How I passed AWS Cloud Practitioner in 2024
Good evening everyone! Today I want to talk about what the AWS exams are like in 2024, how best to prepare and what to be prepared for while preparing and taking the certification.
Why I decided to learn AWS
In general, over about 5 years of active use of various VPS servicesI have always encountered the fact that you have to configure the hardware yourself from A to Z. The most painful thing was to sit and roll out all the updates through aptand then configure it yourself nginx and DNS.
At the beginning of this year, I decided to do something fun and at the same time useful for my professional career. In parallel with work, I am working on a project related to machine learning and brain scanning, and when the time came to host an application for demonstration MVPI realized that, firstly, I don’t want to bother with setting up a server, and secondly, I don’t want to host my application on regular hosting, which is how I got acquainted with AWS EC2.
After publishing the application on EC2 with help gitlab ci/cd and then running it through docker on the OS, I immediately fell in love with AWSbecause I figured everything out in literally an hour.
Well, then everything is standard, I always knew that there were AWS certificates, and I decided that it was my time to start conquering this peak.
Hierarchy of certificates and where to start
The most basic AWS certificate is “Cloud Practitioner”. According to Amazon themselves, this certificate confirms your ability to work at a basic level with AWS and its services. When to take it? Amazon says you need to return it after 6 months using the AWS platform, but as you understand, you can pass it even without really working with AWS. How? I'll tell you a little later.
Next come Associate certificates, there are only 3 of them:
They are much more complicated Cloud Practitioner and test your knowledge in specific areas of cloud technology. I recommend following the links and reading the descriptions of the certificates in more depth.
After Associate come Specialty certificates. There are about 6 of them, and each of them tests specific areas of knowledge in AWS. As an example, let's choose “AWS Database Specialty”. In the exam, you can expect in-depth questions related to databases and database management specifically in AWS. If you previously took “AWS Solutions Architect”, then about 8% of the questions would be about databases, and then all the questions would be related to them.
Well, the most difficult ones are Professional certificates. This is where the fun begins, because as people who are preparing for or have taken these exams tell me: “Without practical knowledge, it is unlikely that you will be able to pass the Professional certificate.” To put it as simply as possible, in order to pass these certificates, in addition to memorizing the questions, you also need to go into the services yourself and get better at it.
Pricing of certificates:
Foundational – $100
Associate – $150
Professional – $300
Specialty – $300
How to prepare for Cloud Practitioner?
I always have the same approach to exams – memorize everything from A to Z.
First you need to fully study AWS White-Paper. It describes all the services and what they are responsible for.
I recommend that you take A4 paper and write down all the services by hand. Order service data 100+, and each of them is extremely unique. I ask you to pay special attention to such services as EC2, S3, EBS. There were a lot of questions regarding these services, ranging from pricing to architecture.
After studying the entire white paper, I highly recommend taking the free courses from AWS. They are super informative and have the same format as the courses on udemy – watch the lesson, take the test. The courses are entirely in English, so if your English is bad, try different plugins for translating subtitles.
To strengthen your knowledge, be sure to take many tests that are available on the Internet, but please do not abuse this. Dumpers – these are the people who memorize the failed tests and thus pass the certificates. I think you yourself understand that with this approach there won’t be much information left in your head, but one way or another, to consolidate your knowledge, you need to take tests several times.
At the very end, pay attention to not so obvious topics to study:
AWS Well-Architected Framework – how to work correctly with cloud technologies.
AWS CAF – The AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (AWS CAF) leverages AWS expertise and guidance to help you digitally transform and accelerate business results through innovative use of AWS.
AWS Pricing And Billing – prices and price list of services. Cost optimization.
How to pass the exam?
To take the exam, first of all you need an account in PearsonVue.
In it you need to select the AWS section and select the date for submitting your certificate in the schedule exam section.
There are 2 ways to take the exam: online and offline.
If you choose to submit online, you must download the onVue program to your PC and submit through it. To pass the exam you will need:
The original of your document (identity card, license, passport)
Speakers (This is mandatory, if you wear headphones, you will not be allowed to pass the exam)
Good Internet connection (I recommend disabling antiviruses and VPN before taking the exam)
If you take it offline, then in the schedule exam section you select the offline test and the nearest testing center in your city. If you are taking it offline, I recommend arriving 30 minutes before the exam, since while the computer itself is loading and all the data is being pulled up, you simply will not have time to pass the exam in your allotted time.
To pass the exam, you need to score 700 points out of 1000. I passed the exam on the first try and scored 755 points.
The preparation took me about 2 weeks, I spent about 1.5-2 hours a day.
