLDS)
Start your week by tackling the two largest sections of the exam, which together account for 48% of your score .
Declarative Design (27%): This is the "Salesforce-specific" UX section. Focus on how core objects (like Opportunities and Cases) impact user flow. Revisit Compact Layouts, Path, and List Views—these are critical for presenting information hierarchy . Practice building a simple Lightning App Page to understand how to guide users through a business process without code.
SLDS (21%): You must understand the Salesforce Lightning Design System. The exam focuses on why SLDS exists and how to use component blueprints to ensure consistency with the Lightning Experience look and feel . Review design tokens and accessibility guidelines within SLDS.
Days 5-4: Get Inside the User's Head (Discovery & UX Fundamentals)
Now, shift to the core UX mindset.
Discovery (13%): This section tests how you gather requirements. Review different research methodologies . Know when to conduct a heuristic analysis versus a root cause analysis. Be familiar with common Salesforce personas and how their goals shape the design.
UX Fundamentals (16%): Focus on mobile UX design fundamentals and visual design principles like eye path tracking and contrast . Use Trailhead flashcards to drill these terms until they are second nature .
Days 3-2: The "Why" Behind the Design (Human-Centered Design & Testing)
These sections focus on empathy and iteration.
Human-Centered Design (12%): Expect scenario-based questions here . Understand the difference between simply building a feature and practicing inclusive design. Focus on practices like observing user behavior and creating journey maps to build empathy .
Testing (11%): Know your validation methods. Be able to distinguish between a tree test, A/B testing, and usability benchmarking . Understand when to use a focus group versus a one-on-one usability test.
The Final Day: Simulate the Real Thing
With 24 hours to go, stop reading and start testing.
Take a Full Practice Exam: The real test has 60 questions in 105 minutes with a passing score of 65% . Simulate this environment exactly.
Review the "Best Fit": In scenario questions, two answers often seem right . When reviewing your misses, ask yourself: Which option best serves the user while aligning with Salesforce best practices? This mindset is the key to passing .
Your Action Plan: Focus your remaining energy on the high-weight sections (Declarative Design and SLDS) and trust your UX instincts for the rest. You are ready for this. Good luck!