The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner examination tests the foundational knowledge of the Amazon Web Services cloud platform. It focuses on understanding the basics of cloud, security, technology, as well as how AWS prices its services. This exam is for anyone who wants to show a basic understanding of the uses and advantages of AWS cloud irrespective of their job role. Ideally, it’s recommended for those with at least six months experience in AWS or a related field. This certification is a great way for anyone to prove their understanding of cloud services and boost their professional credibility.
I will guide you through each of the steps of preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam in more detail throughout the blog.
Understanding the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam
First things first, let’s understand what this certification is all about. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner test exam is an entry-level certification from AWS. It’s designed for individuals with little to no prior experience in AWS, making it an excellent starting point for beginners like yourself.
It covers basic AWS Cloud concepts, including AWS services, pricing, architecture, security, and compliance.
Exam Details:
| Exam duration | 90 minutes |
| Exam format | 65 questions; either multiple-choice or multiple-response |
| Cost | 100 USD |
| Test in-person or online | Pearson VUE testing centre or online proctored exam |
You can refer to the official exam guide from this link.
Step 1: Get to know the exam and exam-style questions
AWS offers more than 200+ services but you don’t need to know all of them for the exam because AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is an entry-level certification but you should have a basic understanding of the core services like EC2, S3, RDS, IAM, and VPC.
Response types:
There are two types of questions on the exam:
- Multiple choice: This type consists of one correct answer and three incorrect options (distractors).
- Multiple response: This type requires selecting two or more correct answers from five or more options.
Score evaluation:
- Your results for the exam are reported as a scaled score of 100–1,000. The minimum passing score is 700.
- Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect; there is no penalty for guessing. The exam includes 50 questions that affect your score.
- The exam includes 15 unscored questions that do not affect your score.
- AWS also offers a practice questions set, you can follow this link for that
- Self-paced digital training on AWS – AWS Skill Builder
Step 2: Learn about exam topics
The exam has the following content domains and weightings:
- Domain 1: Cloud Concepts (24% of scored content)
- Domain 2: Security and Compliance (30% of scored content)
- Domain 3: Cloud Technology and Services (34% of scored content)
- Domain 4: Billing, Pricing, and Support (12% of scored content)
Step 3: Prepare for your exam
There are various courses where you can enroll both on Udemy and YouTube. AWS also offers various training options, including instructor-led classes, online courses, and self-paced tutorials.
The most famous course for AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification is Stephane Mareek’s Udemy Course. He also has a practice test where you can enroll or you can also watch this free YouTube Video.
Step 4: Putting Theory into Practice
Now it’s time to do hands-on practice on the actual AWS Console. Create your free account on AWS. AWS offers new customers a 12-month free tier when they create an account. This tier includes three types of offerings: 12 months free, always free, and short-term free trials.
Launch EC2 instances, configure S3 buckets and play around with IAM policies. By doing hands-on practice on AWS console yourself in real-world scenarios, you’ll solidify your understanding and build confidence in your abilities.
Step 5: Assess your exam readiness
Before scheduling your exam, make sure to review the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam Readiness materials provided by AWS.
Self-paced digital training on AWS – AWS Skill BuilderThese resources include whitepapers, FAQs, and exam guides that cover essential exam topics in detail. Pay special attention to the AWS Well-Architected Framework, AWS shared responsibility model, and AWS pricing models, as these are frequently tested areas.
Step 6: Schedule and Take the Exam
Once you feel confident in your knowledge and preparedness, it’s time to schedule your exam. Visit the AWS Training and Certification websiteto book your exam appointment at a Pearson VUE testing centre or opt for an online proctored exam from the comfort of your home or office.
Conclusion
To pave the way for a satisfying profession in cloud computing, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is an outstanding starting point. You can ace the test by carefully following these guidelines and allocating time to examine and practice.
Let us finalize our discussion with Jeff Bezos’s quote that says “Work hard, have fun, make history”. Such few but strong words call upon us to work hard as well as make something exceptional.
For more such informational content about cloud technologies, visit the CloudZenia website.
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