AWS SAA-C03 is the new exam code for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam, which had been available on August 30, 2022. The AWS SAA C02 exam expired on 29th August 2022.
According to recent surveys, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam is among the Top Three highest-paying IT certifications.
This blog will cover everything you need to know about the AWS SAA-C03 Exam.
- What is AWS SAA-C03 Exam?
- Exam Overview
- What are the changes?
- AWS SAA-C03 Exam Domains
- Will the new exam be more difficult?
- Exam results
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is AWS SAA-C03 Exam?
A new edition of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam (SAA-C03) had been available on August 30, 2022. The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) exam changes will validate current AWS services and best-practice knowledge and skills.
This new exam version has been updated to reflect the rapid pace of innovation on the AWS platform and the most up-to-date best – practices for AWS Cloud architecture. This aligns with AWS’s security, reliability, high performance, and cost optimization offerings and innovations.
AWS SAA-C03 Exam Overview
Format | Multiple-choice & multiple-response questions |
Type | Associate |
Delivery method | Pearson VUE & PSI; testing center or online proctored exam |
Number of questions | 65 |
Time | 130 minutes |
Cost | 150 USD |
Language | English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese |
Passing Marks | 720 & above |
Check Also: Free AWS Training and Certifications
What are the changes?
After evaluating the differences between the exam guidelines for the SAA-C02 and the SAA-C03, several revisions have been made. There is, however, a lot of overlap with the SAA-C02. It does, however, mention some of the most recent services and features within current ones.
There are still 4 different assessment domains to focus on with minimal changes from a domain perspective.
Three of the four domains remain the same. Their percentages, however, have changed in the new exam (SAA-C03) guide:
- Design Resilient Architectures – Percentage dropped from 30% to 26%
- Design High-performing architectures – Percentage dropped from 28% to 24%
- Design Cost-Optimized Architectures – Percentage increased from 18% to 20%
One domain’s name has changed somewhat. It’s named Design Secure Applications and Architectures in SAA-C02. Design Secure Architectures is the title of SAA-C03. The percentage has climbed from 24% to 30%.
AWS SAA-C03 Exam Domains
The exam guide also includes a complete list of exam domains, task statements, and knowledge areas; see the exam domains and task statements listed below.
Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures
This exam domain focuses on securing your AWS architectures and accounts for 30% of the exam. Task Statements include:
- Design secure access to AWS resources.
- Design secure workloads and applications.
- Determine appropriate data security controls.
Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures
ThisexamdomainfocusesondesigningresilientarchitecturesonAWSandaccountsfor26%oftheexam.Task
Statements include:
- Design scalable and loosely coupled architectures.
- Design highly available and/or fault-tolerant architectures.
Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures
This exam domain focuses on creating high-performance architectures on AWS and accounts for 24% of the exam. Task Statements include:
- Determine high-performing and/or scalable storage solutions.
- Design high-performing and elastic compute solutions.
- Determine high-performing database solutions.
- Determine high-performing and/or scalable network architectures.
- Determine high-performing data ingestion and transformation solutions.
Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures
This exam domain focuses on optimizing solutions for cost-effectiveness on AWS and accounts for 20% of the exam. Task statements include:
- Design cost-optimized storage solutions.
- Design cost-optimized compute solutions.
- Design cost-optimized database solutions.
- Design cost-optimized network architectures.
Domains | %age |
Design Secure Architectures | 30% |
Design Resilient Architectures | 26% |
Design High Performing Architectures | 24% |
Design Cost-Optimised Architectures | 20% |
I recently received my SAA-C02 certification. Will it still be valid, or will I have to take the New Exam (SAA-C03)?
When AWS publishes an updated certification, this is always a source of concern, and with good cause! You may have just spent months studying for an exam to learn that AWS will be revising it in the near future. Well, we have some good news for you: you will not be required to retake the latest certification in order to maintain your credentials.
The exam version is not included in the certification certificate or digital badge. Even if you took the AWS SAA-C02 test on the last date it was offered (August 29, 2022), your certification would be valid for three years. The newly updated certification does not require retaking.
