Clearing a certification exam even with years of experience in the #technology isn't always easy. There’s a difference between having knowledge and being able to successfully pass a certification exam like the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03).

Confidence and preparation are key🏆

My journey began with understanding exactly what the exam required.

🥇The first step was to thoroughly review the official AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Exam Guide. This document outlines everything you need to know, right down to the smallest details.

A crucial tip: Don’t overlook the last section of the guide that covers In-scope and Not in-scope services. This will help you focus your preparation. You can find the exam guide here: AWS SAA-C03 Exam Guide.

Once I had a clear idea of what the exam entailed, I evaluated my own knowledge. It’s important to gauge where you stand. Identify what concepts you are familiar with and what seems unfamiliar or complex.

My advice: Always go straight to the source when preparing for a technical certification. The official AWS documentation is your best resource for accurate and up-to-date information. Check it out here: AWS Documentation.

The AWS SAA-C03 exam is divided into four domains, each covering a different aspect of AWS architecture:

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)

A key point to remember is not to overlook domains with lower percentages. Although certain domains might contribute fewer points, all four are equally important because you never know which questions will be evaluated for scoring. Out of 65 questions, only 50 will count towards your score, so a balanced approach is essential.

To break down the preparation, start by dividing the big topics into smaller, manageable tasks.

Below is a breakdown of tasks by domain to give you an idea of how to approach your studies:

Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures

• Task 1.1: Design secure access to AWS resources.
• Task 1.2: Design secure workloads and applications.
• Task 1.3: Determine appropriate data security controls.

Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures

• Task 2.1: Design scalable and loosely coupled architectures.
• Task 2.2: Design highly available and fault-tolerant architectures.

Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures

• Task 3.1: Determine scalable and high-performing storage solutions.
• Task 3.2: Design elastic and high-performing compute solutions.
• Task 3.3: Determine high-performing database solutions.
• Task 3.4: Design scalable and high-performing network architectures.
• Task 3.5: Determine efficient data ingestion and transformation solutions.

Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures

• Task 4.1: Design cost-efficient storage solutions.
• Task 4.2: Design cost-optimized compute solutions.
• Task 4.3: Design cost-efficient database solutions.
• Task 4.4: Design cost-effective network architectures.

Lastly, make sure to revisit the appendix of the exam guide. The services listed under “In-scope AWS services and features” are critical for understanding and shouldn’t be ignored.

You can also refer to my git repo which has the documents I have created for my preparation.

By following these steps, you’ll set yourself up for success in clearing the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification with confidence.

Feel free to reach out to me if you need any guidance on the AWS Solutions Architect - Associate certification preparation.

You can connect with me at topmate / LinkedIn

Best of luck!
Gaurav