To take an Azure exam, you'll need to prepare for a multiple-choice exam that lasts 80 minutes and contains 40-60 questions.
The exam format is divided into two categories: core and specialty. Core exams focus on foundational skills, while specialty exams cover specific areas like Azure AI, Azure Data, or Azure Infrastructure.
You'll need to choose the right exam based on your career goals and current role. For example, if you're an Azure administrator, you might take the AZ-104 exam, while a data scientist might opt for the DP-200 exam.
Each exam has its own set of skills measured, so make sure to review the exam outline carefully before signing up.
Skills and Preparation
To pass the Azure exam, you need to have the right skills and preparation. The exam measures skills in various areas, including core data concepts, relational data on Azure, and analytics workloads on Azure.
The exam also covers skills in designing and implementing core networking infrastructure, designing, implementing, and managing connectivity services, and securing network connectivity to Azure resources. To prepare for the exam, you can choose from instructor-led courses or self-paced learning paths.
Here are some key skills measured by the exam:
- Plan and manage an Azure AI solution
- Design and implement core networking infrastructure
- Design, implement, and manage connectivity services
- Describe core data concepts
- Design and implement application delivery services
To further prepare for the exam, you can use practice assessments to get a feel for the exam format and difficulty level. You can also use online tutorials and study guides to supplement your learning and stay on track with your preparation.
Skills Measured
The skills measured for various Microsoft Azure exams are quite diverse.
You'll find that some exams focus on core data concepts, such as describing relational and non-relational data on Azure. Other exams, like the AZ-900, have a broader scope, covering design, implementation, and management of Azure services.
For example, the AZ-900 exam measures skills in designing identity, governance, and monitoring solutions, as well as designing infrastructure solutions.
In contrast, the AZ-700 exam focuses on planning and managing Azure AI solutions, including implementing content moderation and computer vision solutions.
Here's a breakdown of the skills measured for some popular Azure exams:
It's essential to review the skills measured for each exam to ensure you're adequately prepared.
Microsoft Fundamentals Glossary
To get familiar with Microsoft Azure, it's essential to understand the basics. Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Glossary is a great resource to start with. Azure is a platform created by Microsoft for cloud computing.
Cloud computing is a broad term that encompasses various services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence. This can be a complex topic, but understanding the components can help you better grasp the concept.
A virtual machine is a software-based computer system that functions like a physical computer. This is useful for testing and development purposes, as it allows you to create a virtual environment without affecting the physical hardware.
Regions and Availability Zones are critical concepts to understand in Azure. A region is a geographical area where Azure data centers are located, and an Availability Zone is a physically separate location within a region that contains one or more data centers.
Organizing and managing Azure resources is made easier with Resource Groups. This is a logical container for Azure resources, used for organizing and managing resources.
Azure Active Directory is a service that manages identity and access to Azure resources. It verifies who you are and what you're allowed to do with Azure resources.
Here's a quick summary of the key concepts:
- Azure: A platform for cloud computing
- Cloud computing: Provides various services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence
- Virtual machine: A software-based computer system that functions like a physical computer
- Region: A geographical area where Azure data centers are located
- Availability Zone: A physically separate location within a region that contains one or more data centers
- Resource Group: A logical container for Azure resources
- Azure Active Directory: A service that manages identity and access to Azure resources
Course and Certification Details
To prepare for the Microsoft Azure exams, it's essential to understand the course and certification details. The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900 is divided into three domains, each with a specific percentage of the exam's significance.
To prepare for the certification, organize your studies around the exam topics, which include the latest and updated exam guide. You can find this information on the Official Microsoft AZ-900 website, which is the epicenter for all the information.
The exam requires you to be familiar with the Azure Well-Architected Framework and Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure. You can enhance your knowledge by using Microsoft Learn and referring to Microsoft Documentations. Additionally, consider enrolling in instructor-led training courses or using books like "Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Exam" by Jim Cheshire to gain a thorough understanding of the exam concepts.
Here is a summary of the relevant certifications and prerequisites for the Exam AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions:
- As a Microsoft Azure solutions architect, you advise stakeholders and translate business requirements into designs for Azure solutions that align with the Azure Well-Architected Framework and Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure.
Azure Fundamentals Format
The Azure Fundamentals Format is designed to test your knowledge of fundamental cloud concepts, core Azure services, security, privacy, compliance, trust, and Azure pricing and support.
You can expect the exam to last 60 minutes and contain about 40 to 60 questions in Multiple Choice and Multi-Response Format.
Eliminate the wrong choices to find the right answer, and don't worry about complicated questions - you can come back to them later.
There's no negative marking, so make sure to attempt all the questions.
The exam costs $99 USD, and you have various options for scheduling it.
Here's a quick summary of the exam format:
Microsoft Fundamentals Resources
Microsoft Learn is a great starting point for learning about Azure Fundamentals, providing free, interactive, and self-paced courses that cover all the topics you need to know for the exam.
You can access the Azure Fundamentals learning path here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/azure-fundamentals/.
The official study guide for the AZ-900 exam is the Exam Ref AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, which provides in-depth coverage of all exam objectives.
You can purchase it on Amazon or Microsoft Press.
Microsoft Azure documentation is a comprehensive guide to all Azure services and features, which you can use to review specific topics or learn about new Azure services.
You can access the Azure documentation here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/.
The Microsoft Azure YouTube channel provides a wealth of information on Azure services and features, with videos on specific topics or live events to learn about the latest updates.
You can access the Azure YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0m-80FnNY2Qb7obvTL_2fA.
Here are some top resources to help you prepare for the Exam AZ-900:
The Azure fundamentals certification exam AZ-900 preparation guide provides an overview of the exam and its objectives, along with sample questions and links to additional resources.
You can access the guide here: https://query.prod.cms.rt.microsoft.com/cms/api/am/binary/RE4Hl7f.
Microsoft Course Outline
The Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900 course outline is divided into three domains, each with a specific percentage indicating its significance in the exam. These domains are then broken down into subtopics, giving you a detailed understanding of the exam content.
To prepare for the certification, it's advisable to organize your studies around these exam topics. This will help you focus on the most important areas and ensure you're well-prepared for the exam.
Here's a breakdown of the exam domains and their corresponding percentages:
By understanding the course outline and exam structure, you'll be better equipped to create a study plan and prepare for the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Microsoft Azure exam hard?
The Microsoft Azure exam is considered to have a low difficulty level, requiring a basic understanding of cloud concepts and services. Reviewing the exam guide and taking practice tests can help you prepare effectively.
What is the Azure exam?
The Azure exam is a professional assessment that validates your skills and knowledge in Microsoft Azure cloud computing services. It's a crucial step for IT professionals, developers, and data/AI experts to demonstrate their expertise and advance their careers.
Is the Azure AZ-900 exam easy?
The Azure AZ-900 exam is considered foundational and focuses on basic cloud concepts, making it a more accessible entry point for cloud beginners. It's designed to evaluate core Azure services, not requiring advanced technical knowledge.
How much is the Azure 104 exam?
The cost of the Azure 104 exam varies by country, ranging from $165 to $330 USD, or ₹4800 INR in India. Check your region's pricing for the most up-to-date information.
Sources
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-data-fundamentals/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/exams/az-305/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-ai-engineer/
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/azure-network-engineer-associate/
- https://www.testpreptraining.com/blog/exam-format-az-900-microsoft-azure-fundamentals/
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