How I’m Preparing for the AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam as a Beginner
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a popular first step for anyone starting a cloud or AI career. In this article I share my study plan, the topics I’m focusing on, the free resources I’m using, and the habits that keep me consistent. If you’re a beginner thinking about this exam, you can borrow my approach.
Hi everyone! In my earlier articles I shared my roadmap to becoming an AI engineer, the AWS services I’m learning, and my first Bedrock project. This week I’m sharing how I’m preparing for my first certification, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.
Why this exam first?
It covers the foundations of the AWS cloud without requiring deep technical skills. For me it’s a structured way to learn the basics before moving on to AI-focused certifications. It also gives me a clear goal and a deadline, which helps me stay consistent.
What the exam covers
The official exam guide groups the topics into a few areas. Based on that guide, these are the ones I’m focusing on:
- Cloud concepts: what the cloud is, its benefits, and the AWS Well-Architected ideas
- Security and compliance: the shared responsibility model, IAM, and basic security services
- Cloud technology and services: core services such as compute, storage, databases, and networking
- Billing, pricing, and support: pricing models, cost tools, and support plans
I’m checking the official exam guide for the current domains and weightings, since these can be updated.
My study plan
- Weeks 1 to 2: Cloud concepts and the shared responsibility model
- Weeks 3 to 4: Core services, with a small hands-on task for each one (for example, creating an S3 bucket)
- Week 5: Security, billing, and pricing topics
- Week 6: Practice questions, review of weak areas, and a final revision
My target exam date is [date]. [Adjust the timeline to match your own.]
Resources I’m using
- The official AWS exam guide and sample questions
- Free digital training on AWS Skill Builder
- [Any course, video series, or practice tests you actually use]
- Hands-on practice in the Free Tier, with a budget alert set up first
Habits that help
- A short study session every day, even on busy days
- Writing down what I don’t understand and revisiting it the next day
- Explaining a topic in my own words, such as in these articles
- Doing practice questions to find weak areas, not just to check my score
Mistakes to avoid
- Memorizing answers without understanding the concepts
- Skipping hands-on practice
- [Add a real mistake or challenge you’ve faced.]
What’s next
After Cloud Practitioner I’m planning to move to an AI-focused certification, such as AWS Certified AI Practitioner, and keep building projects with Bedrock.
Your turn
- Which resources helped you the most when preparing for a foundational exam?
- Any tips for managing time during the exam?
Thanks for reading, and good luck to everyone preparing!
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