I’m preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) exam, and I wanted to share an observation from my exam prep and see if others feel the same way.
One thing that’s become very clear to me is that the SAA-C03 exam is far less about memorization and much more about architectural decision-making. When I first started studying, I focused heavily on remembering service features, limits, and definitions. But once I moved into scenario-based questions, that approach quickly felt insufficient.
Most SAA-C03-style questions are long and detailed. Instead of asking what a service does, the exam asks you to choose the best solution based on availability, performance, security, and cost. Often, more than one option looks correct, and that’s where the real challenge lies. The exam seems to test whether you can understand trade-offs, not whether you can recall documentation word for word.
One mistake I made early on was overengineering. I’d pick multi-Region architectures when the scenario clearly only required multi-AZ for high availability. Over time, I realized the exam rewards the most appropriate design, not the most complex one.
In terms of preparation, I used a mix of resources like Coursera, Study4Exam, and Pass4Future to clear my confusions. They were helpful for understanding services and concepts. However, what helped me the most was practicing realistic, scenario-based exam questions from CertBoosters. The questions forced me to think like an architect instead of relying on memorization.
This shift changed how I study. I now focus more on why one service fits better than another in a given scenario rather than trying to memorize everything.
For those who’ve already taken the exam or are currently preparing, do you also feel the AWS SAA-C03 exam is testing architectural mindset more than memorization? I’d love to hear how others adjusted their study approach.