- A OG0-091 is the TOGAF 9 Part 1 exam: 40 questions, 60 minutes, closed book, passing at 24/40.
- ADM Phases is the single largest domain, worth 22.5% (9 of 40 questions).
- Passing earns TOGAF 9 Foundation, which never expires and needs no renewal.
- The exam costs $375 as a booking fee or $400 as a retail voucher for 2026.
What Is a OG0-091, Exactly?
"OG0-091" is the exam code The Open Group assigns to the TOGAF 9 Part 1 Examination, more commonly known by its marketing name, TOGAF 9 Foundation. When people ask "what is a OG0-091," they're really asking about a specific, standardized knowledge test: 40 multiple-choice questions, delivered in 60 minutes, administered under closed-book, supervised conditions at Pearson VUE test centers or through OnVUE remote proctoring. It is not a course, a badge, or a vague concept - it is a discrete exam with a fixed passing threshold of 60%, or 24 correct answers out of 40.
The exam is built entirely around one document: the TOGAF 9 Standard, Version 9.2. Every question traces back to that body of knowledge, which means the OG0-091 is a test of comprehension and terminology rather than judgment calls or scenario-based reasoning. If you want a full walkthrough of how those questions are constructed, the OG0-091 Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt breaks down question phrasing patterns in detail.
What the Exam Actually Tests
Unlike certifications that test hands-on skills, the OG0-091 tests whether you can recognize, define, and correctly apply TOGAF terminology and structure. Every question is a "simple" multiple-choice item - meaning one correct answer among distractors, with no complex scenario weighting or multi-part logic. That format sounds easy on paper, but the difficulty comes from how densely packed the TOGAF 9 Standard is with overlapping terms: Architecture Building Blocks versus Solution Building Blocks, the Architecture Continuum versus the Solutions Continuum, and similarly named deliverables that show up in different ADM phases.
Candidates who underestimate this precision requirement often struggle more than expected. If you're unsure how the exam's difficulty compares to other IT certifications, the How Hard Is the OG0-091 Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 article walks through exactly where people lose points.
Key Takeaway
The OG0-091 rewards precise recall of terminology and phase sequencing over general architecture experience - memorization strategy matters as much as conceptual understanding.
The 11 Domains Behind the Question Bank
The Open Group organizes the OG0-091 blueprint into 11 weighted domains. Understanding these weights is the single most useful thing you can do before opening a study guide, because it tells you exactly where your study hours should go. For a domain-by-domain walkthrough, see the OG0-091 Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 11 Content Areas.
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Basic Concepts | 7.5% |
| Core Concepts | 7.5% |
| Introduction to the ADM | 7.5% |
| The Enterprise Continuum and Tools | 10% |
| ADM Phases | 22.5% |
| ADM Guidelines and Techniques | 15% |
| Architecture Governance | 10% |
| Architecture Views, Viewpoints, and Stakeholders | 5% |
| Building Blocks | 5% |
| ADM Deliverables | 5% |
| TOGAF Reference Models | 5% |
ADM Phases (22.5% - 9 of 40 questions)
This is by far the heaviest domain on the OG0-091, so mastering it changes your overall score more than any other single decision. Candidates must know each phase of the Architecture Development Method by name, purpose, and sequence, from the Preliminary Phase through Phase H and the Requirements Management thread.
- Memorize the objectives of Phases A through H in order
- Understand how Requirements Management interacts with every phase
- Know which deliverables originate in which phase
Three other domains combine for another sizable chunk of the exam: ADM Guidelines and Techniques (15%), The Enterprise Continuum and Tools (10%), and Architecture Governance (10%). Together with ADM Phases, these four domains account for over half the exam. A dedicated breakdown of the earliest domains - Basic Concepts, Core Concepts, and Introduction to the ADM - is available in the OG0-091 Domain 1: Basic Concepts (7.5%) - Complete Study Guide 2026, OG0-091 Domain 2: Core Concepts (7.5%) - Complete Study Guide 2026, and OG0-091 Domain 3: Introduction to the ADM (7.5%) - Complete Study Guide 2026 guides.
The Enterprise Continuum and Tools (10%)
This domain trips up candidates who confuse it with Building Blocks. It covers how architectures and solutions are classified and reused across an organization, including the relationship between the Architecture Repository and the Enterprise Continuum itself.
- Distinguish the Architecture Continuum from the Solutions Continuum
- Know the structure of the Architecture Repository
- Understand the role of reference models within the continuum
For a deeper look specifically at this domain, the OG0-091 Domain 4: The Enterprise Continuum and Tools (10%) - Complete Study Guide 2026 guide covers the reused terminology in detail.
