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Exam Day Strategies ​

Proven strategies to help you perform your best during certification exams.

Before the Exam ​

The Week Before ​

Final preparation:

  • [ ] Complete 2-3 full-length practice exams
  • [ ] Review incorrectly answered questions
  • [ ] Quick review of all major topics
  • [ ] Prepare exam logistics (ID, confirmation, location)
  • [ ] Get adequate sleep every night (not just the night before!)

What NOT to do:

  • ❌ Cram new material
  • ❌ Take practice exams after Wednesday
  • ❌ Study late the night before
  • ❌ Make major schedule changes

The Night Before ​

Get Good Sleep

8 hours of quality sleep is more valuable than 4 hours of last-minute studying.

Do:

  • [ ] Light review of key concepts only (30-60 minutes max)
  • [ ] Organize materials for tomorrow (ID, confirmation email, etc.)
  • [ ] Set multiple alarms
  • [ ] Prepare clothes and breakfast
  • [ ] Relax and destress (watch a movie, read, meditate)
  • [ ] Go to bed early

Don't:

  • ❌ Study intensively
  • ❌ Learn new material
  • ❌ Stay up late
  • ❌ Consume excessive caffeine
  • ❌ Stress about the exam

Exam Day Morning ​

2-3 hours before exam:

  • [ ] Eat a nutritious breakfast (protein + complex carbs)
  • [ ] Moderate caffeine if you normally consume it
  • [ ] Quick 10-15 minute review of notes (optional)
  • [ ] Arrive at test center 15-30 minutes early (or log in early for online exams)

What to bring (in-person exams):

  • Valid government-issued photo ID
  • Exam confirmation/appointment details
  • Any allowed reference materials (check exam rules)
  • Water (if allowed)

During the Exam ​

Initial Setup (First 5 Minutes) ​

Before starting questions:

  1. Brain Dump (if allowed)

    • Write down key formulas, commands, or mnemonics on scratch paper
    • Dump difficult-to-remember information immediately
    • Reference this throughout the exam

  2. Read Instructions Carefully

    • Understand the exam format
    • Note the number of questions
    • Understand scoring (negative marking? unscored questions?)
    • Know if you can review/change answers

  3. Quick Breathing Exercise

    • Take 3 deep breaths
    • Calm your nerves
    • Start with confidence

Question-Answering Strategies ​

Strategy 1: First Pass - Answer What You Know ​

Approach:

  1. Read each question carefully
  2. If you know the answer confidently → answer and move on
  3. If unsure → flag for review and move on
  4. Don't spend more than 1-2 minutes per question initially

Benefits:

  • Secures easy points quickly
  • Builds confidence
  • Maximizes time for difficult questions

Strategy 2: Time Management ​

Calculate your time budget:

Example: 85 questions, 120 minutes

  • 120 minutes ÷ 85 questions = 1.4 minutes per question
  • First pass: 1 minute per question = 85 minutes
  • Second pass: 35 minutes for review and flagged questions

Time checkpoints:

Time ElapsedQuestions CompletedStatus
30 minutes~25-30 questionsOn track
60 minutes~50-55 questionsOn track
90 minutes~75-80 questionsOn track
120 minutesAll questionsDone

Running Behind?

If you're behind schedule:

  • Speed up slightly on easier questions
  • Make educated guesses on very difficult questions
  • Ensure you answer all questions (no blanks)

Strategy 3: Question-Reading Techniques ​

Read carefully:

  • Identify keywords: "MOST", "LEAST", "NOT", "BEST", "EXCEPT"
  • Look for scenario details (budget constraints, time limits, scale requirements)
  • Understand what's being asked before looking at options

Common question types:

  1. "Which option is BEST/MOST appropriate?"

    • Multiple answers might work
    • Choose the most optimal solution

  2. "Which options are correct? (Select TWO)"

    • Must select exactly the number specified
    • All selected answers must be correct

  3. "What should you do FIRST?"