Is the AWS SAA C03 exam more difficult?
The exam should be similar in complexity to the current one, but many additional services will be covered. The C03 exam will cover over 30 new services and numerous feature improvements, so you’ll need to devote extra study time to guarantee you’re well prepared. We don’t expect the exam to be more difficult, but the content covered will be expanded.
AWS SAA-C03 Exam Results
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam is either a pass or a fail. The exam is graded against a minimum standard by AWS specialists who follow best practices and guidelines in the certification industry.
Your exam score indicates how well you did on the test and whether or not you passed. The exam results are provided as a scaled score between 100 and 1,000. A score of720is required to pass. Scaled scoring models serve to equate scores across several exam forms with varying degrees of difficulty.
A table of categories of your performance at each section level should be included in your score report. This information gives you general feedback on your exam performance. You do not require a passing score in each area because the exam uses a compensating scoring approach. Only the comprehensive exam must be passed.
Because each exam portion is weighted differently, some sections have more questions than others. When analyzing section-level feedback, be cautious. The table provides broad information about your strengths and shortcomings. This information will not be given to candidates who pass the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What are New Topics/Services in AWS-SACO3?
A1: List of new topics/services
- AWS Data Exchange
- AWS Data Pipeline
- AWS Lake Formation
- Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka
- Amazon AppFlow
- AWS Outposts
- VMware Cloud on AWS
- AWS Wavelength
- Amazon Neptune
- Amazon Quantum Ledger Database
- Amazon Timestream
- AWS Amplify
- Amazon Comprehend
- Amazon Forecast
- Amazon Fraud Detector
- Amazon Kendra
- AWS License Manager
- Amazon Managed Grafana
- Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus
- AWS Proton
- Amazon Elastic Transcoder
- Amazon Kinesis Video Streams
- AWS Application Discovery Service
- AWS WAF Serverless
- AWS AppSync
Q2: Does the SAA-C03 include exam labs / hands-on labs?
A2: The most recent AWS Certified Solution Architect – Associate exam does not include any Exam-Labs. The official exam guide for the AWS SAA-C03 test confirms this.
Q3: Have the courses on k21academy been updated?
A3: Yes, we have the AWS SA C03 Course Content on our website.
Q4: How can I get hands-on experience with AWS?
A4: There are more than 40+ hands-on labs available on our portal through which you can practice. Check the list of Hands-On labs
Q5. What is the validity of AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate SAA-C03 certification?
A5: AWS certifications are valid for three years. To maintain your AWS Certified status, you must demonstrate your continued expertise on a regular basis through a process known as recertification. Recertification boosts the overall value of your AWS Certification by demonstrating to individuals and employers that your credential covers the most current AWS knowledge, skills, and best practices.
Q7: Can a non-technical person take the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate C03 exam?
A7: Yes, absolutely. I highly recommended performing
- Hands-on labs
- Sample Exam Question
Q8: What will be my responsibilities as an AWS solutions architect associate?
A8: Design, Implementation, check more at
Q9: Does K21 guarantee success in the AWS Solutions Architect Associate C03 exams?
A9: Yes, provided you complete all hands-on labs inside the program + 5 Sets of sample Exam Q/A given inside the program.
Q10: What is the AWS SAA-c03 passing score?
A10: The exam results are provided as a scaled score between 100 and 1,000. A score of720is required to pass.
Q11: AWS SAA-C03 exam format?
A11: Multiple choice questions (single or multiple choice) and there is no negative marking.
Related Links/References
- AWS SAA C03 Exam Guide
- AWS SAA CC03 Sample Questions
- AWS SAA C03 Offical Practice Questions Set
- AWS SAA C03 Exam Prep
- AWS SAA C03 Exam Readiness
- AWS Certified Solution Architect Associate SAA-C03 Activity Guides (Hands-On Labs)
- AWS Certification Savings Guide: Maximizing Discounts with Expert Navigation
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