5 Practical Tips to Pass AWS Certification Exams on the First Attempt

Are you considering taking an AWS certification exam but feeling overwhelmed by the preparation process? In this article I will discuss 5 key steps that will help you pass any AWS certification exam in the first time. The certification you choose to pursue depends on your interests and the available paths, which I will address in this post.

Preparation consists of the following 5 steps, which I will guide you through in this article:

1. Mastering Exam Guide and Identifying Areas of Focus
2. Choosing Content sources Wisely
3. Practice Tests
4. Create Personalized Study Materials
5. Ace the Exam.

Why Certification?

In today’s rapidly evolving world of cloud technology, innovation is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Embracing cloud certification becomes not just an option but a strategic necessity to stay ahead of the curve. As the industry experiences exponential growth, the demand for certifications is soaring, and AWS certifications stand out as the pinnacle of achievement in the technology sector.

Certification serves as a powerful validation of your expertise, setting you apart in a competitive job market. It not only enhances your employability but also opens doors to lucrative opportunities and higher compensation packages. Furthermore, certifications are catalysts for career advancement, as they are perceived as a hallmark of subject matter expertise (SME). Certified professionals are often entrusted with leadership roles, evolving from team members to influential leaders within their organizations.

Certification Paths

The Official AWS Certification Website offers a comprehensive document detailing various certification paths available for your pursuit. This resource serves as a roadmap, guiding you towards the certification best suited to your goals and expertise. https://aws.amazon.com/certification/

Professional Certifications

If you have a general familiarity with cloud computing, whether it’s AWS or another cloud platform, and possess at least 3+ years of experience in this domain, you should be well-positioned to attain the Professional Certifications.

If you’re at the beginning of your journey into cloud computing and are unfamiliar with how things operate in the cloud, starting with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Foundational certification would be the ideal choice. Conversely, if you have a basic understanding of various cloud services, you may consider aiming for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification.

Lastly, AWS also offers specialty certifications for individuals interested in specialized domains. A list of all available AWS Certifications can be found here. https://aws.amazon.com/certification/exams/

By following the 5 steps outlined below, you can confidently pass any AWS certification exam.

Please note: I have intentionally placed Tip #5 at the top, as it’s a crucial strategy to keep in mind throughout your entire journey, from scheduling the exam to successfully achieving certification.

5. Ace the Exam

• Breaking down the question and Identifying keywords. Begin by deconstructing the question and pinpointing key words and phrases. Most questions are presented within a scenario and encompass two to three specific situations, along with distinct requirements. Your initial task is to grasp the context and identify these essential keywords.
• Quickly going through the options. After understanding the context and identifying keywords, swiftly examine the available options. This step aids in eliminating certain choices based on the context and keywords identified earlier.
• Attempt or Flag and Skip. Assess the question based on the provided context and your understanding of the topic. Determine whether you can confidently answer the question. If not, promptly flag the question for later review and proceed to the next one.
• Time Checks. Regularly monitor your progress by conducting time checks every 30 to 40 minutes. This ensures that you are maintaining a steady pace and staying within the allocated time frame. For instance, in an exam comprising 50 questions with a total duration of 180 minutes, aim to spend an average of 3 minutes per question, reserving the final 30 minutes for review and revision.

Let’s apply the above strategy to a couple of sample questions and see how we can effectively break them down. These questions are sourced from AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) sample questions set.

1. A company runs a public-facing three-tier web application in a VPC across multiple Availability Zones. Amazon EC2 instances for the application tier running in private subnets need to download software patches from the internet. However, the EC2 instances cannot be directly accessible from the internet.

Which actions should be taken to allow the EC2 instances to download the needed patches? (Select TWO.)

1. Configure a NAT gateway in a public subnet.
2. Define a custom route table with a route to the NAT gateway for internet traffic and associate it with the private subnets for the application tier.
3. Assign Elastic IP addresses to the EC2 instances.
4. Define a custom route table with a route to the internet gateway for internet traffic and associate it with the private subnets for the application tier.
5. Configure a NAT instance in a private subnet.

Breaking down the question and Identifying keywords.

• Amazon EC2 instances,
• tier running in private subnets,
• need to download software patches from the internet
• EC2 instances cannot be directly accessible from the internet.

Glancing through the options

• Looking at option A, we know that we need a NAT gateway since instances need to download software patches from the internet
• Looking at option B, we also know that we need a route to the NAT gateway for internet traffic associated with the private subnets of EC2 instances.
• Analyzing option C, we know that Elastic Ip addresses are public IP address and this will make the instance public which conflicts with the requirement “EC2 instances cannot be directly accessible from the internet”
• Option D mentions to have a route to the Internet gateway (IGW) and associating it with private subnet will essentially make them public and that conflicts with “tier running in private subnets”
• Lastly, option E specifies configuring NAT instance in private subnet which is incorrect as a NAT instance has to be in public subnet. Additionally, NAT gateway is always preferred over NAT instance for scalability and reliability reasons.

