How Many Questions Are There in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam? – Comprehensive Guide by OpsNexa

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam is one of the most prestigious certifications for cloud architects, designed for professionals who have advanced expertise in AWS cloud architecture. If you’re aiming to pass this exam and boost your career in cloud computing, one of the first questions that might come to your mind is, how many questions are there in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam?

In this detailed blog post, we’ll answer that question, explore the exam structure, and provide you with expert tips on how to prepare effectively for the exam. Whether you’re an experienced AWS architect or someone aiming to take your skills to the next level, this guide from OpsNexa will help you navigate the exam preparation process and maximize your chances of success.

Understanding the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam is designed for individuals who have significant experience designing distributed systems and applications on the AWS platform. Unlike the associate-level exam, which focuses on fundamental cloud concepts and best practices, the professional exam is more advanced, targeting individuals who can handle complex architectures, multi-account setups, hybrid cloud environments, and migration strategies.

The exam tests not only your technical expertise but also your ability to architect solutions that meet business needs while balancing factors like cost, performance, scalability, and security.

Exam Overview and Structure

• Number of Questions: The exam consists of 75 questions.

• Types of Questions: The questions are a mix of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions.

• Duration: You have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete the exam.

• Passing Score: The passing score is not officially disclosed, but most candidates need a score of around 750 out of 1000 to pass.

• Cost: The exam fee is $300 USD.

Now that we have a basic understanding of the exam, let’s dive into the main components and structure in more detail to help you prepare effectively.

Key Topics Covered in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam

The AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam tests your ability to design and implement sophisticated cloud solutions. The topics covered in the exam reflect the depth of knowledge and skills required to handle real-world cloud challenges.

1. Design for Organizational Complexity

This section evaluates your ability to design cloud architectures that scale and manage a large number of resources across multiple AWS accounts and organizations. The key areas include:

• Designing and implementing multi-account architectures

• Using AWS Organizations to manage environments

• Building complex networking setups with AWS VPC

• Managing permissions and security across accounts

You’ll need to understand how to handle the complexities that arise from large-scale deployments and how to ensure that your solutions are secure and efficient across various environments.

2. Design for New Solutions

You will be tested on your ability to design solutions for new workloads, as well as how to incorporate new AWS services into existing architectures. This section requires you to have a deep understanding of the following:

• Selecting appropriate AWS services for specific use cases

• Designing architectures that meet functional, non-functional, and security requirements

• Designing scalable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions

• Planning migrations from on-premises environments to AWS

Designing for new solutions requires a strong knowledge of AWS services, especially those that address different business needs, such as Amazon EC2, S3, Lambda, and more.

3. Migration Planning

This section assesses your ability to manage large-scale migrations to AWS. It includes:

• Evaluating existing systems and understanding their migration requirements

• Designing migration strategies that minimize downtime

• Using AWS services like AWS Migration Hub, DMS (Database Migration Service), and Server Migration Service for seamless transitions

• Addressing common migration challenges such as network, storage, and application compatibility

You’ll need to design migration plans that are both efficient and cost-effective, while minimizing business disruption during the migration process.

4. Cost and Performance Optimization

Understanding how to optimize cloud solutions for cost and performance is a core component of the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam. In this section, you will need to:

• Implement auto-scaling and load balancing for cost and performance efficiency

• Design architectures that are optimized for low-latency and high throughput

• Use tools like AWS Cost Explorer and Trusted Advisor to manage costs

• Design solutions that balance cost-effectiveness with performance requirements

This section is critical because many companies seek to optimize their cloud infrastructure for both performance and cost.

5. Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions

AWS solutions are never static, and continuous improvement is a key focus. In this section, you will be tested on your ability to:

• Monitor and troubleshoot applications in the cloud

• Continuously improve applications for better reliability and performance

• Use AWS CloudWatch, X-Ray, and other monitoring tools to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies

• Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans

Your knowledge of monitoring tools and methods for optimizing existing cloud solutions will be key to acing this section.

How Many Questions Are in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam?

Now that we’ve covered the main topics, let’s address the specific question: how many questions are in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam?

The AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam consists of 75 questions. This includes both multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. Each question is designed to test your knowledge and expertise in designing cloud architectures using AWS services. You’ll need to manage your time effectively as you have 180 minutes (3 hours) to complete the exam, which gives you an average of around 2.4 minutes per question.

Some questions may require you to consider complex scenarios and select multiple answers, while others might test your understanding of how different AWS services work together. It’s important to read each question carefully and consider all the possible answers before making your selection.

Tips for Preparing for the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam

To pass the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam, you need to ensure that you have a deep understanding of AWS services and how they can be integrated to create complex solutions. Here are some tips to help you prepare effectively:

1. Study the Official AWS Exam Guide

AWS provides an official exam guide that outlines the key topics and concepts tested in the exam. Use this guide to structure your study sessions and focus on the areas that are most critical for passing the exam.

2. Take AWS Practice Exams

Practice exams are a great way to simulate the real exam environment and gauge your readiness. AWS offers official practice exams that mirror the format and difficulty level of the actual exam. Taking these practice exams will help you get familiar with the exam format, identify weak areas, and improve your time management skills.

3. Get Hands-On Experience

While theoretical knowledge is essential, hands-on experience is crucial for passing the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam. Set up an AWS free-tier account or use AWS credits to get practical experience with the services you’ll be tested on. Experiment with building complex architectures, implementing security measures, and optimizing performance.

4. Review AWS Whitepapers and FAQs

AWS offers a wealth of resources, including whitepapers and FAQs, which provide insights into best practices, architecture strategies, and security guidelines. These documents are an invaluable resource for deepening your understanding of AWS services and their use cases.

5. Join AWS Communities and Forums

Joining AWS communities and forums allows you to interact with other exam candidates and AWS professionals. Engaging in discussions, asking questions, and learning from others’ experiences will help you broaden your knowledge and gain new perspectives.

6. Focus on Scenario-Based Questions

Many of the questions in the AWS Solutions Architect Professional exam are scenario-based. These questions require you to apply your knowledge to real-world situations. Practice solving complex problems and designing architectures based on the scenarios provided in practice exams.

Final Thoughts on the AWS Solutions Architect Professional Exam

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam is a challenging but rewarding certification that validates your ability to design and manage complex AWS solutions. With 75 questions and a 3-hour time limit, it is a comprehensive exam that tests your in-depth knowledge of AWS services, architectures, and best practices.

To succeed, you need a combination of theoretical knowledge, hands-on experience, and the ability to apply your expertise in real-world scenarios. By following a structured study plan, using AWS resources effectively, and taking practice exams, you can ensure that you’re well-prepared for the exam.

Good luck with your AWS certification journey! With the right preparation and a focus on mastering AWS services, you’ll be on your way to earning the AWS Solutions Architect Professional certification and advancing your career in cloud computing.