Two Weeks Study Plan: Scoring 788/1000 on AWS Solutions Architect Associate

Introduction

For anybody wishing to start or progress a career in cloud computing, Associate certification in AWS Solutions Architect may alter their life. It was more than simply the certification; it was a personal challenge to see how much I could do in a constrained period. Having two weeks to be ready, I was resolved to give it my all and maximise my basic experiences and disciplined study techniques. Hence the outcome is a score of 788/1000 and a remarkable educational trip.

To be honest, having only a few experiences in the AWS Domain I was not expecting to pass this certification at all. Generally, professionals who have worked for years and years take exams with loads of practice to ace the certification exam. As a beginner with only two weeks of study plan, I challenged myself to sit at an exam desk despite having personal life and work commitments.

I will post on this blog my approach to this ambitious objective, the tools I employed, and the techniques that enabled me to meet it. Whether you know some AWS or are a total novice, you will discover ideas here to simplify your preparation and increase your chances of success.

About the Exam

One of the most sought-after qualifications for IT professionals and cloud aficionados is Associate certification in AWS Solutions Architect (SAA C03). It confirms your capacity for scalable, affordable, safe, and reasonably priced AWS cloud solutions design, deployment, and maintenance. It addresses developing and implementing systems, using reasonably priced solutions, and knowing security best practices among other subjects. They also really challenge you on the AWS Well Architect Framework. Indeed, you should be aware of many AWS services and be able to choose the appropriate mix based on each situation.

Key Details:

• Certification Level: Associate

• Exam Format: Multiple choice & multiple response questions.

• Exam Duration: 130 Mins + 30 Mins (Non-Native English Speakers)

• Passing Score: 720 out of 1000

• Cost: USD 150

Domains:

• Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures (30%)

• Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures (26%)

• Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures (24%)

• Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%)

As discussed above, It will cost you USD 150 to book an exam the exam consists of 65 questions which you will get 130 minutes to answer and you might get an additional 30 mins if you come from a non-native English speaker country (ESL +30 MINUTES) which you are eligible to take from your comfortable home or to your nearest testing centre.

2 Weeks Study Plan

I know it might sound ambitious to prepare for an associate-level exam, but with the right strategy and focus, it is achievable. Here is how I broke down my 2-weeks study plan to ace the certification exam.

1. Setting Clear Goals:

Clearly state your objectives and the initial reasons you need the certification before delving into study resources. Are you attempting to get recruited or enhance your portfolio? Is this part of your work? You also have to make sure you match the aims of the test. Perhaps there is another qualification better fit for you. This is the kind of inspiration you need for research.

2. Understand the Exam Blueprint & Key Concepts:

To get a good handle on the main topics and objectives, check out the Associate Exam Guide for AWS Certified Solutions Architects. Also, take a look at the AWS Well-Architected Framework for best practices. For a quick overview of AWS services, try an introductory video course like those from Stephane Maarek on Udemy or from Cantrill.

3. Dive into Core AWS Services:

Just watching videos won’t give you success without diving into the AWS services. Start instances, set up security groups, and learn about instance types on EC2. Create S3 buckets, manage permissions, and enable versioning in S3. For VPC, understand NAT gateways, route tables, and subnets. In IAM, explore roles, policies, and multi-factor authentication.

4. Hands-on Practice:

Having hands-on knowledge also allows you to deepen your knowledge. Without any further delay you can set up an AWS Free Tier account and dive in: Start and connect to EC2 instances. Set up S3 buckets with permissions and lifecycles. Build a VPC with NAT gateways, internet gateways, and subnets. Check out IAM roles and set up policies.

5. Dive into Advanced Topics:

Learning advanced topics is always beneficial. Why? When you begin working in the cloud sector, you can look forward to handling large-scale enterprise architecture and designing the infrastructure. Dive into more complex offerings and scenarios. For Route 53, explore weight, failover, and latency-based routing rules. With RDS and DynamoDB, focus on backup, read replicas, and recovery. Discover AWS Lambda, API Gateway, and event-driven design within a serverless architecture. Embrace content delivery optimization and caching using CloudFront and ElastiCache. The future is bright with these skills!

6. Full-Length Practice:

It is always best to practice as much as you can. I took two fully timed comprehensive practice tests from ExamTopics & TutorialsDojo. Review detailed explanations for incorrect answers. Focus on scenario-based questions that test your ability to design scalable, cost-effective solutions. Assess your time management skills to identify areas that need improvement.

Resources

Alright, enough talks, right? Let’s dive into the resources that I have used to ace my certification exam.

1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Exam Guide: Has comprehensive records on the EXAM domains, the particular abilities they are seeking, and the relevant services you should concentrate on.

2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Sample Questions: Ten questions to help you understand their intricacy and nature.

3. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Official Practice Question Set: Twenty more questions to augment the original ones.

4. Exam Prep: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate: Direct free lesson on Skill Builder from AWS themselves lasting three hours.

5. Stephane Mareek Udemy Course: No if and but, straight to the point on the video lectures and along with the practice set questions.

6. Exam topics Question Bank: Real test questions and roughly half of the questions are free for use in question banks. Most highly suggestive to go through those the test questions seemed to me to be somewhat similar to those below.

7. Cantrill Course: Worth mentioning the course especially if you want to deepen your expertise in AWS Services. But it takes a little longer to complete the course. If you have enough time to practice then I would recommend this course to pursue.

Exam Day Tips

Honestly, I was not expecting to score 788/1000. I took the exam around 11 AM as you can see my results below:

1. Accommodation for 30 Mins: You may ask AWS for an additional thirty minutes for your test upon registering if you are from a nation where English is not the national language. If you qualify (ESL +30), Do not pass up this chance.

2. Arrive Early: About twenty-five minutes before my test, I arrived at the testing site, and it was perfect. The check-in process wasn't busy, so everything went smoothly, including ID verification. But you can't always count on that, so try to get there at least half an hour early. This gives you time to clear your mind, handle any paperwork, and have a little buffer to get comfortable.

3. Stay Calm & Analyse Questions Carefully: Exam stress is normal, especially with tough questions. I wasn't sure about ten to fifteen questions, but I didn't let it distract me. I stayed calm by taking deep breaths and looking at marked topics from a new perspective. The test mainly has scenario-based questions. Pay attention to every word and detail. Mistakes can happen if you miss keywords like "clients require the most cost-effective solution." For instance, even though S3 Standard guarantees availability and durability, it is not the most economical option for seldom-used data. In such situations, depending on the access frequency and retrieval requirements, S3 Glacier might be a preferable substitute.

Conclusion

Well, firstly thank you for taking the time to read all this lengthy blog post. I wish you all the best for your exam if you are appearing for it. Getting certified is always both challenging and rewarding. A well-structured plan, exploring diverse resources, and hands-on practical lab exercises are the key aspects to ace the exam.