Based on the above analysis, we’ve deduced the answer as

• A – Configure a NAT gateway in a public subnet
• B – Define a custom route table with a route to the NAT gateway for internet traffic and associate it with the private subnets for the application tier.

2. A solutions architect wants to design a solution to save costs for Amazon EC2 instances that do not need to run during a 2-week company shutdown. The applications running on the EC2 instances store data in instance memory that must be present when the instances resume operation.

Which approach should the solutions architect recommend to shut down and resume the EC2 instances?

1. Modify the application to store the data on instance store volumes. Reattach the volumes while restarting them.
2. Snapshot the EC2 instances before stopping them. Restore the snapshot after restarting the instances.
3. Run the applications on EC2 instances enabled for hibernation. Hibernate the instances before the 2- week company shutdown.
4. Note the Availability Zone for each EC2 instance before stopping it. Restart the instances in the same Availability Zones after the 2-week company shutdown.

Breaking down the question and Identifying keywords.

• save costs for Amazon EC2 instances
• do not need to run during a 2-week company shutdown
• store data in instance memory that must be present when the instances resume operation

Glancing through the options

• Looking at option A, we know that the data on an instance store volume does not persist if the instance is stopped, hibernated, or terminated. Hence the data will not persist in this case as the instance is being shut down for 2 weeks.
• Looking at option B, the reason is same as above.
• Analyzing option C, we know that hibernating EC2 instances saves the data on an instance store volume to an EBS volume and thus retains the data.
• Option D is incorrect with the same reason as A and B.

Based on the above analysis, we’ve deduced the answer as

• C – Run the applications on EC2 instances enabled for hibernation. Hibernate the instances before the 2- week company shutdown

1. Mastering Exam Guide and Identifying Areas of Focus

Each certification comes with an exam guide available for download from the Official AWS Certification page for the exam. This exam guide offers crucial insights such as the question types, number of questions, passing score, content weightage, and more.

• Target Candidate description: This section outlines the recommended hands-on experience that candidates should possess, which are considered beneficial.
• Exam Content: The exam consists of both multiple-choice and multiple-response questions, assessing candidates’ knowledge and understanding.
• Number of questions: The number of questions varies depending on the specific exam. For instance, the Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) certification comprises 50 questions.
• Minimum passing score: To achieve the Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) certification, candidates must attain a minimum passing score of 720.
• Content outline: This section provides detailed information on the exam’s structure, including weightings, content domains, and task statements, offering a comprehensive overview of what to expect during the examination.

The Exam guide for a Certification offers valuable insights, including Content weightings, which provide a breakdown of the percentage allocated to each section of the exam. By understanding these weightings, candidates can develop a strategic study plan focusing on key areas. This allows individuals to allocate their study time according to their strengths and areas needing improvement, optimizing their preparation efforts for success.

For instance, let’s consider the Content outline for the Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) certification, outlined below:

• Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures (30% of scored content)
• Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures (26% of scored content)
• Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures (24% of scored content)
• Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20% of scored content)

Reviewing the information above, we can infer that 30% of the exam questions will focus on ‘Designing Secure Architectures.’ Mastering this domain is crucial as it significantly enhances our likelihood of success.

2. Choosing Content sources Wisely

There are numerous AWS resources available to aid in certification preparation.

• AWS Official documentation: This resource is excellent if you already know what you’re searching for. However, it can become lengthy if you’re unsure where to start.
• AWS Whitepapers and FAQs: These are valuable for learning key concepts and understanding the specific functionalities of various AWS services.
• AWS re:invent videos on YouTube: These videos provide in-depth insights into specific services and help you stay updated with the latest additions and updates..

There are also several reputable third-party resources offering high-quality courses:

• acloudguru: Renowned for its comprehensive course materials and content..
• Udemy: Offers excellent courses for various AWS certification exams..
• Whizlabs: Particularly useful for practice tests and simulations, aiding in exam preparation..

3. Practice Tests

Practice tests provide you with a simulated exam experience, allowing you to become familiar with the format, structure, and timing of the actual certification exam. This familiarity helps alleviate test anxiety and improves confidence on exam day. The idea is to assess your knowledge and skills across different topics covered in the certification exam. Practice the tests multiple times until you feel comfortable with specific areas and services as a whole.

4. Create Personalized Study Materials

While preparing for an AWS certification exam, it’s common to consult multiple sources of information, such as AWS documentation and courses from platforms like Acloudguru, Udemy, or others. Throughout your learning journey, it’s essential to consolidate this information into a format that resonates best with you, creating your personalized document tailored to your strengths and areas needing improvement.

This personalized document evolves into a dynamic resource, serving as a living repository for quick reference and clarification. By synthesizing and organizing information according to your understanding, you cultivate a deeper comprehension of the material and enhance retention, ultimately bolstering your exam readiness.

I extend my best wishes to you on your AWS Cloud Certification Journey. With dedication and adherence to the aforementioned 5 steps, I am confident that you will successfully attain AWS Certification on your first attempt. May your journey be filled with growth, learning, and achievement.