Hello Clouders,
Having made the decision that I wanted to study and take the AWS Solutions Architect exam, I was not fully aware of the resources available to me. My first point of access was the AWS Certification website which provides a recommended path to prepare for the exam and also includes the exam guide. However, the first suggested step was to take an AWS Training Class. For me that was not an option due to budget constraints. I then conducted a search for a book and came across the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Official Study Guide by Joe Baron et al*. This book literally became my bible. Answering all the review questions and following and completing the exercises is most definitely a necessary undertaking. The book alone was not my only resource. Reading the whitepapers in the ‘Introduction to AWS’ section and the whitepapers in the ‘AWS Well-Architected Framework’, specifically the five pillars, complemented the study guide. On top of what I have just mentioned, reading as many whitepapers that your brain can handle is a good thing, it may not be necessary for the exam but at the end of the day “Ipsa scientia potestas est – Knowledge itself is power” – Francis Bacon, Meditations Sacrae and Human Philosophy. Other notable resources are AWS FAQs (read all FAQs in relation to the topics outlined in the Study Guide), AWS Blog & Podcast and AWS Events & Webinars websites.
Once you are feeling nearly prepared, answering the sample questions from the exam guide, and taking the free two hour digital Exam Readiness Training course that is provided by AWS, is the next course of action. Finally, you should be ready to schedule the AWS 30 minute practice exam online. It is a worthwhile endeavour, as it will gauge your understanding of what you have learnt so far. You will need to create an account on the AWS Training website. Once you have accessed your AWS Certification Account, you can schedule the practice exam with PSI or with Pearson Vue. The process is the same for scheduling the real exam which has a duration of 130 minutes. As of April 2019, the practice exam fee is USD 24.00 and the real exam fee is USD 180.
I hope what I have shared with you, has provided you with sufficient information to be able to study and tackle the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam with confidence. Additionally, you may have the added bonus of also being able to apply your commercial knowledge of AWS in the exam. In my case, I have no commercial experience working with AWS, and therefore the resources I used for studying were of paramount importance. Now that I am AWS certified, it has not make it easier for me to get a job working with the cloud, but it is a step in the right direction and all I can do is to continue to Cloud On!
*At the time of writing, a new study guide by Ben Piper and David Clinton is being released on April 19, 2019.
Useful Links
https://aws.amazon.com/certification/
https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-associate/
https://aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/
https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/events/
https://www.aws.training/learningobject/curriculum?id=20685
Contact me:
Website:www.auberginebleu.com
Linkedln:www.linkedin.com/in/samcjliu
Twitter:www.twitter.com/earme76
