The pain of studying for certifications

By Tony Hunt
The pain of studying for certifications

People don’t know what to study, how to study, or whether they’re ready — and they waste enormous time guessing.

That’s the universal pain of certs.

Every certification candidate, regardless of background, experiences some version of:

“Am I studying the right things?”

“Why am I getting questions wrong?”

“What am I missing?”

“How close am I to passing?”

“How do I know when I’m ready?”

“Why does this feel so random?”

Traditional tools don’t answer these questions. CertifyWithAI does.

That’s the real value.

🔥 The pain is real, but it’s not the same for everyone

Here’s how different user types experience it.

1. The first‑time certification taker

Pain:Overwhelmed

Doesn’t know where to start

Doesn’t know what matters

Doesn’t want to fail

CertifyWithAI solves:

“What should I study first?”

“What should I ignore?”

“How long will this take?”

“Am I ready yet?”

2. The person who failed before

Pain:Shame

Confusion

Fear of failing again

Doesn’t know what went wrong

CertifyWithAI solves:

“Here’s exactly why you failed.”

“Here’s the domain you’re weak in.”

“Here’s how to fix it.”

“Here’s your readiness score.”

This is one of your strongest segments.

3. The busy professional

Pain:No time

Can’t waste hours

Needs efficiency

Wants a clear plan

CertifyWithAI solves:

“Only study what you don’t know.”

“Stop wasting time on mastered topics.”

“Get a personalized plan.”

“10 minutes → clarity.”

This is your highest willingness‑to‑pay segment.

4. The career‑changer

Pain:Imposter syndrome

Doesn’t know if they’re “good enough”

Needs confidence

CertifyWithAI solves:

“Here’s where you stand.”

“Here’s your path to readiness.”

“Here’s your timeline.”

5. The over‑studier

Pain:Studies too much

Doesn’t know when to stop

Burns out

CertifyWithAI solves:

“You’re ready.”

“Stop studying.”

“Book the exam.”

This is a surprisingly large group.

================

CertifyWithAI solves a pain that users FEEL but cannot articulate. They don’t say:

“I need adaptive weak‑area targeting.”

They say:

“I don’t know what I don’t know.”

They don’t say:

“I need exam‑pattern simulation.”

They say:

“I don’t know if I’m ready.”

They don’t say:

“I need a personalized study plan.”

They say:

“I don’t want to waste time.”

"Our job is to speak to the felt pain, not the technical mechanism and provide the best possible innovations to take the pain away." - Tony Hunt - Founder CertifyWithAI