Welcome back, everyone! I have some exciting news to share—I recently cleared the AWS Solutions Architect Associate level exam with an impressive score of 962 out of 1000. In this article, I'll provide you with a comprehensive overview of the exam, along with my preparation strategies and tips. Whether you're planning to take this exam soon or simply looking for insights, you're in the right place. So, let's dive in!
The AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification validates your ability to design and deploy well-architected solutions on AWS, the leading cloud provider in today's industry. In essence, this exam tests your capability to propose an architecture based on specific scenarios. For example, you might be asked to design a highly resilient infrastructure that ensures continuous application availability, even in the event of a disaster impacting an entire AWS region.
Now, let's explore the format of the exam. You'll be presented with 65 questions and have a total of 130 minutes to answer them. This translates to approximately two minutes per question. The grading is percentile-based, ranging from 100 to 1000, with a passing score requirement of 720 or above (roughly 72%). It's worth noting that while the score will only appear on your score report, passing the exam is the key objective. The exam fee is $150 USD (approximately 177 USD with taxes) or around 135,000 Indian Rupees in India.
Before delving into my preparation strategy, let me take a moment to request your support. If you find value in this article, please consider pressing the like button and subscribing to the channel. Your support helps reach a wider audience and motivates me to create more content like this.
During my two-month preparation period, which coincided with my full-time job and running my website channel, I dedicated approximately two hours on weekdays and four to six hours on weekends to study. I chose the AWS Solutions Architect Associate course by Stephen Maric on Udemy as my primary learning resource. While going through the course, I diligently compiled all relevant information into a Notion page.
Upon completing the course, I purchased three practice test packages on Udemy, offered by Stephen Marick, John Bonzo, and Neil Davis. Each package consisted of six practice tests, totaling 18 in all. For each question I encountered, I recorded them along with their explanations in my Notion page. This allowed me to focus on the questions I marked incorrectly or found challenging.
Once I finished the practice tests, I synthesized all the information from the course and practice tests into concise and dense notes. For this purpose, I used another note-taking app called Obsidian (I'll explain more about this in a future article). These condensed notes were easily accessible, and after a single revision, I felt prepared to take the exam the very next day. Although I'm unable to share my Obsidian notes at the moment, I'll work on finding a way to present them in a shareable format.
Now, let's discuss the available options for taking the exam. You can either opt for the offline method at a testing center or take the online route from the comfort of your home. If testing centers are conveniently located near you, I suggest choosing the offline option. However, if testing centers are not accessible, the online approach is a viable alternative. Please note that based on my personal experience, the proctoring process for the online method is exceptionally strict.
Stay tuned for more insightful articles and updates. If you have any questions or would like to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment. Thank you for your support, and best of luck in your AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam journey!
Tips for Success in the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam
Now, let me share some valuable tips to ensure your success in the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam. These pointers will help you be well-prepared and increase your chances of achieving a favorable outcome.
First and foremost, make sure to take as many practice tests as you can. This will give you a good understanding of the types of topics that frequently appear in the exam. Furthermore, the questions in these practice tests closely align with those in the actual exam, providing you with valuable practice and insight into the format and content.
It's important to note that the amount of information you need to cover for this exam can be overwhelming. You must not only grasp the various AWS resources and architectures but also retain a significant amount of information. To manage this effectively, it is crucial to filter out irrelevant details from the information you've compiled and create concise notes that can be easily revised within a day or two. This will enable you to focus on the most essential concepts and ensure better retention.
That covers the key aspects of the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam. However, my journey doesn't end here. I have plans to take the AWS Developer Associate exam next, which focuses on the development aspects of AWS services. It's a personal milestone I want to achieve before I embark on my MS journey in Canada. Stay tuned for updates on that exciting endeavor!
Thank you for reading this article, and I appreciate your support. If you have any further questions or would like to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment. I wish you the best of luck in your AWS certification journey.
Over and out!
