Introduction
Last week, I attempted the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) exam last week, hoping to succeed on my first try. To my utter disbelief, I completed the exam in 30 minutes and scored 904 marks. Passing with 700 points, the pass mark would have been a great joy for me. I was out of this world.
This was possible because I followed some steps to prepare for this exam. In this article, I will share with you how I achieved this.
Look for maximum resources.
Apart from the exam guide, Microsoft provides learning materials. Make sure to check them. It is also beneficial to review the documentation of each assessed service because some questions require a deeper understanding. So people also enrol for Udemy or Pluralsight courses as the instructors also provide videos where they implement the services and concepts.
Also, many previous candidates have blogged about their exam structures and types of questions. It is helpful as you can have a real-life overview of how people tackled the exam. Others have blogged or shared the notes they used while preparing for the exam. This is what I am also planning to do in the upcoming weeks. So, stay tuned.
Plan your learning well
As mentioned earlier, the exam covers each of the topics in detail. It goes without saying that while preparing, you go through all the corners of the documentation, exam guide and learning materials. You will find it lengthy, and it is. So, plan well and have a timetable so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
I would advise you not to rush and take your time to learn at your pace. It took roughly one month to prepare. Certification is not a school exam you must pass to be promoted to the next class. Certification is proof that you know and understand industry-standard technology and services so that you can implement them at work. Learning by heart but without actually learning something is a waste of time and money.
On a personal note, I made my learnings topic-wise. I had set a goal to complete each topic in 1–2 days to keep the correct balance between my full-time job and learning.
Attempt some mock questions
The AZ-204 exam is role-based and is tailored to fit the industry. In other words, the questions asked sometimes refer to real-life scenarios. Despite having worked with Azure for some years does not guarantee that you have come across most of the topics being assessed. This is why practising some questions can be handy. A simple Google search for ‘Mock exam questions for AZ-204’ can provide some free and paid websites offering what is needed.
You can try those but remember to study well first.
Have some practice with Azure
Candidates should have 1-2 years of professional development experience and experience with Microsoft Azure, as Microsoft recommends. If you lack this experience, it is a good idea to supplement your learning with some hands-on practice sessions. You can sign up for a free Microsoft Azure trial account here.
Conclusion
This exam evaluates some important technology currently being used in the industry. The difficulty level of AZ-204 is intermediate. Success demonstrates that you understand how things work and how to make them work. As a result, it is critical to understand the theory and practice of as many different services as possible.
It is important to note that technology is constantly evolving. Despite passing this exam, continue to practice on Azure and refer to the documentation regularly.
More insights await you in our related blogs.
About the Author
Mervyn is the founder of Vroume and full stack senior software engineer at the Mauritius Commercial Bank. With 5+ years of experience, he believes that sharing what he learns is a good way to help technology evolve
Reference
Manilall, M., 2023, Tips and tricks for Passing the AZ-204 Exam, C-sharpcorner.com, Available at: https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/blogs/cracking-the-az204-exam [Accessed on 3 July 2023]
