Sharing My Top 10 resources to use while preparing for AWS Certification Exams

Hello! In this article, I will share resources that helped me and many others to study and pass AWS certification exams. As a Women In Cloud Ambassador and Learning & Development Lead at my previous job, I relied on these resources to guide individuals to step through their learning journey. Now, I am excited to share them with you to build your expertise in the cloud-computing world!

1. Explore the Official AWS Training website

It is the number one place to get the most up-to-date information on currently available certifications. You can find an overview of all available certifications, register for free online training, get exam guides and sample questions, and read documentations.

2. Create an AWS free account

Nothing is better than real practice! Create a free account and start exploring services and build solutions.

3. Build common use cases using step-by-step instructions on qwikLABS

Great place to find labs for different levels, starting from a 30 minutes introductory level to a multi-day expert level. Most introductory labs are free.

4. Try A Cloud Guru

Personally, it is my favorite learning platform. It is a one-stop place where you can watch video courses, get hands-on experience, practice quizzes, and even participate in discussions and ask questions using forums. If I had to stick to one learning platform, that would be it. Oh, ACG has an awesome app! I watched most videos on the app at 1.2x speed. You can try it for free for 7 days.

5. Check out Udemy courses

A good option if you don't want to subscribe to a monthly plan. Instead, you can pay $10-$15 and buy a full course on Udemy and study at your own pace. I've heard positive recommendations on the AWS Solution Architect Associate course by Stephane Maarek.

6. Review AWS Cheat Sheets

Cheat sheets provide an overview of all the core services and concepts needed to pass exams. Cheat sheets are free! You can buy additional practice exams on the website.

7. Need more practice exams? Check Whizlabs

I found whizlabs practice exam questions similar to the ones I encountered during the actual exam. Some questions are free, a package of several practice exams cost less than $20. Whizlabs always have some promotions available. Check for discounts.

8. Need more information? Search on YouTube or LinkedIn Learning

If you have a LinkedIn Premium, it can be a good source to fill knowledge gaps. Let's say you identified that you need to gain a deeper understanding of encryption, then search this topic and watch a short video. If you don't have a Premium account, then use YouTube! It has great content but it might take longer to find it. 

9. You finished the course. You practiced quizzes. Now it's time to take an official practice exam!

Try to solve a practice test before you take an actual exam. Associate practice exams include 20 questions, and professional exams have 40 questions. If you score over 80%, don't wait and schedule your exam! If you make a mistake during your official practice exam, you won't know which answer was wrong. Therefore it's better to start with unofficial practice tests with explanations for every question. 

10. AWS re/Start development program

I recently came across this program. From what I understood, it is more than a training course. The program providers prepare individuals for entry-level careers in the cloud and connect them to potential employers. It is free and targets students, unemployed and military veterans. Unlike the training courses I mentioned above, it is Instructor-Led Training, meaning you will get a chance to collaborate with classmates in a virtual classroom setting. 

This by no means is a comprehensive list but rather resources that I personally used or heard positive feedback from others. Of course, there is no need to use all the resources mentioned above. For example, the official free training + some introductory labs could be enough to pass the Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. Use practice tests and quizzes to determine your exam readiness.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Don't delay! Start your cloud journey today! Best of luck!