Certification | Microsoft Azure | AZ-400 Exam Experience

Why AZ-400?

I planned to achieve some goals which I wished and were on pending list. Getting a job relevant certification was always on list. Lockdown period gave that space and time to focus on pending goals. Being into Build and Release + DevOps field, I preferred to opt to choose course/certification which helps me to implement it in real world and also I can use overall knowledge during certification exam. After going through various content covered in certifications, I preferred AZ-400.

Study Plan

• PluralSight has rich set of content related to exam topic. Go through all topics, once you understand the concepts in depth then it would benefit to put learning into practice as well. The lectured are around 35 hours. It’s all free.
• Play with Azure free account for a month and try to replicate the lab scenarios described on https://azuredevopslabs.com/. Solving lab gives you hands-on experience which helps during exams specially during case study and ordering the steps in sequence type questions.
• Practice Tests on WhizLabs will help to evaluate learning and readiness for exam.

Exam Experience

I preferred to appear for online proctored exam due to covid situation. I booked exam date once learning has been completed and was about to start practice tests. Book the exam date only and only if system test is successful.

Before Exam:

• Make sure all topics are well understood.
• All labs are solved practically.
• Getting 80% or above in practice test.
• Be comfortable with place from where to appear for exam.
• Run System Test periodically as mentioned in instructions.

During Exam:

• Login 15/20 minutes before scheduled exam time.
• After going through system test again, It prompted to submit selfie, Verification ID and workspace photos from front/back/left/right sides. I received a link on mobile to click pictures of same and submit. I’ve already ensured workspace is clear otherwise they would reject and may ask for additional proof.
• Once submitted, It took 10 mins and the screen got automatically refreshed with message that you’re being recorded now. From this time, all activity will be monitored by proctor.
• Initial 5 mins is to read NDA and exam policy.
• Next 10 mins were for survey on topic related to exam and candidate’s proficiency with it. This might be to capture audience appearing for exam. It’s not part of exam.
• Pre-Exam screen and Instructions on what/how to ask in case any help required.
• Once you begin exam 3 hours timer will appear on top. The other top menu items were Review, Feedback, Chat option with online proctor, your live camera feed recording.
• The online proctor will be available to chat and will appear for query as soon as you type something. Ensure you do not move away from screen, cover your face or speak out the question aloud.
• Finished Section 1(MCQ/MCMR etc) in around 45–50 mins. Once I’ve completed, It displayed questions attended, marked for review, unanswered. I reviewed the questions marked and click finish. It’s final submission of that section. No changes allowed afterwards.
• Finished Section 2(Case Study) in around 20 mins. Again similar display with questions attended, review, unanswered. Click Finish.
• Then it have 10 mins to leave feedback on all questions that were asked. You can see answers selected but no modification allowed.
• Then after clicking final submit button, you’ll be displayed scorecard out of 1000. Pass if score 700 or above.

Summary

It was overall great experience to learn DevOps and Standards to implement using cloud technologies like Azure. It was easy to appear for exam from your convenient location. I earned by first badge and looking forward for more to add.