Achieving AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification: A Personal Success Story
Ace the AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam: A Two-Week Preparation Guide
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Guess what? On November 20th, I earned the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification. This is my first tech certification, and it is globally recognized. I achieved this certification after just two weeks of preparation. As companies and industries move their infrastructure to the cloud, this certification can help me stand out as a software developer, giving me a good advantage in my organization. I learned about AWS certification from Twitter, where someone tweeted about earning the AWS Developer Associate Certification.
I searched for information about AWS Certification, read about it, and learned about the process and exam guide. That's how I discovered it and decided I should get one. However, AWS offers many certifications. Which one will benefit my career and help me grow professionally? In this blog, I'm going to help you start your AWS certification journey at the foundation level. You can skip the foundation level and go straight to the Associate level certification, but I recommend starting with the Foundation level. It helps you understand cloud concepts, security, and best practices from the ground up.
Now, let me share how I prepared, including course materials, study tips, and the exam environment, so you won't have to figure everything out on your own. This will save you a lot of time and help you focus on your exam preparation.
Learning Process
There are many services in AWS Cloud. These include IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) like EC2, S3, and VPC; PaaS (Platform as a Service) like Elastic Beanstalk, Lambda, and ECS; and SaaS (Software as a Service) like CloudFront, CodePipeline, and Rekognition. Remembering all these services is not easy. AWS offers over 200 services, but you only need to know a few of them for the exam.
The AWS Cloud Practitioner is a foundational level certification, so you don't need to know the services in depth. You just need a basic understanding that allows you to communicate effectively with your team and clients to provide the best possible solutions for businesses.
Don't overthink it. I will share how I prepared for the certification exam in just two weeks. If I can do it, you can too. However, you need to dedicate yourself to exam preparation without any distractions. If you're working on side projects, freelance work, or anything else besides your job, please put it on hold until you get your certification.
I personally follow Stephane Maarek's Udemy course for Ultimate AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 2025. This course provides everything from video lessons to study guide materials. It will guide you through everything you need, and it's the only course you'll require for exam preparation. Now that you have the course and learning materials, you need to test your knowledge. How can you do that?
Take mock exams or practice tests. You can practice using a free website called examtopics.com, which provides 988 AWS CP exam questions for you to solve. If you can invest in practice exams, I highly recommend Stephane Maarek's 6 Practice Exams for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02. These practice exams will give you a feel of the real exam environment, just like being in an AWS exam room.
So, I just followed Stephane’s course and practice exams. I completed the course in one week, and in the second week, I took practice exams to strengthen my weak areas. The video course is about 15 hours long, so you can divide it based on your daily schedule. I personally dedicated 2-3 hours daily and passed my certification. Complete the course, take each practice exam one by one, check your answers, understand your weak areas, rewatch the topic videos, and then retake the same practice exam.
To prepare effectively, read the overview of each service, like the one provided at AWS S3 Overview. These overviews contain important information that closely matches many exam questions, helping to strengthen and confirm your understanding of the service.
Do this until you score 99% on all practice exams. This will boost your confidence and strengthen your understanding of AWS topics for the exam.
Exam Preparation
We have the course, study materials, and practice exam papers. Now, let's talk about the actual exam. To pass, you need a score of at least 700 out of 1000. If you fail, you can retake the exam 14 days later. The exam lasts 90 minutes and includes 65 questions, which can be in multiple-choice or multiple-response format. The standard cost of the exam is 100 USD, but additional fees like taxes or foreign exchange rates may apply.
The exam can be taken either in person at a Pearson VUE testing center or online with a proctor. It is offered in multiple languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Bahasa (Indonesian), Spanish (Spain and Latin America), French (France), German, Italian, and Portuguese (Brazil).
The foundational level exam costs 100 USD, the associate level costs 150 USD, and the professional and specialty level exams each cost 300 USD. Being in India, you would pay 100 USD plus an 18% GST tax of 18 USD, bringing the total to 118 USD. This certification is valid for 3 years.
Pro Tip: Once you finish the video course, schedule your exam date based on your availability. Having a deadline or exam date in mind helps you prepare effectively without getting stuck in an endless loop of preparation.
When preparing for the exam, keep in mind that some questions will include distractors, so consistent practice is crucial. If the volume of material feels overwhelming, review it again to reinforce your understanding. Always answer every question, as unanswered ones are marked incorrect, though there is no penalty for incorrect answers.
You can flag questions to review later after completing the rest. Most questions will be high-level, focusing on selecting the appropriate service. Eliminate obviously wrong options first, then determine which of the remaining answers is the most logical. Avoid overthinking, as there are very few trick questions. Additionally, if a solution seems overly complex, it is likely incorrect.
To schedule an AWS certification exam, you need to create an AWS Certification Account, which serves as a central tool for managing your certification activities, such as scheduling exams and accessing certification benefits. This account is separate from your AWS account. To create one, visit aws.training/Certification and click "Sign In." Then follow the steps to create an AWS Builder ID. Currently, AWS certification exams are administered through Pearson VUE.
On exam day, ensure you have a stable internet connection, a valid government-issued ID, and a personal laptop. Your desk must be clean, free of any paper, sticky notes, or other materials. The exam session will be recorded via audio and video, and no one else is allowed in the room. If another person is detected on the webcam, the exam will be terminated, and you will fail. Exam results will be emailed to you within five business days.
Conclusion
Achieving the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification is a significant milestone in your tech career, especially as cloud computing continues to be a critical component of modern business infrastructure. This certification not only enhances your understanding of AWS services but also distinguishes you in the competitive field of software development.
By following a structured preparation plan, utilizing resources like Stephane Maarek's course, and engaging in consistent practice exams, you can efficiently prepare for and succeed in the certification exam. Remember, the key to success lies in understanding the foundational concepts, practicing diligently, and maintaining focus.
With this certification, you are well-equipped to contribute effectively to your organization and advance in your professional journey.
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