My Study Strategy

Preparing for the AWS Certified Developer Associate exam can feel overwhelming, especially with the vast amount of material to cover. I recently passed the exam, and here’s a breakdown of how I structured my study plan and resources, which might help you as well.

1. Course Overview

I started with an AWS Developer Associate course on Udemy. Although it’s packed with information, I found it a bit boring at times. To avoid getting bogged down in details, I focused on having a high-level understanding of all the services. This helped me grasp the bigger picture without getting lost in specifics early on.

2. Practice Exams

I also made use of Udemy’s practice exams from the same instructor. These were a game changer. After each test, I’d write down the questions I got wrong and look up the relevant AWS documentation to deepen my understanding of services I was less familiar with. This method helped me target weak areas efficiently.

3. The Official Study Guide

For additional reading, I found a copy of the AWS Certified Developer Official Study Guide at my local library in Toronto. The book is also available on Amazon. I focused on reading chapters about services I wasn’t as comfortable with. I enjoyed using the book as it gave me a break from the computer screen and helped reinforce key concepts in a different format.

4. Cheat Sheets for Quick Review

I also relied on cheat sheets from Digital Cloud Training, specifically tailored to the AWS Developer Associate exam. These provided concise summaries of important topics and services, making them great for quick review sessions.

5. Final Week of Study

In the final week leading up to the exam, I followed a structured routine:

• Re-read the book chapters on topics I found tricky.
• Took more practice exams to gauge my progress.
• Wrote down important points in a notebook, especially the ones I thought would be helpful to memorize.

This combination of reading, taking practice exams, and writing things down helped cement the information in my mind.

6. Time Investment

In total, I dedicated about four weeks to studying, leveraging my existing experience from past projects at Pfizer, especially those involving serverless technologies. It’s a lot to absorb, but manageable if you break it down systematically.

7. Exam vs. Practice Tests

One interesting thing I noticed: the practice exams were harder than the actual certification exam. My scores on the real exam were better than on the practice tests, which was a pleasant surprise.

Conclusion

The AWS Certified Developer Associate exam is challenging, but with the right resources and study strategy, it’s definitely achievable. Focusing on a high-level understanding, targeting weak spots through practice, and reviewing key concepts with cheat sheets were crucial to my success. If you’re preparing for the exam, I hope this breakdown helps you on your journey!