The most common mistakes AZ-900 candidates make — and exactly what to do instead. Follow these 10 tips and you'll pass first time.
AZ-900 has a high pass rate but plenty of people still fail it — usually for the same avoidable reasons. Here are the 10 things that make the difference between passing first time and having to rebook.
They read and watch videos but never practice answering questions under exam conditions. Understanding content and being able to answer questions under time pressure are two different skills. Practice questions are non-negotiable.
The free Microsoft Learn AZ-900 learning path is written specifically against the exam objectives. It covers everything that will appear on the exam, nothing more. Don't pay for expensive courses when Microsoft gives you the authoritative content free.
Reading is passive. Practice questions force you to retrieve knowledge actively, which is far more effective for retention. Do at least 100–150 practice questions before sitting the exam. Review every explanation — even for questions you get right.
Microsoft regularly updates exam questions. If you memorise specific answers from brain dumps, you'll fail when the wording changes. Focus on understanding why an answer is correct — you'll handle any phrasing the exam throws at you.
Questions about who is responsible for what in IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS appear on almost every sitting. Draw it out: physical security is always Microsoft's, user data is always yours, OS patching shifts depending on the service model.
The Pricing Calculator (pre-deployment estimates), TCO Calculator (on-premises vs cloud comparison), Cost Management (monitor existing spend), and Azure Advisor (recommendations) — know what each one does. These appear frequently and candidates regularly confuse them.
Doing questions untimed is different from doing 40 questions in 60 minutes with no option to look anything up. Take at least one full timed mock exam in the week before you sit. If you're scoring above 75% consistently, you're ready.
AZ-900 questions often hinge on specific words: "most cost-effective", "without requiring additional configuration", "ONLY", "NOT", "ALWAYS". Missing one word can lead you to the wrong answer. Read questions twice before looking at options.
Pricing Calculator vs TCO Calculator. Azure Monitor vs Service Health vs Azure Status. VPN Gateway vs ExpressRoute. Azure Firewall vs NSGs vs WAF. These pairs and groups come up specifically to test whether you know the distinction. Make a cheat sheet.
If you're stuck on a question, flag it and move on. You can return to flagged questions at the end. Don't waste 5 minutes on one question when you could answer 5 others. Unanswered questions count as wrong — always make a guess before time runs out.
The night before the exam, do a light review — skim your notes, do 10 easy questions to build confidence, then stop. Get a full night's sleep. Cramming at this stage causes anxiety, not success. If you've followed a structured study plan, you're ready.