AWS Practice Test

What the AWS is and how it works

According to Amazon Web Services, “Exam format 65 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response”^[1]

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the foundational-level AWS certification. It tests broad cloud knowledge rather than hands-on engineering: cloud concepts, core services, security and compliance, and billing and support. There are no mandatory prerequisites, so anyone can sit it. Candidates aged 13-17 need the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

The exam has 65 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response, with 90 minutes to finish. You can take it at a Pearson VUE test center or through online proctoring. Exam appointments are appointment-based, and most are available 24/7. The fee is $100 per attempt. The passing standard is a scaled score of 700 for foundational exams. Results are posted to your AWS Certification Account within five business days after the exam closes.

If you fail, you must wait 14 calendar days before retaking, and you pay the full registration fee for every attempt. A passing result stays active for three years, and AWS offers renewal options through its recertification page. For comparison, Associate exams cost $150 and use a passing score of 720, while Professional and Specialty exams cost $300 and use 750. Fees, formats and policies can change, so check the official AWS certification pages before you book.

AWS Exam at a Glance

What changed for AWS in 2026

• Oct 28, 2026: Other (update 2026-12-31) changed to The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam in Italian will be retired after December 31, 2026. (previously The AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam in Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil) will be retired after December 31, 2026.).^[4]
• Oct 28, 2026: Exam fee (Specialty) changed to $300 per attempt (previously $300 per attempt; applicable taxes additional).^[13]
• Oct 16, 2026: Other (update 2026-03-31) changed to AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty retired; the last exam date was March 31, 2026. (previously AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty retired with its last examination date on March 31, 2026.).^[19]
• Oct 16, 2026: Other (update 2026-09-29) changed to Beta delivery of the updated AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C02) began September 29, 2026. (previously Delivery of the updated AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate MLA-C02 beta began September 29, 2026.).^[6]
• Oct 15, 2026: The Italian and German versions of AWS Certified AI Practitioner retire after October 15, 2026.^[5]
• Sep 29, 2026: Beta delivery of the updated AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate (MLA-C02) began September 29, 2026.^[6]
• Sep 28, 2026: The last day to take the English MLA-C01 exam was September 28, 2026.^[6]
• Sep 1, 2026: Registration for the updated AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer - Associate exam (MLA-C02) opened September 1, 2026.^[6]
• Mar 31, 2026: AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty retired; the last exam date was March 31, 2026.^[19]

AWS content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official AWS content outline published by Amazon Web Services, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through AWS questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is S3 Transfer Acceleration used for?

1. To speed up long-distance uploads to S3 using CloudFront edge locations
2. To accelerate queries on S3 data
3. To automatically compress S3 objects
4. To replicate S3 buckets across regions faster

Answer: A. To speed up long-distance uploads to S3 using CloudFront edge locations

Explanation:

The correct answer is that S3 Transfer Acceleration speeds up long-distance uploads to S3. It routes traffic through CloudFront edge locations, so a client far from the bucket's Region reaches a nearby edge first and then travels over the AWS network.

The other options describe different jobs. Accelerating queries on S3 data is the territory of query services, not a transfer feature. Automatic compression is not something this feature does. Faster replication between Regions is handled by replication settings, not by Transfer Acceleration, which is about how clients send data in.

Rule to remember: when a question mentions distant users uploading to one bucket, think edge locations and Transfer Acceleration. When it mentions copying data between buckets, think replication.

Example 2

Question: A company is migrating an on-premises application that uses JMS with Apache ActiveMQ to AWS and wants to avoid rewriting messaging code. Which service is best?

1. Amazon SQS
2. Amazon SNS
3. Amazon MQ
4. Amazon EventBridge

Answer: C. Amazon MQ

Explanation:

Amazon MQ is correct because it is a managed message broker for ActiveMQ and RabbitMQ, and it supports standard protocols such as JMS. A company that already uses JMS with ActiveMQ can move the broker and keep its existing messaging code.

