I started with the official Salesforce credential page to check the exam weighting. Education Cloud Configuration (22%) and Solution Design (19%) stood out as the topics that would decide the outcome, together covering over 40% of the exam.
The official study guide helped with terminology, but I struggled connecting it to real exam questions. A study group mentioned ITExamsTopics, and once the free preview matched the actual exam pattern, I upgraded. Domain Expertise clicked once I thought in real student lifecycle scenarios. Solution Design took the most practice. Analytics, with the lowest weight, I left for last.
On exam day nothing felt unfamiliar, and I passed on my first attempt. If you're prepping for ED-Con-101, start with the official Salesforce blueprint, then check ITExamsTopics for practice that mirrors the exam.