Amazon Web Services exam day

AWS exams are delivered by Pearson VUE, at a test center or online, and are almost entirely scenario-based multiple choice and multiple response.

How scoring works

Results are reported as a scaled score from 100 to 1000. The passing score is 700 for Cloud Practitioner and 720 for associate-level exams such as Solutions Architect Associate and Developer Associate.
The exam uses compensatory scoring: you pass on your overall score, not by passing each domain individually.
Each exam includes some unscored questions that AWS is evaluating. They are not marked, so answer everything.
There is no penalty for guessing. Never leave a question unanswered.

Multiple choice with one correct answer out of four, and multiple response with two or more correct answers out of five or more. The question says how many to choose.
Newer versions of some exams have added ordering, matching and case-study style items. Check the exam guide for your exam's current question types.
Most questions are short scenarios with constraints like most cost-effective, least operational overhead, or highest availability. The constraint usually decides between two plausible answers.

You can flag questions and move freely back and forth, then use the review screen at the end.
Answer every question on the first pass, even if you flag it, so nothing is left blank if time runs out.
If English is not your first language, AWS offers an accommodation that adds extra time. It must be requested before you schedule, so check the current process in your AWS Certification account.

At a Pearson VUE test center, bring acceptable ID and expect lockers and a photo.
Online exams use Pearson VUE OnVUE with ID and room checks. Your desk must be clear, and you cannot leave the camera view or take breaks.
Run the system test in advance, preferably on a personal computer on a home network.

Book from your AWS Certification account. There are rescheduling and cancellation cut-offs, and a waiting period before a retake after a failed attempt. Check AWS's current policy.
Results usually arrive by email within a few business days, though you may see a result sooner. The score report shows your scaled score and how you performed in each domain.
Passing an AWS exam may earn a discount voucher for your next exam. Look in the Benefits section of your AWS Certification account.
AWS certifications are valid for three years. You recertify by passing the current version of the exam, or in some cases by passing a higher-level exam that covers it.

Policies change. Check the vendor's candidate handbook and your booking confirmation for the current rules.