Amazon SQS is a managed queue with its own API, so the code would need to change. Amazon SNS is a publish and subscribe topic service, also with its own API, and it is not a drop-in broker. Amazon EventBridge routes events between services and applications, which is a different model from a JMS broker.

Rule to remember: when the wording is about migrating without rewriting and names a broker or protocol, choose Amazon MQ. When you are building something new on AWS, SQS and SNS are the usual native choices.

Example 3

Question: Which AWS service provides a fully managed source control service that hosts Git repositories?

1. AWS CodeCommit
2. AWS CodeBuild
3. AWS CodeDeploy
4. AWS CodePipeline

Answer: A. AWS CodeCommit

Explanation:

AWS CodeCommit is correct because it is the service that hosts private Git repositories as a managed source control service. The question asks specifically about hosting repositories, which is source control.

AWS CodeBuild is wrong because it compiles code and runs tests. AWS CodeDeploy is wrong because it automates deploying code to compute targets. AWS CodePipeline is wrong because it orchestrates the stages of a release process and connects the other tools, but it does not store the code itself.

Rule to remember: match each developer tool to one stage. Store code with CodeCommit, build and test with CodeBuild, deploy with CodeDeploy, and chain the stages with CodePipeline.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official exam page for your certification and read the list of content areas, so you know what the exam actually covers. Then take the general AWS practice test cold to see where you stand. Do not worry about the score; note which topics felt guessed.

Next, work through the topic sets that match your weak spots. Try AWS Security and IAM and AWS Storage and Databases for the heaviest service areas, and Billing, Pricing, and Cost Management for the smaller but easy-to-lose area. After each set, read the explanation for every question you missed and for the ones you guessed right. Write the rule behind each one in a short note.

Use the AWS documentation and free training material to fill the gaps those notes show, rather than reading everything. In the last days before your appointment, repeat the sets you did worst on, then retake a mixed set under the time limit. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to check understanding, not to memorise answers.

Sources & last verified

1. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit (official source). “Exam format 65 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
2. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “Exam format 85 questions, multiple choice and multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
3. Amazon Web Services — passing score, retake fee, retake policy, score release (official source). “The passing standard is represented by a scaled score of 700 for Foundational-level exams, 720 for Associate-level exams, and 750 for Professional-level and Specialty exams.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
4. Amazon Web Services — exam fee, number of questions, time limit, other (official source). “Cost 150 USD.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
5. Amazon Web Services — other, number of questions, time limit (official source). “The AWS Certified AI Practitioner exam in Italian and German will be retired after October 15, 2026.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
6. Amazon Web Services — other, number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “September 29, 2026: Beta delivery begins” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
7. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit (official source). “Exam format 65 questions; either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
8. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “Exam format 65 questions; either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
9. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit (official source). “Exam format 65 questions; either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
10. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit (official source). “Exam format 65 questions; either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
11. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit (official source). “Exam format 75 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 17, 2026.
12. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit (official source). “Exam format 75 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
13. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “Exam format 65 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
14. Amazon Web Services — number of questions, time limit, exam fee (official source). “Exam format 75 questions, either multiple choice or multiple response” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 27, 2026.
15. Amazon Web Services — validity, delivery, eligibility (official source). “Candidates who pass a beta exam earn the applicable AWS Certification, which is active for three years.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
16. Amazon Web Services — renewal (official source). “Maintain your certification for 1 more year of validity.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
17. pearsonvue.com — eligibility (official source). “Candidates ages 13-17 are permitted to take AWS Certification exams with the consent of their parent or legal guardian.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 26, 2026.
18. Amazon Web Services — testing window (official source). “Most exam appointments are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
19. Amazon Web Services — other (official source). “The last day to take this exam is March 31, 2026.” Verified Oct 28, 2026 · source checked Oct 16, 2026.
20. d1.awsstatic.com — other (official source). “billing pricing and support 12%” Verified Oct 28, 2026.

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