Introduction to AWS certification exams
Preparing for AWS certification exams requires a strategic approach that combines a comprehensive AWS exam study guide with hands-on experience. Cloud certification training programs offer structured paths to understanding AWS services and architectures, equipping candidates with essential knowledge.
Additionally, utilizing AWS practice tests is crucial; these simulate the exam environment, helping to identify strengths and weaknesses. By integrating these resources, aspiring AWS certified professionals can enhance their chances of success, ensuring they grasp both theoretical concepts and practical applications. Ultimately, a well-rounded preparation strategy leads to greater confidence and proficiency in navigating the AWS certification landscape.
Exam format and structure
The exam is delivered in a testing center or via a remote proctoring service, and it’s a closed-book exam. You are not allowed to bring any reference materials, notes, or electronic devices into the exam room. You are also not allowed to bring any food or drink, and there will be a security check before you enter the testing room.
If you are taking the exam at a testing center, you will be provided with a whiteboard and marker to use during the exam.
If you are taking the exam via a remote proctoring service, you will be provided with an online whiteboard to use during the exam.
The exam is 180 minutes long and consists of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. Multiple-choice questions are questions that have one correct answer and three incorrect answers.
Multiple-response questions are questions that have two or more correct answers and five or more incorrect answers. The exam is divided into five domains, and the percentage of questions in each domain is as follows:
• Domain 1: Design Resilient Architectures – 34%
• Domain 2: Define Performant Architectures – 24%
• Domain 3: Specify Secure Applications and Architectures – 24%
• Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures – 10%
• Domain 5: Define Operationally Excellent Architectures – 8%
AWS certification tracks and levels
AWS provides certifications for all experience levels, from individuals just starting out in the cloud to experts with multiple years of experience. AWS offers four certification tracks, including Foundational, Associate, Professional, and Specialty.
AWS Foundational Certification
Foundational certifications are designed for individuals who are new to the cloud, or for those who are new to AWS. These certifications are designed to provide an overview of AWS services and how they are used to build and manage cloud-based solutions. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is the only certification in the Foundational track.
AWS Associate Certification
Associate-level certifications are designed for individuals who have some experience working with AWS. These certifications are designed to test an individual’s ability to design, build, and manage cloud-based solutions using AWS services. The Associate track includes three certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate.
AWS Professional Certification
Professional-level certifications are designed for individuals who have extensive experience working with AWS. These certifications are designed to test an individual’s ability to design, build, and manage complex cloud-based solutions using AWS services. The Professional track includes two certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional.
AWS Specialty Certification
Specialty certifications are designed for individuals who have extensive experience working with AWS and want to specialize in a specific area. These certifications are designed to test an individual’s ability to design, build, and manage cloud-based solutions using AWS services in a specific area. The Specialty track includes six certifications: AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty, AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder – Specialty, AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty, AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, AWS Certified Security – Specialty, and AWS Certified Database – Specialty.
Preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Level exam is designed for those who have some experience designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform. This certification is designed to help you understand how to architect and deploy secure and robust applications on AWS.
The exam covers a wide range of AWS services, so it’s important to have a good understanding of the AWS platform before taking the exam. If you’re new to AWS, you may want to start by learning about the core AWS services and then move on to some of the more advanced services.
In addition to learning about the AWS services, you should also familiarize yourself with the AWS Well-Architected Framework, which provides best practices for building secure, high-performing, resilient, and efficient infrastructure for applications.
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Level exam is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in designing and deploying applications on AWS.
Tips for success on AWS certification exams
To excel in AWS certification exams, adopt a multifaceted study approach. Begin by utilizing a comprehensive AWS exam study guide, which outlines essential topics and concepts. Enroll in cloud certification training programs with us to gain structured knowledge and hands-on experience.
Regularly engage with AWS practice tests to familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types. These practice tests not only enhance your understanding but also pinpoint areas needing improvement.
Additionally, set a consistent study schedule, take breaks to avoid burnout, and join study groups for collaborative learning. By combining these strategies, you’ll significantly boost your confidence and readiness for the exam.
Understand the exam guide
• Review the AWS exam guide for your certification to understand the content and structure of the exam. The guide provides details on the exam objectives and how those map to the domains and subdomains that will be covered. This is important to ensure you are focusing on the right topics and not spending time on things that are not relevant to the exam.
Use the right study materials
AWS provides a wealth of resources to help you prepare for your certification exams. These include digital and classroom training courses, AWS whitepapers and FAQs, AWS documentation, and AWS-recommended practice exams. You should use these resources to prepare for your exam, but also consider third-party study materials to get a different perspective on the topics.
Take practice exams
Taking practice exams is one of the best ways to prepare for your AWS certification. This will help you get used to the format and structure of the exam, as well as the types of questions you are likely to face. You will also be able to identify any areas where you need to spend more time studying.
Manage your time
Time management is key to success on any exam. You will have a limited amount of time to complete your AWS certification, so it’s important to practice pacing yourself. You should also plan to spend more time studying the areas you are least familiar with, and less time on the areas you are more confident in.
Get plenty of rest
Finally, be sure to get plenty of rest the night before your exam. You will need to be well-rested and alert in order to do your best.
Conclusion
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam is intended for individuals who have experience in designing distributed applications and systems on the AWS platform. This exam covers a range of topics, including designing highly available, cost-efficient, fault-tolerant, and scalable distributed systems on AWS.
The exam also covers hybrid and AWS native architectures, and you can expect to be tested on your ability to pick the right AWS services for data storage, compute, database, and security requirements. The exam consists of multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions and you will have 130 minutes to complete it.
The AWS Certified Developer – Associate exam is intended for individuals who are developers who have one or more years of hands-on experience developing and maintaining an AWS-based application. The exam covers a range of topics, including picking the right AWS services for application requirements, leveraging AWS SDKs to interact with AWS services from your application, writing code that optimizes performance, and troubleshooting your application.
The exam consists of multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions and you will have 130 minutes to complete it.
