Answering yet another question on self-study and ITIL exams, one of the forum members in the LinkedIn group on ITIL & ITSM Certified Experts produced the following guidance to get you through your next ITIL exam.

===Quote===
I close my eyes, see a green field, summer with butterflies flying erratically around, a young boy with a butterfly net chasing these beautiful insects and catching them.

A few years later I see the same 'boy' with a different net, This net is for 'catching ITIL certificates' , and he approaches it in exactly the same way. Another specimen for the collection.

I agree that you can pass a multi-guess exam, such as all the ITIL exams with good exam technique and a modicum of subject knowledge. Here's how to pass a multichoice exam with a modicum of knowledge...

• Underline key words in both the question stem and the choices
• If the answer is not readily apparent, use the process of elimination. Cross out choices which are clearly false, then re-read the choices which remain "open" 
• Answer every question. If you have forgotten some material, you will probably be able to eliminate some choices, thereby increasing your odds of a correct guess 
• If two choices overlap or mean essentially the same thing, both are probably incorrect (unless there is a choice of all of the above or both B & C)
• Be alert for grammatical inconsistencies between the stem and the choices 
• Watch for absolutes such as all, none, always, never, only. Circle these words and realize that they usually indicate a false choice, unless you recall the lecturer emphasizing an absolute statement during lecture (sorry ! you would have to attend a course for that one !)
• Look for key words in the stem which you can relate to key words in the choice
• If there are "partner choices," usually the correct answer will be one of them. (Partner choices are opposites or have one or two words different.)
• Lookout for questions which may answer other questions.

Follow the above advice and you can probably answer a good few questions, without Mastering the topic.

Add a few key ITIL concepts such as if  assess is in the question the answer is likely to be Change Management, cause = problem management, accurate data/info =SACM, user = Service Desk etc.

That will probably get you a certificate

===End of quote===

In the ITIL & ITSM Best Practice group, another advise was: "Look for words like 'only', 'never', 'always',... This will indicate with a certain level of confidence that it might not be the best answer."

And finally, one of the ITIL trainers wrote a blog on it, full of tips.

But before you go after your butterfly, think! Do you have the right net? Should you take an ITIL v3 exam or wait for the ITIL 2011 exam? The text books were completely rewritten, so you probably can't use the one for the other. A sustainable alternative might be: get yourself a pair of binoculars and study the butterfly's behaviour, it's feeding pattern, it's ecosystem, and try to understand how the creature survives. You coud save yourself a bundle and get a great return...