how i passed the [popular exam, e.g., cissp/aws/azure] on my first try: a step-by-step study plan

Passing a major IT certification like the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) on your first attempt is challenging—but absolutely possible with the right strategy. Here’s exactly how I did it (including my 8-week study plan, key resources, and mistakes to avoid).

My Background

• Role: Former System Administrator (2 years of experience)

• Cloud Knowledge: Basic AWS exposure (no professional experience)

• Study Time: ~100 hours over 8 weeks (while working full-time)

Step 1: Understand the Exam (Week 1)

What I Did:

• Downloaded the Official Exam Guide to identify weighted domains:

  • Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures (30%)

  • Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures (26%)

  • Domain 3: High-Performing Architectures (24%)

  • Domain 4: Cost Optimization (20%)

• Took a baseline practice test (scored 48% – yikes!).

Key Takeaway: Focus on heavily weighted topics first.

Step 2: Build Core Knowledge (Weeks 2-4)

Resources I Used:

1. Video Course: Adrian Cantrill’s AWS SAA Course (hands-on labs included)

2. AWS Free Tier: Launched real projects (e.g., 3-tier VPC, S3 static website)

3. Cheat Sheets: AWS Services Overview PDF

Daily Routine:

• 1 hour/day: Watch videos + take notes

• Weekends: Build mini-projects (e.g., auto-scaling group)

Pro Tip: Skim the AWS Well-Architected Framework—it’s gold for design questions.

Step 3: Practice, Practice, Practice (Weeks 5-6)

My Strategy:

• Tutorials Dojo Practice Tests (6 full exams, reviewed incorrect answers deeply)

• AWS Whitepapers: Especially Security Pillar and Cost Optimization

• Flashcards: Anki for memorizing limits (e.g., S3 object size = 5TB)

Critical Insight: The exam uses scenario-based questions—not memorization. Understand why answers are right/wrong.

Step 4: Exam-Specific Prep (Week 7)

Focus Areas:

• Time Management: 150 minutes for 65 questions = ~2.3 mins/question

• Troubleshooting: Common pitfalls (e.g., misconfigured NACLs vs. Security Groups)

• Key Services: EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, CloudFront

Mock Exam Results:

• Week 5: 68%

• Week 6: 79%

• Week 7: 87% (ready!)

Step 5: Exam Day (Week 8)

What Helped Me Pass:

• Skipped Tough Questions First: Flagged 12/65 for review

• Eliminated Wrong Answers: Looked for absolutes ("always," "never")

• Used the Whiteboard: Drew network diagrams for complex scenarios

Final Score: 812/1000 (Pass = 720)

Mistakes to Avoid

? Over-studying lesser topics (e.g., spent too long on Snowball)
? Ignoring cost-optimization questions (20% of the exam!)
? Not doing enough hands-on labs (theory ≠ real-world AWS)

Free Resources I Recommend

• AWS Skill Builder Free Courses

• Exam Readiness Webinar

• AWS Cheat Sheets by Digital Cloud

Want my full study schedule? Download my 8-week checklist here.

Final Thoughts

Passing the AWS SAA on my first try came down to:

1. Structured prep (not cramming)

2. Hands-on practice (not just videos)

3. Focused review (targeting weak areas)

Need personalized advice? Book a quick coaching call.