Format, Fees, and Registration Mechanics
The logistics of the OG0-091 are straightforward but worth confirming before you book. The exam is delivered exclusively through Pearson VUE, either at a physical test center or via OnVUE remote proctoring from home or office. There are no prerequisites - you can register and sit the exam without holding any prior certification or completing a mandatory course, which is unusual compared to many enterprise-level credentials.
For 2026, pricing works one of two ways: a $375 exam booking fee, or a $400 retail voucher fee if purchased separately from a training bundle. A full cost comparison, including how bundled training packages affect the total price, is available in the OG0-091 Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown article.
Who Earns a OG0-091 and Why
The OG0-091 is most commonly pursued by IT professionals moving into enterprise architecture roles, business analysts working alongside architecture teams, consultants at firms that standardize on TOGAF, and government or large-enterprise employees where TOGAF is a mandated framework for architecture governance. It's frequently a stepping stone rather than an end goal - many candidates sit it specifically because it's a required checkpoint before attempting TOGAF 9 Part 2 content, since a Foundation pass carries partial credit toward the full TOGAF 9 Certified designation.
Employers hiring for architecture-adjacent roles often list TOGAF Foundation as a preferred or required qualification in job postings. To see what kinds of roles actually reference the OG0-091 by name, check the OG0-091 Jobs page, and for a data-informed look at how the credential correlates with compensation, see the OG0-091 Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis.
What the Credential Gives You After Passing
Passing the OG0-091 immediately earns you the TOGAF 9 Foundation credential. Two details make this different from many IT certifications: first, it does not expire and carries no renewal or continuing-education requirement - once earned, it stays on your résumé indefinitely. Second, it isn't just a standalone badge; it functions as the first half of a two-part certification path, giving you partial credit toward the more advanced TOGAF 9 Certified designation if you later sit the Part 2 exam.
Whether that combination is worth the time and fee investment depends on your career path and current role - the Is the OG0-091 Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 article examines that question in more depth. If you're weighing pass likelihood before committing to a registration date, the OG0-091 Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows page is a useful companion read, and general background on the certification structure is available on the OG0-091 Certification page.
Key Takeaway
TOGAF 9 Foundation from the OG0-091 never expires - it's one of the few IT credentials that doesn't require periodic renewal fees or continuing education credits.
Preparing Around the OG0-091's Actual Weight Distribution
Because the domain weights are published and fixed, your study plan should mirror them rather than treating all 11 domains equally. A candidate who spends equal time on TOGAF Reference Models (5%) and ADM Phases (22.5%) is misallocating effort relative to how the exam is actually scored.
Foundational Terminology
- Cover Basic Concepts, Core Concepts, and Introduction to the ADM (22.5% combined)
- Build a glossary of TOGAF-specific terms as you go
ADM Phases and Guidelines
- Drill Phases A through H in strict sequence - this domain alone is 22.5%
- Pair it with ADM Guidelines and Techniques (15%) since they overlap conceptually
Governance, Continuum, and Smaller Domains
- Study Architecture Governance and The Enterprise Continuum and Tools (10% each)
- Finish with Building Blocks, Deliverables, Reference Models, and Views/Viewpoints (5% each)
Practice and Timing
- Run full 40-question, 60-minute practice tests under exam conditions
- Review missed questions by domain to spot remaining weak points
Running full-length timed practice on the main practice test platform before your registration date is one of the most reliable ways to confirm you're actually ready, since it replicates the exact 40-question, 60-minute pressure you'll face at the test center. It's also worth cycling through additional practice sets after each study week to reinforce whichever domain you just covered.
If you're still choosing between self-study and a formal course, the OG0-091 Training page compares options, and broader definitional questions about the exam and credential are covered in What Is OG0-091?, OG0-091 Meaning, What Does OG0-091 Stand For?, What Does OG0-091 Mean?, and What Is OG0-091 Certification?.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. OG0-091 is the exam code; TOGAF 9 Foundation is the credential you earn by passing it. They refer to the same certification event.
No. The Open Group sets no prerequisites for the OG0-091, so any candidate can register and take the exam directly.
The exam has 40 simple multiple-choice questions to be completed in 60 minutes, with a passing score of 60%, or 24 correct answers.
ADM Phases, which makes up 22.5% of the exam - 9 of the 40 questions - making it the single highest-weighted domain by a wide margin.
No. TOGAF 9 Foundation does not expire and has no renewal or continuing-education requirement once you earn it.