My Certification Experience with AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
How I Passed the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam: My experience and Tips
Why Did I Start?
I’ve been a backend developer since 2019, using AWS for cloud infrastructure. I could complete my tasks by reading the documentation, but I didn’t really understand the fundamentals of cloud computing. I just used AWS without knowing how it truly worked.
The first time I worked with AWS, I had to set up an S3 bucket. I didn’t understand much about it. I followed the AWS guide and made it work, but I accidentally made the bucket public. I didn’t secure it with CloudFront, which was a big security risk. This showed me how little I knew about AWS.
Later, during my master’s degree, I attended a course led by an AWS-certified instructor. It included hands-on labs, and I enjoyed it. That experience made me curious to learn more about AWS. I even thought about getting certified, but other priorities got in the way.
A Mid-Life Wake-Up Call
When I turned 30, I felt stuck in life. I wasn’t motivated at work, and I questioned everything:
What do I really want?
What do I love doing?
What are my goals?
I tried different things—working on open-source projects, creating courses, blogging, and mentoring. But nothing worked out.
One day, I saw a LinkedIn post from someone who passed the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam. That inspired me to research the certification. After two days of research, I decided to book the exam.
First Attempt: Frustration
I started preparing by watching video tutorials. I had a Pluralsight subscription from my company, so I followed courses by ACloudGuru. But the more I watched, the more confused I got. AWS services all started to feel the same.
I watched 40 hours of videos, but I wasn’t learning anything meaningful. I was just memorizing for the exam. It felt pointless, and I lost motivation. I gave up and rescheduled the exam twice, feeling frustrated and hopeless.
Second Attempt: A Game-Changer
In October 2023, my company got a subscription to AWS Skill Builder. They also invited AWS experts to teach us how to use it effectively. This changed everything.
The AWS experts recommended:
Exam Preparation Course – To understand the exam format.
AWS Cloud Quest – A gamified way to get hands-on experience.
AWS Cloud Quest was fun and engaging. It helped me understand AWS services by practicing real tasks. I started enjoying the process and felt motivated again.
I also practiced using mock exams from AWS. Passing the mock exams boosted my confidence. Later, I combined practical labs with theoretical videos, which made learning easier.
I also bought practice exams from Tutorials Dojo. These exams were very helpful. They explained the correct answers in detail, which helped me understand better.
Exam Day Stress
On exam day, I expected extra time because I’m a non-native English speaker, but I didn’t get it. This stressed me out. I spent 45 minutes answering only 10 questions.
I felt more and more anxious as the clock ticked. In the last hour, I rushed through the remaining questions. I had only 13 minutes to review my answers.
I was sure I would fail, but I told myself it was okay. I had done my best.
The Result
A few hours later, I got the result: 788 out of 1000. I passed! It wasn’t a perfect score, but I was proud. Despite working a full-time job and consulting, I had managed to prepare and succeed.
Celebrating Success
To celebrate, I bought myself an iPhone 16 Pro. It felt good to reward my hard work.
Now, I’ve set a bigger goal: passing the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional exam in June 2025. If I succeed, I plan to reward myself with an Apple Watch!
My Advice for AWS Certification
If you’re preparing for AWS certification, here are some tips:
Start with hands-on practice: Use tools like AWS Cloud Quest or AWS Skill Builder labs to gain real experience.
Don’t just watch videos: Combine video tutorials with practical tasks. Pluralsight’s A Cloud Guru courses and AWS tutorials are good for theory.
Use practice exams: Tutorials Dojo’s practice exams and AWS mock exams are great tools to check your readiness.
Even if you work with AWS, prepare for the exam: The certifications test theoretical knowledge and scenarios you may not encounter in your day-to-day work. Hands-on experience isn’t enough; structured study is essential.
Plan your time: Break down your study schedule into small, achievable goals. Consistency is key.