How I Prepared for Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

Preparing for Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) can feel straightforward at first — the concepts in the syllabus are easy to read and understand. However, the exam tests your ability to apply those concepts in real-world scenarios, which is where most candidates struggle.

For example:

“If you store a file in Azure Blob Storage, how many locations will it be replicated to?”
“Which service would you use to connect to your on-prem servers from Azure?”

You need practical understanding, not just definitions.

1. Understand Core Azure Services — Deeply

Scenario-based questions come from core services, so you should know them thoroughly:

Virtual Machines (VMs) – IaaS compute
Storage – Blob, File, Disk; understand replication options like LRS, ZRS, GRS
Networking – VNets, subnets, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute
Azure Monitor – metrics, alerts
Azure Advisor – operational recommendations

Tip: Use your Azure free account and the credits you get to experiment. Hands-on experience makes scenario questions much easier to answer.

2. Azure Management and Governance — What You Actually Need

This topic is more than just definitions — the exam tests your understanding of how Azure organizes and manages resources.

Key Areas:

Azure Hierarchy: Management Groups, Subscriptions, Resource Groups, Tags
Governance Tools: Azure Policy, Resource Locks
Monitoring & Cost: Azure Cost Management, SLAs, Azure Monitor, Azure Advisor

Scenario-based examples:

Organizing multiple subscriptions under management groups for policy enforcement
Determining replication strategy for a storage blob (LRS vs GRS)

You need to visualize how Azure works in practice, not just memorize terms.

3. Study Materials I Actually Used

Microsoft Learn (Official Content)

I followed the Microsoft Learn AZ-900 modules:

Structured modules for cloud concepts, core services, management/governance, security, and cost management
Practice assessments and sandbox labs to try things hands-on

Useful links:

Exercises and labs: https://microsoftlearning.github.io/AZ-900-Microsoft-Azure-Fundamentals/
Student discounts: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/student-discounts

certs.msfthub.wiki AZ‑900 Page

I also used certs.msfthub.wiki for additional exercises:

Study guide listing with exam topics
Lab exercises to reinforce practical understanding (https://certs.msfthub.wiki/azure/az-900/)
References to MeasureUp practice tests (paid, scenario-focused)

I personally combined Microsoft Learn for structured learning with MSFTHub labs for reinforcement.

4. Practice Tests — After Core Understanding

I consistently scored 80–85% on Microsoft Learn practice assessments, but in the real exam I got 718, which shows how important it is to understand core services and management/governance in practical scenarios, not just memorize facts. Using hands-on labs helped me bridge that gap.

5. Real Exam Discounts — My Experience

When I added my school account in Microsoft Learn under Account Settings → Login Account Management, I was able to get a discount when checking out for the exam. This is how I personally got 50% off.

Note: This reflects my own experience and may vary for others.

6. My Study Routine (What Actually Worked)

Complete Microsoft Learn AZ-900 modules
Use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) to summarize and explain confusing topics
Hands-on practice in Azure free account — storage replication, networking, governance tools
Practice assessments on Microsoft Learn + lab exercises from MSFTHub
Schedule the exam using the school account discount

Final Thoughts

AZ‑900 may seem straightforward conceptually, but scenario-based questions in core services and governance are tricky. Hands-on experience, structured learning from Microsoft Learn, and lab exercises from certs.msfthub.wiki made the difference for me — and that’s what should form the foundation of any good AZ‑900 study plan.

How I Prepared for Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) — What Actually Helped Me