Took the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam

This article was originally published on bmf-tech.com.

Overview

I took and passed the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam, so I'm documenting what I did to prepare.

Background

About myself:
I'm in my fifth year as a software engineer. I use AWS at work and have regular opportunities to interact with it, but I haven't done much design work (though I want to).

Motivation

I realized I lacked cloud knowledge (like feeling I had few resources when thinking about cloud-based architecture or using services with shallow understanding), so I decided to create an opportunity to study properly.

I decided to take the exam because I felt it offered practical learning that would be beneficial in real-world applications, not just rote memorization.

What I Studied

• Qwicklabs
  • I took most of the AWS courses, excluding specialized ones (like practical machine learning solutions).
  • I wanted to actually use AWS services rather than just study for the exam.
  • It took quite a bit of time.
• AWS Thorough Introduction
  • Exam preparation. The content is well-organized.
  • Some content is a bit outdated, so you need to be careful.
  • I think this book alone isn't enough. Supplementation is necessary.
• AWS Well-Architected Framework
  • It's something you should read first.
• Various Materials
  • AWS Whitepapers and Guides
  • AWS Hands-On Materials
  • AWS Service-Specific Materials
    • I downloaded PDFs related to the associate level or ones I was interested in.
    • I read through about 100 PDFs. It was tough...
    • There was a lot, so I skimmed through many.
  • If focusing on exam preparation, service introduction materials might be enough, but I feel it's better to prioritize reading FAQs and documentation.
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Practice
  • Official AWS practice exam. It takes about 30 minutes and has few questions.
  • It's more for checking understanding.
• Amazon AWS Practice Questions for Certification (Completely Free, Original)
  • A site available for free.
  • I solved all the questions.
• Udemy 【SAA-C02 Version】AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Practice Exam Collection (6 exams, 390 questions)
  • A collection of high-difficulty questions.
  • I solved all the questions.
  • The content is educational. It also helps you get used to the exam.
• Training Library
  • I only tackled the ones I was interested in.
  • The AWS Well-Architected Framework (Japanese)
  • Subnets, Gateways, and Route Tables Explained (Japanese) (Japanese dubbed version)

Study Period

About 4 months in total.

I was busy studying about a month before the exam. I reviewed areas I didn't understand while working on practice exams.

What I Did on Exam Day

I took the exam at a test center in Shibuya.

I thought online preparation seemed cumbersome, so I decided to take it at a test center with a proper environment.

Until the exam time, I was at a cafe near the test center, reviewing practice exams and rereading reference books.

I got a feel for the pace of answering questions with the Udemy 【SAA-C02 Version】AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Practice Exam Collection (6 exams, 390 questions), so I was able to answer smoothly without rushing.

The difficulty of the questions felt easier than the Udemy practice exams but harder than the AWS official 30-minute practice exam (AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Practice).

After answering all questions with review flags, I used the remaining time to thoroughly review and used up all the answer time.

I changed my answers for about 2-3 questions during the review. Reviewing is important.

It's nice to know the pass/fail result immediately after answering all the questions (though the official notification comes later).

I want to review the incorrect questions, but it seems there's no opportunity for that.

Changes After Taking the Exam

I feel a bit more confident in saying I understand the basics of AWS.

Impressions

For exam preparation, I feel that going through reference books, Udemy, documentation, and FAQs is sufficient. I think it's educational even with just that.

It's better to set the exam date in advance and study systematically by working backward from that date.

The exam date is flexible, so it's easy to postpone it.
I ended up postponing the exam date by about 1-2 months from my initial plan because I was trying to study a lot of things.

Next, I want to take the Professional exam, but before that, I plan to tackle the GCP exam.