Preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional (SAP-C02) exam can feel intimidating — it’s one of the most advanced AWS certifications and covers complex cloud architectures. But with the right guidance, resources, and practice, you can confidently master the exam objectives and build real-world skills that employers value.
This guide is designed to give you a structured study approach, highlight free practice questions, and share hands-on tips so you’re ready for success.
About the SAP-C02 Exam
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional (SAP-C02) validates your ability to design scalable, secure, and cost-optimized cloud architectures using AWS.
Exam Details:
Exam Code: SAP-C02
Level: Professional
Format: Multiple-choice / multiple-response
Duration: 180 minutes
Cost: $300 USD
Key Domains:
- Design for Organizational Complexity (26%) – governance, multi-account setups, hybrid environments
- Design for New Solutions (29%) – scalable, secure, and cost-optimized architectures
- Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions (25%) – performance, reliability, and cost efficiency
- Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization (20%) – migration strategies, modernization, and automation
Pro Tip: Focus more on Domains 1 and 2, as they make up over 50% of the exam.
Free Resources
1️⃣ Official AWS Resources
Start with the official AWS SAP-C02 page. Here, you’ll find:
- Exam objectives and guidance
- Recommended whitepapers
- Sample questions and FAQs
2️⃣ Free Practice Questions
Practice is critical for SAP-C02. You can try AWS Solutions Architect practice questions to understand real exam scenarios and identify weak areas.
3️⃣ Google Sheet Study Tracker
Organize your preparation with a Google Sheet study stack. Track your daily study, log scores for each domain, and monitor progress consistently.
Hands-On Tips
Hands-On Labs Are Essential
Reading alone isn’t enough. Use AWS Free Tier to practice services like EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, CloudFormation, and Lambda.
Simulate Real-World Scenarios
The exam focuses on architectural decision-making. Build end-to-end solutions and test scenarios like scaling, disaster recovery, and security configurations.
Analyze Practice Questions Carefully
Focus on why an answer is correct or incorrect, not just memorizing answers.
Track Your Weak Areas
Use your Google Sheet tracker to log domains where you score low. Spend extra time reinforcing those areas.
Understand Cost Optimization and Security
Many exam scenarios revolve around reducing cost and ensuring security. Be familiar with AWS best practices for both.
Study Plan Suggestion
Week 1–2: Read official AWS whitepapers and exam guide
Week 3–4: Complete hands-on labs on core services (EC2, S3, VPC)
Week 5: Take free practice questions and log results in your tracker
Week 6: Revise weak areas and repeat scenario-based labs
Final Week: Take full-length practice tests, review mistakes, and revisit key AWS concepts
Consistency is more important than cramming. Daily 1–2 hour sessions are more effective than long, infrequent study marathons.
Key Takeaways
SAP-C02 is challenging, but proper planning, hands-on practice, and structured tracking can make it manageable.
Combine official resources, free practice questions, and a study tracker to prepare efficiently.
Hands-on experience is critical — try real AWS services and simulate architectural scenarios.
Tracking progress helps you focus on weak areas and ensures steady improvement.
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