    • Order matters
    • Choose the logical first step

  4. Scenario-based questions

    • Read the scenario carefully
    • Identify constraints and requirements
    • Eliminate options that don't meet requirements

Strategy 4: Elimination Method ​

When unsure, eliminate obviously wrong answers:

Step 1: Cross out clearly incorrect options Step 2: Analyze remaining options Step 3: Choose the best answer from what's left

Example:

Question: Which AWS service is best for hosting a static website?

A) Amazon EC2        ← Eliminate (overkill for static site)
B) Amazon S3         ← Possible
C) Amazon RDS        ← Eliminate (database service)
D) Amazon CloudFront ← Possible (but used with S3)

Remaining: B and D
Answer: B (S3 is the primary service, CloudFront is optional)

Strategy 5: Look for Clues in Other Questions ​

Sometimes later questions provide hints:

  • A concept mentioned in question 50 might help with question 20
  • If you flagged a question, continue through the exam
  • Review flagged questions after completing all others

Managing Difficult Questions ​

If you're stuck on a question:

  1. Skip it temporarily

    • Flag for review
    • Move on
    • Come back later with fresh eyes

  2. Rephrase the question

    • What is this really asking?
    • What concept is being tested?

  3. Use the process of elimination

    • Remove obviously wrong answers
    • Narrow down to 2-3 options

  4. Make an educated guess

    • Never leave questions blank (unless negative marking)
    • Choose the most reasonable answer
    • Trust your first instinct if studied well

Common Question Patterns ​

Pattern 1: "Choose the MOST cost-effective solution" ​

What they're testing: Cost optimization knowledge

Approach:

  • Eliminate expensive services (managed > serverless > traditional)
  • Look for reserved instances vs on-demand
  • Consider data transfer costs
  • Think about scaling efficiency

Pattern 2: "A company needs high availability..." ​

What they're testing: Architecture and resilience

Look for:

  • Multi-AZ/multi-region deployments
  • Load balancing
  • Auto-scaling
  • Backup and disaster recovery
  • Redundancy

Pattern 3: "Ensure security and compliance..." ​

What they're testing: Security best practices

Look for:

  • Encryption (at rest and in transit)
  • IAM roles and policies (least privilege)
  • Network security (VPC, security groups)
  • Audit logging
  • Compliance certifications

Pattern 4: "Migrate with LEAST operational overhead" ​

What they're testing: Managed vs self-managed solutions

Choose:

  • Managed services over self-hosted
  • Serverless over container/VM when appropriate
  • Automated solutions over manual processes

Second Pass - Review Flagged Questions ​

After completing all questions:

  1. Check time remaining
  2. Prioritize flagged questions by difficulty
  3. Review your answers to flagged questions
  4. Change answers only if you're confident you were wrong

Should I Change My Answer?

Only change an answer if:

  • You have new information or insight
  • You misread the question initially
  • You're confident the new answer is correct

Don't change answers based on:

  • Gut feeling
  • Nervousness
  • Second-guessing yourself

Exam Psychology ​

Managing Test Anxiety ​

Before/during exam:

  1. Positive Self-Talk

    • "I am well-prepared"
    • "I know this material"
    • "One question at a time"

  2. Breathing Exercises

    • 4-7-8 technique: Breathe in (4 sec), hold (7 sec), exhale (8 sec)
    • Do this 2-3 times when feeling anxious

  3. Break Down the Task

    • Don't think "85 questions to go"
    • Think "Just this one question"
    • Focus on the present question only

  4. Physical Reset

    • Stretch shoulders/neck
    • Close eyes for 10 seconds
    • Take a short break if allowed

Dealing with Difficult Questions ​

Mental approach:

✅ Do:

  • Stay calm
  • Read carefully
  • Use elimination
  • Make your best guess
  • Move on

❌ Don't:

  • Panic
  • Spend too much time
  • Let it affect other questions
  • Give up

Remember:

  • You don't need 100% to pass (usually ~70%)
  • Missing a few hard questions is normal
  • Focus on getting the others right

Maintaining Focus ​

Strategies for 2-hour exams:

