Updated for Summer '26
New to this track? Our Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Evaluation exam prep is the required first step. See our certification path to understand where this certification fits. The Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board exam weights Presentation most heavily (35%) — see the full breakdown, study tips, and practice questions below. Ready to book? Read our exam tips and study plan.
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Updated for Summer '26
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Who is the Technical Architect Review Board exam for?
- Hands-on practitioners: You work with Salesforce architecture features and want to prove you can apply them in realistic implementation scenarios.
- Solution designers: You support Salesforce projects where Scenario Analysis, Solution Design, and Presentation & Communication decisions affect the final design.
- Career builders: You want a focused credential that strengthens your Salesforce resume and helps position you for architect roles.
Exam Fees & Registration
Exam Fee
$4,500
One-time registration fee
Retake Fee
$2,250
If you need to retake the exam
Comparing certs? View all Salesforce exam fees in one place →
Certification Validity
Your Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board certification is valid for 3 years from the date you pass the exam. You'll need to maintain your certification through continuing education or retake the exam.
How to Register
Register for the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) exam through the official Salesforce certification portal.
Register for ExamExam data verification: questions, duration, passing score, fees, and section coverage were checked against official source references on .
Official sources: Salesforce exam pricing·Independent prep resource; no braindumps or leaked exam questions.
Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board – Complete Summer '26 Guide
The Architect Review Board is the final step to become a CTA. You receive a scenario, design a solution, and present and defend it before a board of Certified Technical Architects. Success here earns the Certified Technical Architect credential.
Required Prerequisite
You must complete this certification before attempting this one.
Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board Exam Weightage by Section
Exam Topics
Exam Tips
- 1Presentation and Design Defense are 70%—practice explaining and defending your designs.
- 2Know your solution inside and out—you will be asked "why did you choose X?"
- 3Practice handling tough questions and alternative approaches.
- 4Time your presentation—you have limited time to present and defend.
Prerequisites
- •Passed Technical Architect Evaluation
- •Strong communication skills
Focus Areas
- •Presentation
- •Design Defense
- •Board Q&A
Study Strategy
Practice presenting your designs to peers.
Anticipate questions and prepare answers.
Review CTA review board prep materials and practice sessions.
Exam Format and First-Attempt Readiness
The Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board exam has Board scenario questions in Board session, passing score Board decision. Most Salesforce exams test scenario-based decisions — focus on when to use each feature, not just terms.
- Study Presentation and Design Defense first — together they carry 70% of the exam.
- Do timed question sets. Build pacing and confidence.
- Review why wrong answers are wrong. It improves scenario reasoning.
- Book the exam once your mock scores are steady above Board decision.
Is the Technical Architect Review Board Exam Hard?
Is the Technical Architect Review Board Exam Hard?
The Technical Architect Review Board exam is very challenging. It rewards practical Salesforce experience because many questions ask you to choose the best configuration, design, or troubleshooting approach rather than recall isolated definitions.
- Review Board format — prepare to present, defend, and adjust your architecture under evaluator questioning.
- Board decision passing score — build a margin above the minimum before booking.
- Scenario-based choices — expect questions that test when to use Scenario Analysis, Solution Design, or Presentation & Communication.
- Hands-on context matters — candidates who have configured or supported Salesforce architecture in a real org are better prepared than candidates who only memorize notes.
Pass Rate Guidance
Aim for 75%+ on timed practice sets before booking. If your score is below that, review the highest-weight topics first and retake questions until you can explain why each wrong option is wrong.
Technical Architect Review Board Exam Format Explained
Technical Architect Review Board Exam Format Explained
The Technical Architect Review Board is a live architecture defense. Use the format below to plan presentation practice, trade-off review, and readiness checks.
Total Questions
Board scenario scored questions
Time Limit
Board session
Passing Score
Board decision
Question Type
Multiple-choice & multiple-select
How Many Questions Are Scenario-Based?
A meaningful share of questions are scenario-based. The common pattern is a business requirement followed by several plausible Salesforce options; your job is to identify the safest, most maintainable choice for Salesforce architecture.
Best Way to Pass on Your First Attempt
- Start with the official outline: Map each exam objective to your notes, Trailhead practice, and weak areas before taking full mocks.
- Prioritize high-impact topics: Spend extra time on Scenario Analysis, Solution Design, and Presentation & Communication because these usually drive the hardest scenario questions.
- Practice under time pressure: Use timed question sets so you learn when to move on and return to marked questions later.
- Review explanations deeply: Do not just memorize the right option; write down why the other options are less appropriate for the scenario.
CTA Review Board: Key Concepts for Preparation
Review Board Format & Logistics
The Salesforce CTA Review Board is a 2-hour oral examination conducted virtually (via Zoom) before a panel of 3–4 currently active Salesforce CTAs who serve as evaluators. Candidates receive the scenario document 30 minutes before the session starts — use this time to read carefully, identify all requirements (functional and non-functional), spot constraints, and outline a response structure. The session consists of a ~30-minute presentation (with shared screen for diagrams) followed by ~60–90 minutes of Q&A and probing challenges. A whiteboard tool (or pre-prepared diagrams) is expected. Candidates are scored Pass or Fail with detailed feedback provided regardless of outcome.
