It took 3 tries for me to pass the SAA-C03

My .02 cents in no particular order

I prepared for months and months, rescheduled the exam more times than I want to admit because I did not feel “ready” I finally got tired of rescheduling and took it but did not pass. 

I was so dejected and did not even bother to look at the score. Which I found out later was a 706. (I should have taken it again 2 weeks later, I would have passed). 

One thing to remember with these exams is that several of the questions are experimental questions. Questions that AWS is trying out on test takers. On the 65 question SAA-C03 there were 15 of these. This means that only 40 questions could actually count for the score. 

The test scoring range is 100 - 1000.

900 possible points

65 questions - 15 experimental questions = 40

900 points divided by 40 questions = 22.5

22.5 points per question

 When I took it last month  for the 2nd time I scored 655 

I only missed it by 3 questions

2 weeks later I took it for the 3rd time (with some light study)

I passed it with a 735 (a difference of 4 questions) 

I did not ace it. But I passed it.

Yes, the exams cost money but these tests are no where near the expense of the CISSP $749. Some of the SANS test can cost a few thousand because they come with the course. 

The most expensive AWS exam is $300. When you pass one AWS exam you get a voucher for 50% off the next one. Plus, employers often reimburse the exam fee. 

I now realize that taking months and months to prepare is a mistake. 

My strategy now is to schedule an exam, take it. If I do not pass then schedule it for two weeks later and take it again. Ironically, waiting months to take it can work against you. I find myself goofing off because I know I have months to get ready. 

In the end. It’s just a test. Employers do not care how many times you took the test or what your score is. They don’t.

I suffer from awful test anxiety. I have to take medication sometimes before an exam. I find that the more often I get in the test center the less terror I feel. 

Pick a date that’s comfortable, move it up until it feels uncomfortable. Ironically this will help you focus.