  1. Micro-breaks

    • Close eyes for 5 seconds
    • Look away from screen
    • Stretch if needed

  2. Stay Hydrated

    • Small sips of water
    • Don't overdrink (bathroom breaks count against time)

  3. Maintain Energy

    • Don't skip breakfast
    • Avoid sugar crashes
    • Moderate caffeine intake

  4. Pace Yourself

    • Sprint at start can lead to fatigue
    • Maintain steady, consistent pace

Special Scenarios ​

Online/Remote Exams ​

Additional considerations:

  • [ ] Test your equipment 24 hours before
  • [ ] Clear workspace (remove papers, books, phones)
  • [ ] Close all applications except the exam
  • [ ] Ensure stable internet connection
  • [ ] Have backup device/hotspot ready
  • [ ] Communicate only with proctor through official channels
  • [ ] Follow all rules strictly (no breaks, no looking away)

Common issues:

  • Technical difficulties → Contact proctor immediately
  • Internet drops → Session usually resumes
  • Lockdown browser issues → Restart computer if needed

Multiple Choice vs Multiple Response ​

Multiple Choice (select ONE):

  • Only one correct answer
  • Easier to use elimination
  • Trust your knowledge

Multiple Response (select TWO/THREE):

  • Must select exact number specified
  • ALL selected answers must be correct
  • More challenging - be careful

Multiple Response Strategy

If you must select 2:

  1. Find 2 you're confident about
  2. If you only know 1, eliminate clearly wrong ones
  3. Choose the most likely from remaining options

Case Studies/Scenario Questions ​

Longer questions with multiple parts:

Approach:

  1. Read the scenario carefully (highlight key details)
  2. Note the requirements and constraints
  3. Understand what's being asked
  4. Eliminate solutions that don't meet requirements
  5. Choose best option from remaining choices

Key details to identify:

  • Budget constraints
  • Time constraints
  • Scale requirements
  • Security/compliance needs
  • Existing infrastructure
  • Technical requirements

After the Exam ​

Immediate Post-Exam ​

You see your result:

If you passed:

  • Celebrate! 🎉
  • Download/save your certificate
  • Update LinkedIn and resume
  • Share with your network
  • Plan next certification (if desired)

If you didn't pass:

  • Don't be discouraged
  • Review your score report
  • Identify weak domains
  • Create study plan for retake
  • Take break before studying again
  • Remember: Many people need 2+ attempts

Score Report Analysis ​

Use the diagnostic report:

  1. Identify weak areas

    • Which domains did you score lowest?
    • Focus study on these areas

  2. Understand the gap

    • How close were you to passing?
    • Which topics need the most work?

  3. Create retake plan

    • Allocate more time to weak domains
    • Find additional resources
    • Schedule retake with enough prep time

Quick Reference Checklist ​

Day Before Exam ​

  • [ ] Light review only (30-60 min)
  • [ ] Organize materials (ID, confirmation)
  • [ ] Set multiple alarms
  • [ ] Early bedtime (8 hours sleep)
  • [ ] Relax and destress

Exam Morning ​

  • [ ] Nutritious breakfast
  • [ ] Moderate caffeine
  • [ ] Arrive 15-30 min early
  • [ ] Bring required materials

First 5 Minutes ​

  • [ ] Brain dump (if allowed)
  • [ ] Read instructions
  • [ ] Deep breaths
  • [ ] Note time limits

During Exam ​

  • [ ] Read questions carefully
  • [ ] Watch for keywords (MOST, LEAST, NOT)
  • [ ] Use time checkpoints
  • [ ] Flag difficult questions
  • [ ] Make educated guesses
  • [ ] Never leave questions blank

Final 15 Minutes ​

  • [ ] Review flagged questions
  • [ ] Verify all answered
  • [ ] Submit with confidence

Key Reminders ​

Remember

  1. You've studied hard - trust your preparation
  2. Read every question carefully
  3. Time management is crucial
  4. Educated guesses are better than blanks
  5. Stay calm and confident
  6. One question at a time

Good luck! You've got this! 🚀

Study notes for personal learning and exam preparation

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