Preparing Architecture Diagrams
Effective CTA presentations use clear, well-labeled diagrams: Context Diagram (systems involved and their relationships), Integration Architecture Diagram (data flows, protocols, sync/async), Data Model Diagram (key objects, relationships, volumes), Security Architecture Diagram (identity, encryption, sharing), and Deployment Diagram (orgs, sandboxes, CI/CD). Diagrams must be legible when screen-shared — use color coding by system type (Salesforce = blue, external = gray, integration layer = orange). Each diagram should have a legend. Practice presenting each diagram in under 90 seconds with a clear narrative: "This shows... The key decision here is... The trade-off is...". Avoid cluttered diagrams that require extensive explanation.
Common Failure Areas & How to Avoid Them
Statistical analysis of failed Review Board attempts reveals recurring gaps: (1) Incomplete solution — not addressing all scenario requirements; use a checklist before presenting. (2) Lack of specificity — saying "we will use Salesforce's security model" without specifying OWD, role hierarchy, sharing rules, or Shield. (3) Ignoring non-functional requirements — scalability, performance, availability, compliance. (4) No integration error handling — every integration must address what happens when it fails. (5) Defensive responses to challenges — treat every challenge as a "help me understand" question, not an attack. (6) Time management — running over on presentation leaves no time for Q&A, which is where most probing happens. Practice with a timer religiously.
Responding to Board Challenges
When a Board member challenges your design, use the STAR-A framework: Situation (restate the challenge to show you understood), Think (pause visibly — evaluators want to see you think, not react), Answer (address the specific challenge with a specific answer), Rationale (explain the reasoning), Adapt (if the challenge reveals a genuine gap, update your design on the spot and explain the revision). Never say "I don't know" — say "My initial design assumed X; given your challenge, I would revise it to Y because..." The Board is not trying to trick you — they are stress-testing your design for production-level robustness. Candidates who engage thoughtfully with challenges often score higher than those whose initial designs were unchallenged.
Success Strategies & Preparation Plan
Successful CTA candidates typically follow a 3–6 month structured preparation plan: (1) CTA Bootcamp or coaching program with active CTAs. (2) Weekly mock Review Board sessions — at minimum 8–10 full mock sessions before attempting the real board. (3) Deep-dive study in weak areas: large data volumes, integration architecture, security, and multi-org strategy are the most commonly cited gaps. (4) Build a library of 5–10 practice scenarios (Salesforce provides some; community resources provide more) and practice presenting each. (5) Get comfortable diagramming under time pressure — set a timer for 20 minutes and draw a complete architecture diagram from a scenario. (6) Join the CTA Study Group in the Trailblazer Community for peer feedback and shared resources.
The CTA board is a structured design-and-defend exercise: you receive a complex scenario, prepare an architecture, present it, then defend your decisions under direct questioning from a panel of architects.
How to Pass the Salesforce Technical Architect Review Board Exam
The CTA Review Board is a live, oral examination where candidates present architecture solutions to a panel of senior Salesforce architects. Preparation requires practicing under realistic conditions — not just studying content.
The Review Board Format
The Review Board presents a complex business scenario. You have time to review it, then present your architecture to the panel and answer questions. Know the format deeply so logistics don't distract you on the day.
Architecture Presentation Structure
Open with a brief summary of your understanding of the requirements, present your high-level architecture diagram, walk through each component and key decisions, address risks, and close with a recommendation.
Handling Panel Questions
Panel questions probe your assumptions and test alternative approaches. If challenged, consider the question carefully, acknowledge valid points, and either defend your position with evidence or update your recommendation.
Deep Dive Readiness
Be prepared to go deep on any component of your solution: data model, integration pattern, security configuration, deployment approach. If you propose something, know the details.
Mock Board Practice Is Essential
The only way to prepare for the Review Board is to do it. Practice with mock panels, record yourself, and review your performance. Focus on confidence, clarity, and structured thinking under pressure.
Is the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) Exam Hard?
DifficultyChallenging; plan about 8-16 weeks of focused prep.
Book When ReadyScore 85%+ on three timed mocks before scheduling.
Use Practice, Not DumpsOriginal practice questions build skill without risking your credential.
Exam format: Board scenario questions, Board session, Board decision passing score.
Get the Full CTA Review Board Question Bank
Most candidates book the exam after scoring 75%+ on full mocks.
If you’re planning to test this quarter, aim to complete full mocks at least 10–14 days before your exam date.
Want to ensure you pass on your first try? Contact us for more information on our full 60-question mock exams and a personalized study plan. You can also reach out to km.krishnamohan25@gmail.com.
Request Mock Exams & Study PlanSalesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) Exam FAQs
- What is covered on the Salesforce Certified Technical Architect - Architect Review Board (CTA Review Board) 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 Review Board?
- Technical Architect Review Board is the final step to become a CTA. You present and defend a solution design before a board of Certified Technical Architects.
Next Architect Certifications
After this architect certification, progress toward CTA or other architect domains: