How we research and verify
This page sets out, in detail, how Exam Atlas sources, writes, verifies and maintains its exam information. It complements our about and editorial policy with the specifics of our process. Our aim is simple: every page should be more accurate and more useful than piecing the same facts together yourself — and always point you to the official source for anything that matters.
Where our facts come from
We are official-source-first. For every exam, the authoritative facts — structure, fees, eligibility, validity and syllabus — come from the body that owns the certification, and we link that source on the page. We organise and explain that information; we do not restate marketing copy as fact.
The bodies we draw on include, by field:
- IT, cloud & cybersecurity: ISC2, ISACA, CompTIA, AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, EC-Council, Cisco.
- Project management: PMI, AXELOS/PeopleCert, Scrum.org.
- Finance & accounting: CFA Institute, AICPA, ACCA, IMA.
Where a provider does not publish a particular detail, we say it is not specified rather than guess or infer a number.
How we verify, and what "verified" means
Each page shows a verified date. That is the date we last checked the page against the official sources it cites — not the date it was first written. Exam details change, so we re-check pages over time and prioritise the things that change most often, such as fees and exam dates. When you see a verified date, treat it as "accurate to the official source as of this date", and always confirm time-sensitive details with the provider before you register.
How we write practice questions
Where we provide practice questions, they are original concept and scenario questions written from public exam objectives — the same published domains and learning outcomes any candidate can read. They are a study aid, clearly labelled as practice, not a copy of any real test.
- We never use exam dumps, leaked questions, or providers' real or "actual" exam questions — doing so is prohibited and a copyright violation.
- Each question carries an explanation, including why the other options are wrong, plus a domain tag and a difficulty level.
- An automated quality check runs over every question set: it verifies the answer is valid, the fields are present, and that no prohibited "dump" language appears.
The automated checks we run before publishing
Before any page is published, an automated validation step must pass. It blocks a page if it is missing an official source link, a disclaimer, or an AI-content notice, and it blocks prohibited language such as "exam dump" or claims of "real exam questions". This is a backstop on top of human review, so a page that slips a required element simply cannot ship.
How we use AI, with human review
We use AI assistance to draft content efficiently across many exams, always working from official objectives and public information. AI drafts are never published unchecked. Our editorial team reviews each draft against the official source, every page carries a visible AI-content notice, and our full approach is in the AI content policy. The standard is that content must be accurate, original and genuinely useful regardless of how it was drafted, and we do not mass-publish thin pages to chase volume.
Independence
We are not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any exam provider. Where we run advertising or affiliate links to study resources, those relationships never influence our comparisons, ratings or "is it worth it" verdicts, and affiliate links are labelled. Exam and certification names belong to their owners and are used descriptively.
Limits and corrections
Our pages are study guidance and decision support, not professional advice. For high-stakes medical, legal and financial certifications we keep to factual overviews and pathways. If you find anything out of date or inaccurate, please tell us through the contact page with the page URL; we take corrections seriously and update promptly. The official provider is always the final authority.
Anonymous, but accountable
Content is produced by the The Exam Atlas Editorial Team rather than a single named individual claiming expertise across every field. We think accountability comes from consistent standards, transparent sourcing, visible verified dates, automated checks and an open corrections process — not from a personal brand. Everything we publish links you to the authoritative source so you can verify it yourself.