AZ-104: My Azure Administrator Associate exam adventure

Have you ever started an exam, feeling fully confident and ready to ace it–but then thought, “Uh-oh. Something’s different…”? I had that exact experience recently when I took the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification exam.

Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't completely blindsided. I'd studied hard, knew my Azure VMs from my App Services, and could practically recite ARM templates in my sleep (almost!). But the AZ-104 threw me a curveball I wasn't quite expecting: its surprising structure.

More Than Just Your Average Multiple-Choice Mayhem

If you've dipped your toes into the cloud certification pool before, chances are you've encountered the friendly, familiar face of the multiple-choice question. You know the drill: read the question, ponder the options, select the most logical answer, maybe mark it for review, and move on. This classic format is a staple in foundational certifications like the Google Cloud Digital Leader, the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, or even Azure's own AZ-900.

And yes, multiple-choice questions did make a respectable appearance in the first section of the AZ-104. But they also brought some less conventional relatives to the party: the "match-the-following" and the "drag-and-drop-in-order" question types. These are the ones that make you feel like you're juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle – you've got a lot of information to process and arrange just right to snag those precious points.

Surprise! It's a Three-Course Exam! (And No Going Back for Seconds)

But here's the real kicker: that was just one section. The AZ-104, in all its glory, decided to treat me to a three-course meal of exam sections. And get this – once you finish a section, there's no going back! So, if you've flagged any questions for review (like I inevitably do), you must review them before moving on to the next exam gauntlet.

The A/B Section: A Cloud Certification Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (But Choose Wisely!)

The second section was like stepping into an alternate reality where questions had only two possible answers: A or B. True or false, this or that, pick a side and stick with it! The catch? Once you answered a question, you couldn't even glance at it again. This was particularly tricky because the next question often looked like the previous one's identical twin, with subtly different wording or options. Let's just say my reading comprehension skills were put to the ultimate test!

The Case Study: Where the Haystack is Made of Tech Jargon

Finally, I arrived at the dessert course: a single case study with a generous helping of background information. Think existing environments, Azure setups, technical requirements – the works! The questions themselves weren't overly complex, but the challenge lay in sifting through the information overload to extract the relevant details and apply them correctly. It was like finding a needle in a haystack, but the haystack was made of technical jargon, and the needle was a crucial configuration setting.

Did I Pass? Or Did I End Up Lost in the Cloud?

So, after navigating this obstacle course of an exam, did I emerge victorious with my Azure Administrator Associate certification? Or did I end up hopelessly lost in the cloud, wandering aimlessly among forgotten VMs and misconfigured networks?

Drumroll, please... I PASSED! And honestly, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Pluralsight Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 certification path. Not only did the courses cover all the essential concepts, but the experiential hands-on labs were a game-changer. Actually doing the tasks in a real Azure environment–instead of just reading about them–solidified my understanding and boosted my confidence. Those labs were like my own personal cloud sandbox where I could experiment, make mistakes, learn from them, and truly grasp the practical application of the material.

Now You Want to Conquer the AZ-104?

What's the takeaway from this wild ride? Well, the AZ-104 is definitely not your average introductory cloud certification exam. Its multi-section structure, diverse question types, and "no-going-back" policy demand a different approach. My advice?

• Practice, practice, practice: Familiarize yourself with all the question types beforehand.

• Time management is key: Don't get bogged down in one section.

• Read carefully–and then read it again: Especially in the A/B section, every word matters.

• Embrace the challenge: It's a tough exam, but the reward is worth it!

And if you find yourself feeling a bit disoriented during the exam, just remember: you're not alone. Take a deep breath, channel your inner Azure guru, and conquer that cloud certification beast!