Exam Guide Breakdown

Summary

In this video, Andrew Brown discusses changes in the quality of certifications offered by a prominent cloud provider, emphasizing a decline in recent years due to internal shifts and layoffs. He advises viewers to approach these certifications with caution, avoid buying into exaggerated marketing promises, and be mindful of their learning journey. Andrew highlights specific exam patterns, shares tips for tackling difficult questions, and warns against over-reliance on internal training resources. He concludes by reviewing an exam guide and sharing insights on study approaches for success in cloud certifications.

Takeaways

• 😀 Andrew Brown feels that IND certifications have lost quality in recent years, possibly due to internal restructuring and post-pandemic effects.
• 😕 AWS certifications are being marketed with unrealistic promises, like claiming a Solutions Architect role is attainable within 9 months with certification alone.
• 💡 AWS is focusing heavily on promoting internal training platforms, but they may not offer all the necessary information to secure jobs.
• ⚠️ Andrew warns against blindly following marketing messages and advises people to pace themselves in their certification journeys.
• 📝 The AWS exam questions follow specific patterns, but Andrew feels that their structure and clarity have declined over time.
• 🤔 He highlights the importance of looking for key terms in AWS exam questions and suggests focusing on keywords rather than reading every word.
• 📚 The exam covers a wide range of topics, from multi-account setups to Federated Access and identity services, but not all topics are equally represented.
• 🔑 AWS certifications still have value, but users need to be critical of what is being promised and avoid over-committing without proper preparation.
• ⚙️ There’s a growing emphasis on developer services in exams, including API Gateway, Secrets Manager, and Cognito.
• 🛠 The scope of the AWS exam is broad, and candidates might end up studying more than needed due to unclear coverage from AWS.

Q & A

What has Andrew Brown observed about the quality of AWS certifications over the years?

Andrew Brown noticed that AWS certifications used to be highly regarded with well-written questions, but in recent years, their quality has declined. He believes this might be due to internal pressure to meet metrics, especially after staff reductions following the pandemic.

Why does Andrew Brown caution viewers about relying too much on AWS internal training materials?

He warns that AWS employees may overpromise on the benefits of certifications, like claiming you can get a Solutions Architect role in nine months. He emphasizes that their internal training platforms often lack the necessary depth of information to achieve these goals.

What pattern does Andrew mention regarding how AWS exam questions are typically structured?

AWS exam questions often follow a pattern called 'Horse, Zebra, Elephant,' where there's an obvious correct answer (horse), a possible but incorrect answer (zebra), and two clearly wrong answers (elephants). However, he notes that this pattern is less clear in newer exams.

What is the ‘Horse, Zebra, Elephant’ pattern in AWS certification exams?

In this pattern, there is an obvious correct answer (horse), a plausible but exotic incorrect option (zebra), and two obviously wrong options (elephants). Andrew suggests this pattern is less reliable now but still worth considering.

What specific advice does Andrew give for approaching wordy AWS exam questions?

Andrew advises focusing on key technical terms within the question, like 'three-tier web app' or 'VPC,' and then piecing together the architecture mentally. He suggests skimming to the last line to understand what is being asked before choosing an answer.

What does Andrew say about the role of directory services in AWS certifications?

He notes that AWS certifications have traditionally lacked content on directory services, but AWS seems to be adding more questions related to this, likely to compete with Azure. He recommends learning about AWS’s directory service offerings.

Why does Andrew caution against going 'all-in' on AWS certifications too quickly?

Andrew warns that some people may over-commit to the certifications, investing too much time and money, only to realize they don't lead directly to jobs as promised. He advises pacing oneself in the certification journey to avoid burnout or financial strain.

What is Andrew’s opinion on hybrid architecture topics in AWS certifications?

Andrew mentions that while hybrid architecture is covered, particularly with services like Direct Connect, it’s not emphasized heavily in the Solution Architect certification because it’s difficult to teach without a data center. He advises knowing the concepts but not stressing too much about it.

What criticism does Andrew have about the AWS certification exam guide?

Andrew criticizes AWS’s exam guide for covering a wide array of services without clearly indicating which ones are essential for the exam. This leads to over-preparation, where candidates may study services that aren't even tested.

What comparison does Andrew make between AWS and HashiCorp's exam structure?

He contrasts AWS’s broad and sometimes unpredictable exam coverage with HashiCorp's more focused approach, where every topic in their exam guide is guaranteed to be tested at least once. He believes HashiCorp's structure is more transparent and fair.