How I prepared for the AWS SAA exam

This article shares a first hand account of passing the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam with a score of 819, starting from zero cloud experience. It outlines an eight week preparation plan using Udemy courses and Tutorials Dojo practice exams, with AI tools to fill knowledge gaps. It also covers exam day strategy, time management tips, and plans to move into Data Engineering next.

Yesterday, I passed the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA) exam with a score of 819. It's a solid result, especially considering the passing mark is 720. But honestly, the moment I submitted my exam, It felt like I was right on the fence, and it could have gone either way.

Maybe I overreacted. But either way, I'm grateful AWS had my results ready in under six hours. Otherwise, the anxiety would have been unbearable.

Here's a full breakdown of how I prepared, especially for those of you currently in the trenches with little to no prior cloud experience.

From AI Practitioner to SAA

As I covered in a previous article, I passed the AWS AI Practitioner exam a few months ago. That win gave me the confidence to jump straight into the SAA. My initial plan was to sit the exam within four weeks.

That turned out to be unrealistic the moment I saw the breadth of the syllabus. Unlike last time, I didn't schedule the exam upfront because I wasn't sure how long I'd need That flexibility probably contributed to the preparation stretching to eight weeks instead of four. A firm deadline has a way of keeping you focused.

How I prepared

I used the same core strategy that worked for the AI Practitioner, Stephane Maarek's SAA course on Udemy and Tutorial Dojo practice exams. It took me about six weeks just to get through the videos, because I took detailed notes as I watched. Don't rush this part. Those notes are what you'll rely on during your final review.

One thing worth noting is that, the SAA is a very different beast from a Practitioner level exam. At the Practitioner level, knowing what a service does is usually enough. At the Associate level, they test whether you know how to apply them. It's deeply scenario based and requires a much broader understanding of how services interact with each other.

If you have six or more months of hands on AWS experience, you'll likely be fine. If you're coming in cold like I was, expect it to feel challenging.

Whenever I hit a concept I couldn't wrap my head around, I used Claude and Gemini to break down technical documentation into simpler terms. Having an AI on call 24/7 to fill knowledge gaps was genuinely invaluable.

Once I finished the course, I moved on to Tutorials Dojo (TD), and man, they are excellent. If you're already experienced with AWS, their practice exams alone might be enough to get you across the line.

My first two attempts were humbling and I barely cleared 50%. But instead of moving on, I reviewed every single wrong answer and used Claude or Gemini to dig deeper into anything TD's explanations didn't fully clarify (though TD's explanations are thorough in their own right).

Eventually, I strung together five consecutive scores between 75% and 80%. That's when I felt ready to book the exam.

One thing I noticed: TD's practice questions are noticeably longer than the real exam questions. This is actually great for building stamina. The actual exam questions were more concise, but the level of technical depth was similar.

Exam Day

During the exam, I flagged any question I wasn't confident about, but I always selected my best guess before moving on. This is important:, don't flag a question without marking an answer first. You may spend a minute or two reading through it only to flag it and never return, so make sure that time counts and at least have something on record.

Time management matters more than you'd think. Even with my extra 30 minutes of ESL accommodation, I was down to the final five minutes. Stay aware of the clock.

The exam started smoothly, but as I got deeper in, the number of flagged questions grew and the nerves crept back in. I finished with around 20 flagged questions. There's nothing you can do at that point except trust your preparation.

Unlike Practitioner exams, Associate level exams don't show whether you passed immediately at the end. You'll need to wait.

After about six anxious hours, the result came through, and I was thrilled.

What's Next

Passing the SAA is a great milestone, but I know my practical AWS skills still need work. Over the next couple of months, I plan to reinforce everything with hands on projects and labs. From there, the goal is to move into core Data Engineering concepts, which was the destination I had in mind from the very beginning. The SAA felt like a necessary foundation, and now that it's in place, I'm ready to build on it.

If I can pass this exam with no prior cloud experience, so can you, as long as you're consistent, patient with yourself, and honest about the gaps in your understanding. Don't skip the hands on labs, don't rush the practice exam reviews, and trust the process. Good luck to everyone currently preparing. Happy to answer any questions in the comments.