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How did I pass X

Table of Contents:

  • AWS Certified Developer - Associate

  • Security+

  • Terraform

  • Linux+

  • AWS Cloud Practitioner

AWS Certified Developer - Associate

Video Tutorials

Udemy - Ultimate AWS Certified Developer Associate 2025 DVA-C02

Pros:

  1. Up-to-date

  2. Complete

Cons:

  1. The instructor, Stephane Maarek, rushes through the labs

  2. The demo labs are too basic and sometimes he only shows the console and explains the concept in theory and not practically

  3. You should bring your own AWS account

Kodekloud - AWS Certified Developer Associate Pros:

  1. The demo labs are comprehensive and in-depth

  2. The instructor, sanjeev thiyagarajan, takes his time and dives deep into complex topics which I appreciate.

  3. Most core topics have one or more AWS hands-on labs that can be accessed with one click so you don’t have to use your own AWS account.

Cons:

  1. The course is not as complete as udemy. in some areas some small topics are missing. that’s why I had to go back and forth between these to courses to fill the gaps.

Labs

In addition to the hands-on labs provided in Udemy and KodeKloud courses, I took my learning a step further. After completing each section—such as EC2—I utilized AWS Skill Builder to complete guided labs across all three levels: fundamentals, intermediate, and advanced. This approach helped solidify my understanding and provided a well-rounded skillset.

Once I felt confident, I tackled AWS CloudQuest Serverless Island and completed all its assignments. This platform offered invaluable hands-on experience by simulating real-world scenarios typically encountered in a professional setting, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

Throughout my learning journey, I extensively used the KodeKloud AWS playground, which proved to be an incredibly cost-effective and convenient resource. On rare occasions when I needed to perform specific advanced setups not supported by the playground, I used my own AWS account. However, the KodeKloud AWS playground saved me significant costs while enabling me to achieve my learning objectives effectively.

Practice Exams

To prepare for the exam, I used the following practice exams:

  • AWS Skill Builder practice exam

  • Tutorials Dojo practice tests

  • Udemy - Stephane Maarek's practice exams for the Developer Associate certification

  • KodeKloud - Mock exam provided at the end of their Developer Associate course

One key strategy that helped me succeed was recreating scenarios in AWS that I found challenging. Revisiting and practicing these scenarios not only boosted my confidence but also deepened my understanding of the concepts.

While this approach made my preparation process longer, my primary goal was to master the technology—not just pass the exam. The certification, after all, is just the cherry on top!

Admittedly, this level of preparation might seem like overkill 😄, but I’m glad I did it!

Topics that frequently appeared on the exam

  • AWS Lambda

  • AWS API Gateway

  • AWS Cloudformation

  • AWS SAM

  • Some questions about EC2

Security+

Video tutorial:

  • Professor Messer’s SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ Course

  • Professor Messer’s course notes

Practice exam:

  • Professor Messer’s practice exam

As there was no hands-on lab for this exam, the only thing I did for a couple of weeks was just to repeat the most important parts and then attend the exam.

Terraform

Video courses:

  • Udemy - HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate 2023 - Zeal Vora

  • KodeKloud - Terraform Basics Training Course

  • Udemy - HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate - Hands-On Labs - Bryan Krausen

Practice exams:

  • Udemy practice exam question bank by Bryan Krausen

Also, as usual, I bridged the knowledge gap between the video course, study guide, and exam expectations by going through the practice exams and recreating the scenarios in practice exams that I was not able to answer correctly. This method helped me conquer this exam.

Linux+

The resources I used to pass this exam (XK0-004) include:

  • The Official CompTIA Linux+ Student Guide

  • ITPro TV - Linux+ XK0-004 Video

  • ITPro TV - Practice Labs - BOSON

  • CompTIA Linux+ Portable Command Guide

Practice exams:

  • Sybex Practice exam for Linux+ XK0-004

  • ITPro TV practice exam for Linux+ XK0-004

Also, as usual, I bridged the knowledge gap between the video course, study guide, and exam expectations by going through the practice exams and recreating the scenarios in practice exams that I was not able to answer correctly. This method helped me conquer this exam.

AWS Cloud Practitioner

Video courses:

  • Udemy - Ultimate AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner - 2020

  • A Cloud Guru - AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

Practice exams:

  • Udemy - AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner practice exam by Stephane Mareek

  • Pearson practice exam available in safaribooksonline.com

Also, as usual, I bridged the knowledge gap between the video course, study guide, and exam expectations by going through the practice exams and recreating the scenarios in practice exams that I was not able to answer correctly. This method helped me conquer this exam.

If you have further questions, you can contact me via LinkedIn. The link is in the top left corner.