With the recent release of the AWS Solutions Architect Associate exam (SAA-C03), many are wondering about the key differences from the previous version, SAA-C02, and how best to prepare. We’re here to guide you through these changes and help you ace the exam.
What’s the Difference Between SAA-C02 and SAA-C03?
From what we’ve gathered based on experience and AWS updates, the structure of both exams is largely similar. Over 90% of the questions in the SAA-C03 are also found in the SAA-C02 exam, which is excellent news! If you’ve been preparing for the SAA-C02, your knowledge will still be highly relevant for the new version.
Key aspects of the exam remain unchanged:
- It’s a multiple-choice and multiple-answer format.
- No short answer or hands-on lab scenarios are included.
- The duration is still 130 minutes, with a passing score of 720 out of 1000.
- The cost remains $150 USD, and you can take it either online or at a testing center.
How to Prepare for SAA-C03?
If you haven’t started studying yet, now is the time! We’ve got a variety of resources to help you get ready, including practice exams for the SAA-C02 that align closely with the content of SAA-C03. These resources will provide a solid foundation as you prepare for the new exam.
Available resources:
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C02) Course
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C02) Practice Exams
These courses are being updated to reflect the latest changes. In the meantime, you can get supplemental info from the AWS documentation and practice exams available on our website.
What’s New in SAA-C03?
The most notable change is in the exam domains. The weight of “Designing Secure Architectures” has increased to 30% from 24%, while areas like “Designing Resilient Architectures” and “Designing High-Performing Architectures” have decreased slightly. Expect a few new AWS services to show up as well, which you can find in the updated exam guide.
Some key new services to review include:
- Analytics: Amazon OpenSearch Service, Kinesis Client Library (KCL), AWS Lake Formation
- Machine Learning & AI: Amazon Rekognition, Amazon SageMaker
- Application Integration: Amazon MQ, Amazon AppFlow, AWS AppSync
- Compute: AWS Outposts
- Database: DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX), ElastiCache for Redis, Amazon KeySpaces
- Serverless & Container Services: Amazon ECS Anywhere, EKS Anywhere
- Security, Identity, and Compliance: AWS Certificate Manager (ACM), AWS Security Hub
- Storage: AWS Backup, Amazon FSx for Lustre
We recommend reviewing the SAA-C03 exam guide thoroughly to ensure you’re familiar with these new additions.
What Hasn’t Changed?
Much of what you’ve studied for the SAA-C02 remains relevant. Core services like EC2, Amazon S3, ECS, EKS, API Gateway, and AWS Systems Manager are still vital components of the exam. To succeed, make sure you understand:
- Disaster Recovery vs. High Availability
- Differences between AWS services within categories like Storage, Security, and Application Integration
- How to secure, scale, and optimize cost on AWS architectures
To further boost your preparation, consider reading AWS whitepapers on IAM security best practices, KMS cryptography, and data management techniques.
Get Ready for Success with AWS Dumps!
To solidify your understanding and ace the exam, head over to DumpsForAWS.com where we offer comprehensive AWS dumps to help you practice and gain confidence. With up-to-date resources tailored for the SAA-C03 exam, you’ll be well on your way to becoming AWS certified!
Good luck with your preparation, and we’re here to support you every step of the way!
