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How Hard Is The AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam?

One of the most sought-after exams for cloud professionals, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam is that prestigious certification for the individual looking to validate his skills in designing, deploying, and managing scalable, cost-effective, and resilient systems on Amazon Web Services (AWS). But the big question everyone is asking is: How hard is the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam?


Here we’ll know how to enhance your career with AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Training.

Understanding the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification

This is a key foundational step before we discuss how tough the exam is. Understand what the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Training will validate. It covers your capability to design and deploy scalable and cost-effective systems on the AWS platform. Exam subjects span across these competencies, such as designing resilient architectures and implementing high-performing architectures. 

The test is a multiple-choice and multiple-answer question set. This measures one's ability to solve real-world problems with the help of any of the AWS services.


AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Training

Exam Summary

  • Duration: 130 minutes

  • Number of Questions: 65

  • Passing Score: AWS does not post the passing score. 

  • Cost: $150 USD

  • Delivery: The exam is online or in a local testing center worldwide.


The questions will be scenario-based. You will have to know not only the theory behind the AWS services but also should know to apply them in practical in addition to real-world contexts.

How Challenging is the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate Exam?

 1. Breadth of Topics


The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification encompasses everything from more basic AWS offerings, such as EC2, S3, and VPC, to more advanced tools like Cloud Formation, RDS, and Lambda. This would mean that you must be well versed in all aspects of the different AWS components, their interaction, and implementation in an efficient manner.

 Key Exam Domains:
  •  Domain 1: Design Resilient Architectures (30%)

 The designing of architectures that are highly available, fault-tolerant, and scalable.


  •  Domain 2: Design High Performing Architectures (28%)

   Test your ability to select and use the right AWS services for performance requirements.


  •  Domain 3: Create Secure Applications and Architectures (24%)

   Ensures that you can include security best practices in designing as well as implementing architectures.


  •  Domain 4: Cost and Optimization (18%)

It is cost-optimization plus how to design solutions both budget-friendly and efficient.

 2. Scenario Based Questions 

The exam is known for its scenario-based questions, where the problems are simulated for real-world scenarios and would have to apply AWS services to come up with optimal solutions. These questions test how well you know the practical implementation of AWS and your critical abilities to pick the most suitable solution.


You might come across a problem like designing a scalable web application infrastructure or some kind of optimal solution for cost savings. Then, you would have to decide on the best possible combination and settings from the options available. This is harder than the standard theoretical questions as it aims at testing your ability to apply what you learn in practical terms.

 3. Requires Hands-On Experience

While theoretical knowledge alone may suffice to pass the exam, hands-on experience is its greatest ally. Many AWS professionals advise a minimum of six months to a year of experience working with hands-on exposure with AWS before taking the exam. 


If you do not possess direct experience, enrolling in an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Training program can help. These programs blend theory with hands-on labs, which helps better assimilate the knowledge.

 4. Time Management Challenge

The timing of the exam means that you will have 130 minutes to answer 65 questions, or roughly two minutes per question, which is an awfully tight time frame.


Time management becomes very important during the exam. It is quite easy to get caught in a tricky question. However, spending too much time on one problem can decrease your chance of completing all the questions within the designated time.

How to Schedule for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam

1. Enroll in an AWS Solutions Architect Associate Course


One of the best preparations that one can have towards sitting for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam is actually taking an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate course. The AWS Solutions Architect Associate course course will provide you with structured learning, covering all exam domains with complete depth, and will also afford practice tests, labs, and guidance from instructors who have years of experience to help clear up tough spots.


Many online platforms offer training, including AWS’s own AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Certification although you can consider an authorized training provider in New york ‘Cert Solution’. They offer 


  • Live Interacted Video lessons to explain key concepts.

  • Hands-on labs to practice what you’ve learned.

  • Mock exams to impersonate the real test environment.

 2. Focus on AWS Whitepapers and Documentation

AWS provides detailed whitepapers and documentation, which are very useful for exam preparation. One of the most important whitepapers is the AWS Well Architected Framework, as it helps an individual understand the best practices of using AWS. In addition to that, the AWS Overview of AWS Services and Architecting on AWS are perfect materials for your exam preparation.

 3. Practice with AWS Free Tier

If you are not working directly with AWS, you can still get your hands dirty to become a master by creating an AWS Free Tier account. The Free Tier gives you limited access to most of the other AWS services that will enable you to experiment with implementing solutions without costing you too much. This helps you acquire the practical experience needed to work out how AWS services work in the real world.

 4. Review Exam Resources and Take Practice Tests

There are many study guides, mock exams, and even practice tests designed to help you prepare. These practice exams mimic the format and timing of the real exam, moreover you can get accustomed to the types of questions you will face. Be sure to review any wrong answers so that you understand how the right answer was arrived at.

To Conclude

In conclusion, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam is moderately challenging but achievable with the right preparation. The breadth of knowledge required to not only design secure and cost-effective architectures as well as understand high-performance solutions. This makes this exam challenging for many. But, with practical experience a structured study plan, and good resources; there is a good chance to succeed in this exam.


Even though you're new to AWS or have been working with it for a while, Platforms Like Cert Solution , make this AWS Solutions Architect Associate course finest for you to prove your cloud skills and open career opportunities. So prepare well and ensure that the challenging exam becomes a rewarding process in your AWS journey.


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