If you're early in your tech career, getting the AZ-900 certification is a solid way to prove you understand the cloud. But with hundreds of courses, books, and practice exams out there, it's easy to get lost.
This isn't a long story. This is the exact, stripped-back plan I used to pass. No waffling, just the steps and resources that actually worked.
Step 1: The Foundation (Microsoft Learn)
Start here. Seriously. The official Microsoft Learn AZ-900 path is free, it's from the source, and it covers every single topic that can appear on the exam. Don't look for shortcuts on this step; just work through the modules and get it done. This is your foundation.
Step 2: Going Deeper (The Optional Book)
A colleague gave me a copy of Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Certification and Beyond.
Was it essential for passing the exam? Honestly, no. You can pass without it.
But has it been useful on the job for building a deeper, more practical understanding? Absolutely. If you want a solid foundation for the long term, it's a great resource. If you're just focused on passing the test (which I don't recommend), you can skip it.
Step 3: The Reality Check (Practice Exams)
This is where the real learning begins. The knowledge is useless if you can't apply it properly.
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Official Microsoft Practice Exams: A good first step, but in my opinion, they were way too easy compared to the real thing.
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Free Online Quizzes: I found one at insidethemicrosoftcloud.com. It was fine for a quick knowledge check, but the question style wasn't very similar to the actual exam.
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Tutorials Dojo: This was the single best investment I made. I paid for the Tutorials Dojo AZ-900 Practice Exams, and the question style, difficulty, and format were incredibly close to the real exam. Their explanations for each answer are detailed and clear. This is the resource I'd recommend above all others.
Step 4: The Secret Sauce (Active Recall)
Don't just passively read the answers you got wrong. You need to force your brain to remember the concepts. My process was simple and effective:
- Take one of the practice tests on Tutorials Dojo.
- For every single question I got wrong, I'd read their detailed explanation until I understood why my answer was incorrect.
- Still unclear? I'd do a quick search or ask AI to explain it in simpler terms.
- Then, I created a flashcard for that specific concept in Anki (Quizlet works too).
- Finally, I reviewed these flashcards every day up until my exam.
This final step, active recall, is what solidifies the knowledge and turns a "guess" into a confident answer.
That's the Blueprint
So, there you have it. Cover the basics with Microsoft Learn, then hammer the Tutorials Dojo exams and use active recall for your weak spots. It's a straightforward plan that cuts out the noise and focuses on getting the pass you want.
Now go get it.
sam