Time Line
This time around I had an idea of how long it would to take to pass the ACE (Google Cloud Associate Engineer) cert. I gave myself 5 weeks...It took a little longer than that - more like 6 or 7 weeks. That is a long time in my opinion but that is ok. I knew there would be set backs, and times where I gave myself permission to have the night off. I don't recommend getting too loose with the latter, because then you may give yourself permission to to take a week off from studying and that is not helpful in the end. I did my best to keep a healthy balance to avoid burning out.
Constraints
I have a rigid work schedule Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm in office. Also in my schedule are 4-5 non-negotiable days of physical activity. Those days vary from rock climbing (outside or gym), working out (cardio and/or calisthenics) and skateboarding.
Ex: Day In the Life
1 hour of studying was the realistic approach for me. Work all day then commute home. Once I get home I would do some calisthenics then go for a short run, I planned ahead so I could prep or heat up a dinner quickly - this was crucial. After eating I would hunker down for an hour and study.
Study
I used a physical copy of the Sybex Study Guide for the ACE. A good cadence for me is one chapter per night, including completing the 20 question chapter test. This allowed me to really take my time making sure I understand and soaked in the chapter's contents. I always made sure to do my best to get 80% or better on those chapter tests. I averaged 90% - 100%. That builds up confidence and fortifies the information for the final exam.
This also comes with access to some associated online tools like flash, cards, the chapter tests, and some practice exams. I found this very useful. One chapter per night also gave me the opportunity to work on labs that reinforce the learning or time for projects.