GreatSQL Learning Center (https://learn.greatsql.cn) is now officially live. Its five core sections connect the entire process in one place: "take courses → practice exercises → do labs → take certification exams → receive certificates." This article organizes a complete usage guide in operational order, along with money-saving tips for earning coins during the campaign and getting half back after passing an exam.
I. Preparation: One Account for Everything
The Learning Center is connected to the main site through SSO, so there is no need to register again:
- Open https://greatsql.cn and register or log in to the community account.
- It is recommended to also complete "set avatar + email verification" to get 2 coins at once.
- In the top navigation bar of "GreatSQL Community," click "Learning Center." The page automatically redirects to https://learn.greatsql.cn and logs you in silently.
Note: Email verification is related to subsequent certificate issuance (after passing, the electronic certificate is sent to the registration email within five business days). It is recommended to complete it in the first step.
II. Overview of the Five Core Sections
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| 📚 My Courses | Video + PDF systematic learning, with a three-level outline of chapters and sections |
| ✍️ My Exams | GCA/GCP certification exams + mock exams, with instant scoring |
| 🏅 My Certifications | View/download anti-counterfeit electronic certificates, with online authenticity verification |
| 🧩 Practice Questions | Random question warm-up, no scoring, no database storage |
| 🖥️ Lab Environment | Browser-based online hands-on practice, including standalone and MGR four-node cluster |
III. Follow the Order: Complete the Learning Loop in Five Steps
Step 1: Watch Courses — My Courses
- Free courses can be studied directly; some paid courses are only open to enterprise users.
- Supports video playback and PDF material reading, and allows interaction/discussion with instructors and classmates.
- During the campaign: Each time you complete a course, you can receive a 5–30 coin reward (determined by course content and learning progress; awarded upon completion).
Step 2: Practice — Practice Questions
- A permanent entry in the "My Exams" dropdown menu; randomly draws single-choice, multiple-choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
- Pure experience, no scoring; refresh to get new questions. Suitable for low-pressure warm-up before an exam.
Step 3: Hands-On — Lab Environment
- Run SQL directly in a browser-based online terminal; no local setup required.
- Includes a standalone environment + an MGR four-node cluster environment, with multi-node tabs you can switch freely.
- The environment automatically restarts and resets every day. Important practice data is valid only for the day, so remember to record results in time.
Step 4: Mock Exam — My Exams
- Mock exams are free and do not consume coins. The process is exactly the same as the official exam (exam instructions → information collection → answering → submission → automatic scoring).
- Be sure to pass the mock exam first before taking the subsequent official GCA/GCP exam.
- Objective questions are scored immediately upon submission. On the score page, you can view the score and answer explanation for each question.
Step 5: Official Exam — GCA / GCP Certification Exam
- Some official exam subjects require coins (marked "Requires X coins" in the list).
- During the exam, screen-switching detection is enabled. For the GCP exam, anti-cheating detection is additionally enabled, requiring an exam environment with a camera and microphone prepared in advance.
- After passing, the electronic certificate carries an anti-counterfeit digital signature and can be verified on the "Certificate Verification" page; it is sent to the registration email within five business days.
IV. Certification System: Differences Between GCA and GCP
| Dimension | GCA (Certified Associate) | GCP (Certified Professional) |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Entry level for database associates | Advanced level for database professionals |
| Course modules | Introduction to GreatSQL, installation and deployment, usage, feature explanation (4 modules) | All GCA modules + storage engine, primary-replica replication, group replication, optimization improvements, security enhancement, SQL compatibility enhancement, backup and recovery (11 modules total) |
| Total exam score | 100 points | 100 points |
| Passing line | 60 points | 80% correct rate |
| Monthly exam limit | 2 times | 1 time |
| Prerequisite | None | Must first obtain GCA certification |
| Fee | Completely free | Completely free |
Note: The GCA and GCP dual-level certifications are completely free, with no fees charged. If you receive any payment request during the assessment process, please keep evidence and contact the GreatSQL Community assistant to report it.
V. Campaign Money-Saving Guide: Earn Coins by Learning Courses, Get Half Back After Passing
Benefit 1: Earn Coins by Learning Courses
During the campaign, each time you complete a course, you receive 5–30 coins. The more you learn, the more you earn. The coins you accumulate can be used to pay exam fees.
Benefit 2: Get Half Back After Passing
- Taking an exam deducts the corresponding coins from your account (mock exams are free and unaffected).
- After passing the exam, half of the deducted coins are returned immediately — equivalent to a "half-price" official certification exam.
- If you do not pass on the first attempt, you can review and take the exam again, and you still enjoy the "half back after passing" benefit.
Not Enough Coins? Coin-Earning Tips
Coins are fully connected with the main site's community points system. You can earn them with everyday actions:
| Action | Frequency | Coins |
|---|---|---|
| Daily login + check-in | Every day | 2 coins/day |
| Consecutive check-ins for 10 days | Every 10 days | +10 coins |
| Article comments / being commented on / participating in voting | 3 times each per day | Up to 12 coins/day |
| Publish blog posts / topics / replies | Unlimited | 2 / 2 / 1 coins |
| Set avatar + email verification | One-time | 2 coins |
| Post marked as featured | Unlimited | 5 coins |
Recommended order: one-time tasks (avatar + email verification) → daily login and check-in for a baseline → complete interactions → publish topics/blog posts when you have content. Based on low-threshold actions, you can steadily earn 14 coins per day, with an additional +10 for consecutive check-ins.
⚠️ Downloading attachments deducts 1 coin/time. Do not download unless necessary.
VI. Quick Answers to Common Questions
Q: Why don't I need to register again when entering the Learning Center? A: The main site account and the Learning Center are connected through SSO. After logging in to the main site, visiting the "Learning Center" automatically logs you in.
Q: What is the difference between the mock exam and the official exam? A: The process, question types, and scoring mechanism are exactly the same. The mock exam is free and does not consume coins, making it suitable for warm-up and assessment. The official exam is the basis for certification, and some subjects require coins (during the campaign, half is returned after passing).
Q: How are coins returned during the campaign? A: After taking an exam that deducts coins and passing it, the system automatically returns half. Completing course learning can earn a 5–30 coin reward.
Q: Can previously earned certificates still be displayed? A: Historical certification records have all been imported into the Learning Center. You can view and download the new electronic certificate image in "My Certifications." The certificate number and certification qualification remain unchanged.
VII. Next-Step Action Checklist
- Register/log in at https://greatsql.cn and complete avatar setup and email verification (one-time 2 coins).
- Enter the Learning Center from the navigation bar: https://learn.greatsql.cn.
- First choose a free course in "My Courses" and start learning to earn 5–30 coins.
- Go to "Practice Questions" for a warm-up, then use the "Mock Exam" to familiarize yourself with the process.
- Practice hands-on in the "Lab Environment" and record key results.
- After accumulating enough coins, register for the official GCA exam (half of the coins are returned after passing).
- After passing GCA, continue to challenge the GCP certification.
Reminder: GCA is limited to 2 attempts per month, and GCP is limited to 1 attempt per month. It is recommended to register after sufficient review. The campaign rules are subject to the actual prompts on the Learning Center page. The right of final interpretation for the campaign belongs to the GreatSQL Community.