7 steps to prepare for AWS Certified Solution Architect Associate
Published: 2022-11-11 12:27:48

The **AWS Solutions Architect Associate** certification is a requirement for many cloud roles these days. Earning the **SAA-C03** exam helps candidates showcase their skills and knowledge across a broad range of AWS services. There is a great deal of value to be gained from passing this in-demand certification – which is one of the top-paying IT certifications out there. 

To help you best prepare for the [AWS Certified Solution Architect Associate exam](https://digitalcloud.training/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate/), we have put together a guide that outlines 7 steps to prepare for AWS Certified Solution Architect Associate. Follow these steps to maximize your chances of passing the AWS SAA exam at the first attempt with a great score. 

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## 1. Take the AWS Cloud Practitioner First
You may be tempted to skip the [AWS Cloud Practitioner certification](https://digitalcloud.training/aws-certified-cloud-practitioner/), assuming that this fundamental certification isn’t very valuable. However, this entry-level certification has its place when it comes to upskilling yourself and starting your AWS journey. The main benefits of passing the AWS Cloud Practitioner are as follows:

- Gain AWS specific exam experience, before you take the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Certification
- The fundamental certification will provide you with a solid level of understanding which will help you move forward in your cloud career, and on to the next certification level
- Finally, passing the Cloud Practitioner exam will give you a boost of confidence. You will feel more certain of what you are capable of when moving forward. 

## 2. Choose Your Learning Material Wisely

There seems to be an endless supply of learning material out there - with many training course offerings, bootcamps and packages! When starting your AWS journey, you want to make sure that your learning resources are reputable, up-to-date and accurate. So, stay away from exam dumps!

[Digital Cloud Training](https://digitalcloud.training/aws-training-courses/) offers high-quality training material that will fully prepare you for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate. The ‘_Ultimate Training Package_’ includes a video course, practice exam questions as well as training notes (eBook) covering all information needed to pass your exam. 

## 3. Come up with an Exam Strategy

Keep in mind that if you are failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Learning all the material required for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam may feel overwhelming at times. So, it’s best to create a plan on how to tackle this challenge:

1. When booking your exam, pick a date that is roughly 6 weeks into the future
2. For the first 4 weeks, focus your study mainly on the video course
3. During the final 2 weeks, spend lots of time testing yourself with the practice tests and exam simulator that mirror the real exam environment. This helps to consolidate your learning from the previous weeks.
4. Set some time aside during the final days to review any area that you are scoring 80% or lower in the exam simulator. This will help you eliminate any area of weakness. 

## 4. Hands-on Experience is Key

While studying the theory for your exam, it is crucial to also get some hands-on experience. Practical exercises will help understand the subject in greater depth. There is only so much you can learn from watching videos and reading about different services. Take the time to become familiar with the AWS console and start building.

This can either be in a lab environment such as Challenge Labs or in your own AWS free tier account. With Challenge Labs, you develop practical AWS skills with scenario-based exercises that run in a secure AWS sandbox environment (eliminating the risk of running up unexpected bills in your AWS account). Learn by doing and gain real-world cloud skills while preparing for your AWS certification exam without ever needing to set up your own AWS Free Tier account!

Whichever avenue you choose – developing hands-on skills is key to achieving the best outcome.

## 5. Be aware of the ‘Kicker’ in questions

When taking the exam, you’ll get to answer scenario-based questions in which you are presented with a real-world problem. Through multiple choice, you will have to identify the correct answer.

Be aware of the ‘Kicker’ – that is the question they are really asking. Take the time to read and analyze the question to make sure you fully understand it. 

It is important to separate the most important part of the question from the irrelevant information which AWS may present to trick you.

## 6. The Process of Elimination

When faced with multiple-choice questions in the exam, we highly recommend using the ‘process of elimination’.

As a first step, identify and remove the answers that are obviously incorrect. Then, pick the most viable answer among the options that are left. 

You will find that often there are two very wrong answers, and two potential contenders. Using this method will increase your chances of getting the answer right.

## 7. Don’t Skip the Basics

While this links back to the very first point, we made in this article, it doesn’t harm to emphasize the importance of developing a solid foundation of cloud knowledge. 

Before sitting your SAA-C03 exam, make sure you are fully clued up on the fundamentals. We highly recommend enrolling in the [AWS Bootcamp from Digital Cloud Training](https://digitalcloud.training/aws-bootcamps/) that will teach the AWS fundamentals and make sure you are not just exam ready, but job-ready. 

Knowing the fundamentals of cloud computing along with the key AWS services are key to passing the AWS Solutions Architect exam and achieving success in your cloud career. 

## Conclusion

Preparing for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification is a lengthy process that requires time and energy. However, if you follow the steps outlined in this article and break the process down into easy steps, there is no doubt that you can achieve your goal and get AWS certified. 

Earning the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification will help you advance your cloud career and massively improve your earning potential.