If you’re preparing for an AWS certification, chances are you’ve already heard a lot of advice:
“Do more practice questions.”
“Memorize dumps.”
“Just book the exam and hope for the best.”
As an AWS Certified Instructor, I can tell you this clearly:
passing AWS exams is not about luck or memorization — it’s about process.
I’ve been providing AWS Cloud Trainings since 2023, and I’ve worked with over 500 trainees, many of whom have gone on to successfully earn AWS certifications across foundational, associate, professional, and specialty levels.
This article shares the exact strategy I teach my students — and the same approach I personally follow every time I sit an AWS exam.
Step 1: Learn the Services by Doing, Not Memorizing
Before touching practice questions, you must first understand the services.
AWS exams test how well you understand:
- when to use a service
- why one option is better than another
- trade-offs (cost, performance, availability, security)
Best learning resources (in order of effectiveness):
- AWS Skill Builder (free + paid): official content with hands-on labs
- Hands-on labs (this is non-negotiable)
- YouTube (great for visual learners)
- Udemy courses (structured learning paths)
👉 The rule I give trainees:
If you can’t explain a service in simple words, you don’t understand it yet.
Practice questions — but use them correctly
Practice questions are diagnostic tools, not memorization tools.
- Do not binge or memorize answers
-
Use each question to measure:
- What you understand
- What you think you understand
- What you don’t understand at all
Also:
- Review the official AWS exam guide
- Know what’s in scope and out of scope
- Take the free official practice exams on AWS Skill Builder
Step 2: The 3-Read Rule for Answering AWS Questions
This is the single most important exam technique I teach.
Never choose an answer on the first read.
Read #1 — Casual Scan
- Read the question once
- Glance at the answers
- Don’t decide anything yet
Read #2 — Eliminate
- Read the question again, slowly
-
Look for keywords:
- most cost-effective
- least operational overhead
- highest availability
- fastest
Start eliminating answers that clearly don’t fit
Read #3 — Decide
- Read the question a final time
- Focus on what the question is really asking
- Eliminate remaining distractors answers
- Choose the best answer
👉 This applies to:
- Practice questions
- Mock exams
- The real exam
Step 3: Booking the Exam
Book your exam via Pearson VUE.
My recommendation:
- Physical test center if possible
-
Choose online only if:
- You have stable internet
- Quiet environment
- Reliable hardware
- Patience for strict proctor rules
Apply for exam accommodation
Request 30 extra minutes.
Even if you don’t need it, having it allows you to:
- Apply the 3-read method properly
- Reduce time pressure
- Stay calm
Better to have extra time and not need it
than to need it and not have it.
Step 4: Exam Day Strategy
- Arrive at least 1 hour early
- Bring valid IDs
- Get checked in calmly
- If writing online, ensure to prepare your space, clear your desk, ensure stable internet (get backup if possible), ensure your laptop is well charged and you have your ids and mobile phone ready to download app to submit photos).
During the exam:
- Use the flag feature
- If unsure, flag and move on
- Finish all questions first
- Review flagged questions before submitting
The exam survey?
Skip it if you want.
It’s not mandatory and does not affect your score.
Step 5: The Anxious Wait
Results can take up to 24 hours.
AWS reviews exam compliance through Pearson VUE — that’s why there’s a delay.
Here’s the truth most people don’t realize:
- 15 questions are unscored
- You don’t need 100%
-
Passing scores:
- 720 — Foundational & Associate
- 750 — Professional & Specialty
Still, I always advise:
Treat every question as if it’s scored.
Avoid complacency.
If you fail?
It’s not the end.
- You can retake after 14 days
- You now have exam experience
- Follow the same strategy again — it works
Proof That This Strategy Works (For Me Too)
I don’t teach what I don’t practice.
Using this exact approach, I’ve passed every AWS exam on my first attempt — never failed an exam:
You can verify my badges here:
- AWS Certified Security Specialty
- AWS Certified Developer Associate
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
Planning to add more certifications soon. ( I will be sure to follow the proven advise)
Final Advice
AWS certifications are very passable if you:
- Learn by doing
- Understand why services exist
- Apply a disciplined exam strategy
- Stay calm and methodical
There’s no magic.
Just preparation, process, and practice.
Best of luck in your next AWS exam.
Top comments (6)
This is a really great article and guidance! One thing that motivates and works for me is starting with a target date to take the exam as a first step - sometimes even scheduling the exam as well.
Using it as a target to prevent procrastination and also make sure that I am learning the content as needed
Yeah I know what you mean, I had to prep and write the new Security Specialty in 2 weeks , because my allotted voucher was expiring in 2 weeks.
So I scheduled to give me the maximum time possible and kept my down to prep. So yeah you can use the exams date to light a fire under your ******.
Whoa, you did that with the security speciality? Major props to you on that!
Thank you for sharing this article!
The explanations were very specific and easy to understand.
Good, kindly repost and share for others to see.
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