About this Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation study guide
This page is your Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation (exam code CTA Evaluation) study guide. The certification validates skills that employers look for in Salesforce roles—whether you're an administrator, consultant, developer, or architect. It is designed for architects and solution designers who want to prove their knowledge with an industry-recognized credential.
Here you'll find section-wise exam weightage so you know exactly which topics carry the most questions, exam tips and prerequisites, a focused study plan, and sample practice questions with detailed explanations. All content on this page is original and unique—written specifically for this certification to help with both your preparation and search engine indexing. Use this page to align your study with the official outline and to gauge when you're ready to sit the exam. Many candidates use section weightage to prioritize high-value topics and practice questions to build exam-day confidence.
Passing this certification can support career progression, higher earning potential, and recognition in the Salesforce ecosystem. Salesforce exams are updated periodically, so we keep our materials aligned with current objectives.
Last reviewed: January 2025. Salesforce exam outlines may change; always check the official exam guide on Trailhead before booking.
Release compatible: Winter '26 — Study materials and objectives are aligned with the Winter '26 release (compared to Summer '25).
What's new in Winter '26:
- Agentforce and AI: New Agentforce for Service (IT Service), Agentic Commerce, and Agentforce Grid for low-code AI workflows—expect more AI-related objectives on Admin and Consultant exams.
- Data Cloud: Clean Rooms for privacy-safe data collaboration and zero-copy analytics; Data Cloud objectives may include new collaboration and governance topics.
- Automation & Platform: Enhanced automation capabilities and platform updates; Flow, Process Builder, and integration topics remain core—check the official outline for weightage changes.
- Tableau & Analytics: Tableau Next Concierge in Slack and conversational analytics; Tableau certs may reference new Slack and natural-language features.
- Security & Access: Continued focus on identity, access management, and secure data handling; relevant for Administrator and Architect tracks.
Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation (CTA Evaluation) Study Guide
The Architect Evaluation is the first step toward CTA. It assesses your ability to design secure, scalable, integrated solutions through scenario-based and multiple-choice questions. Passing this qualifies you for the Architect Review Board.
Exam Weightage by Section
Exam Topics
Exam Tips
- 1Scenario Analysis is 40%—practice reading complex scenarios and identifying requirements.
- 2Solution Design is 35%—know how to design secure, scalable, integrated solutions.
- 3Time management is critical—you have limited time for scenario analysis and design.
- 4Review past CTA evaluation scenarios and practice under time pressure.
Prerequisites
- •Application Architect
- •System Architect
- •Years of complex implementation experience
Focus Areas
- •Scenario Analysis
- •Solution Design
- •Technical Knowledge
Study Strategy
Practice analyzing scenarios quickly. Design solutions under time pressure. Review CTA prep materials and past scenario examples.
Sample Practice Questions
Practice scenario-style thinking and technical architecture concepts for the Architect Evaluation.
What does the CTA Architect Evaluation primarily assess?
Which certifications are typically required before taking the Architect Evaluation?
What is a key deliverable of the Architect Evaluation?
Ready for the Review Board?
After passing the Architect Evaluation, prepare for the Architect Review Board exam with our materials.
CTA Review BoardContact UsFrequently Asked Questions
- What is covered on the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation (CTA Evaluation) exam?
- This page shows the section-wise exam weightage so you know exactly which topics carry the most weight. Use the exam topics and practice questions above to align your study with the official outline.
- What is Technical Architect Evaluation?
- Technical Architect Evaluation is the first step to becoming a CTA. It's a written exam with scenario-based questions testing your ability to design secure, scalable solutions.
- What certifications do I need before Technical Architect Evaluation?
- You need Application Architect and System Architect. The Evaluation tests your ability to design solutions for complex scenarios under time pressure.
- How do I prepare for the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation (CTA Evaluation) certification?
- Use the exam tips, prerequisites, and study strategy on this page. Focus first on the highest-weighted sections, then take the sample practice questions. Schedule the exam when you consistently score well on practice tests.
- Where can I find the official exam outline for Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation (CTA Evaluation)?
- Salesforce publishes exam guides and outlines on Trailhead (trailhead.salesforce.com). This page's section weightage and topics are aligned with those outlines to help you prepare.