Last month, I shared how I passed my AWS Cloud Practitioner Foundational exam with just seven days of preparation, and you all loved it! To continue this series, today I'm going to share how I passed my AWS Solution Architect Associate exam. I’ll break down the exam and the resources I used, starting with the free exam preparation.
Why Start with the Foundational Exam
The AWS Solution Architect Associate exam, one of three associate-level exams, is best tackled after the foundational exam. Many experts recommend starting with the foundational exam to gain a solid understanding of the breadth of AWS services, architectures, and best practices. From there, it’s advisable to proceed to the developer exam and then to the sysops exam before tackling the pro-level certifications.
My Background and Preparation
I previously had a technical architect role, so I was familiar with core system design architecture principles and patterns like high availability, disaster recovery, scaling, load balancing, and security best practices. This foundational knowledge made the exam easier, though I still had to understand AWS-specific design patterns and services.
Exam Breakdown
The AWS Solution Architect Associate exam recommends:
A minimum of 12 months of hands-on experience with AWS technology, including using compute, networking, storage, and database AWS services.
Experience in deploying, managing, and operating workflows on AWS, as well as implementing security controls and compliance requirements.
The exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions and lasts 90 minutes. It is available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. A score of 700 out of 1000 is needed to pass. I scored 734, which I was quite happy with.
Preparation Strategy
Given my AWS experience, I focused on my knowledge gaps, particularly with AWS services I wasn’t familiar with. I started with a mock exam from Skillcertpro to identify these gaps.
The exam is split into four core AWS domains:
Design Resilient Architectures
Design High-Performing Architectures
Design Secure Applications and Architectures
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures
My gaps were in designing secure and cost-optimized architectures, so I concentrated my preparation on these areas. I used Notion to track questions I got wrong, which amounted to about 130 questions across 12 mock exams from Wizlabs and Udemy. Active recall of these questions helped solidify my understanding.
Recommended Resources
I highly recommend taking an online or offline course to gain practical experience for the AWS Solution Architect Associate exam. Avoid relying on outdated free dumps, as they often contain incorrect answers that can mislead you during preparation.
After completing a course, consider investing in Skillcertpro, which costs $20 but is incredibly valuable. It offers around 1000 questions, each with detailed explanations to help you thoroughly understand the topics. I’ve used Skillcertpro for other security certifications and passed on my first attempt.
Helpful Tips for SAA-C03 Exam
Achieving scores of 85% or higher in Skillcertpro's mock exams indicates you're ready to pass the official SAA-C03 exam. I found that nearly 80% of the questions in the official exam were similar to those in Skillcertpro tests. I personally succeeded in the exam with minimal hands-on experience. While the exam is challenging, thorough preparation significantly enhances your chances of passing.
Additional Exam Resources
Skillcertpro offers free exam notes when you purchase their mock exams, which can be incredibly helpful.
Exam Experience
I took my exam at home via Pearson, one of the two providers available in the UK. The process involved a thorough desk check to ensure no unauthorized materials were present. The exam took me about 45 minutes, and I felt confident going in after having completed 12 mock exams.
Post-Exam
AWS reviews your exam footage before releasing your results. I received my results about four hours after finishing the exam, and my AWS badge was available within 24 hours.
Are Certifications Worth It?
Absolutely! Certifications validate your understanding, although they don’t necessarily prove hands-on ability with AWS. Most engineers use infrastructure as code tools like CloudFormation, CDK, or Terraform for setups, rather than the AWS console. For engineers, hands-on AWS experience is crucial. Start with the console and then move to infrastructure as code tools. Certifications look great on your resume, especially if you aim to become a freelancer or contractor.
Next Steps
My next target is the AWS Developer Associate exam, followed by the sysops or security specialty. Eventually, I plan to pursue pro-level certifications. Passing pro-level exams also recertifies you for associate-level certifications, so maintaining these certifications is efficient.
Let me know in the comments what exams you're planning to take and how you're preparing for them
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