How I passed the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) : Resources and my study strategies and Tips.

At the beginning of this year one of my goals was to become an AWS solutions architect (Associate). So earning the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification was going to be significant achievement for me in helping me build and advance my career in cloud computing. Many organizations are increasingly migrating to the cloud and AWS continues to dominate in the market as one of the most sought-after platforms for cloud deployment. AWS certifications have become a standard for validating your AWS cloud skills.

For me, the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam was more than just earning a badge, it was an opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of AWS services and to prove my skills in designing scalable, cost effective and resilient solutions on AWS.

In this article, I will share with you the resources and my study strategies and tips I used on my journey to becoming AWS certified. I hope my experience will serve as a guide for anyone aspiring to pass the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam.

Understanding the Exam structure and Format

One of the most import things to consider when preparing for any exam not only SAA-C03 is to understand how the exam is structured and the areas which are covered in the exam. This gives you an idea on the areas to study and focus your attention on and prevents you from focusing and wasting your energy and resources that are not relevant.

AWS has provided a detailed exam guide which explains the composition exam structure and the services that are covered by the SAA-C03 exams. The exam is mainly based on four domains:

1. Domain 1 Design Secure Architectures (30%)

2. Domain 2 Design Resilient Architectures (26%)

3. Domain 3 Design High-Performing Architectures (24%)

4. Domain 4 Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%)

I personally went through this guide most of the time to help me in the areas I should focus on in my preparation for the SAA-C03 exam. I suggest you use this as a guide in your exam preparation. More about this guide use this link, https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/docs-sa-assoc/AWS-Certified-Solutions-Architect-Associate_Exam-Guide.pdf

My Study Plan and resources I used

The resources I used are of two types, paid and free.

Free Resources.

1. Solutions architect -Knowledge Badge readiness path on AWS Skill Builder: AWS skill builder has some amazing course and this course is one of them. The course consists of 32 modules that helped me in my preparation journey. After completing the course, you will also receive a badge after passing a final test. https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/lp/1044/Solutions%2520Architect%2520-%2520Knowledge%2520Badge%2520Readiness%2520Path.

2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Practice Questions Playlist on Youtube by Sthithapragna. This Playlist is one of the best resources for you to use practice for your exams. The playlist consists of 41 videos. Sthithapragna does an amazing job by explaining into details all the possible answers and some keywords that will help you in selecting the right answers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y6lDKCAGOQ&list=PL7GozF-qZ4KeQtVB9Nt_gXwDD0HvykrsD.

3. AWS documentation: AWS official documentations should be your go to resources whenever you need to read more about any service that you need deeper understanding on. I constantly and always refer to the documentation when I need clarification and deeper understanding on a particular topic or service.

4. AWS Free tier Account: The AWS free tier account played an essential part in my learning journey. I use the free tier account for hands on experience. I practice build some projects and gained some hands on experience with using this account.

Paid Resources

1. I purchased Stephane Maarek’s course, Ultimate AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate SAA-C03 on Udemy. Maarek’s is an awesome teacher and explains complex topics in simpler ways for you to understand. The material is continuously updated, and the content slides are available in PDF format. https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate-saa-c03/?couponCode=KEEPLEARNING

2. I also purchase Practice Exams | AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate by Stephane Maarek and Abhishek Singh. This practice exams helped me to identify the areas that I needed to focus on. This practice text also provides detailed explanation to all the answer options with links to AWS documentations for reference. https://www.udemy.com/course/practice-exams-aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate/?couponCode=KEEPLEARNING.

My key challenges and how I overcame them

Preparing for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam wasn’t without some challenges and hurdles. Here’s a breakdown of some of the major challenges I faced during my preparation journey and the strategies I used to overcome those challenges.

1. Balancing Studies with Work and Personal Life: Managing studies alongside a full-time job and personal responsibilities was my main headache. With limited free hours during the day, I am often overwhelmed and exhausted during the day. To overcome this challenge, I had a dedicated study period in the evenings, microlearning during short breaks and on commutes to work.

2. Handling some knowledge gaps in AWS Services. While I had some exposure to AWS, there were some services that I had some knowledge gaps. I read detailed about some those services in AWS documentation, practice some hands-on exercise and re-watch some videos on Stephane Maarek’s course and Youtube.

3. Overcoming Exam Anxiety: Despite my extensive preparation, the possibility of failing the exam created anxiety, especially as the exam day got closer. Because of this anxiety I had to reschedule my exam twice. I overcame this anxiety by doing more practice and reinforcing my knowledge on some concepts.

Conclusion

As I reflect and look back on my journey to becoming an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate, I realise how much it has transformed me. It wasn’t just about passing exam but it was also about learning more about AWS services, getting better at using them, and feeling more confident about designing secure, cost effective, resilient and scalable solutions on AWS.

I strongly recommend anyone who is willing to taking the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam to do so. While the journey demands much efforts and dedication, the benefits greatly exceed the challenges. This certification will help you in advancing your career in cloud computing and validating your cloud skills.

I hope this was helpful. Good luck on your certification journey.