Common Mistakes to Avoid in Microsoft Certification Exams: AZ-900, AZ-104, and Azure DevOps

Microsoft certifications like the AZ-900, AZ-104, and Azure DevOps exams are popular among IT professionals aiming to validate their skills in cloud services, administration, and development practices. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced candidate, passing these exams requires more than just memorizing facts. Common mistakes can hinder your progress, but with the right approach, you can avoid these pitfalls and improve your chances of success.

Below are the common mistakes candidates make and tips on how to avoid them.

1. Underestimating the Exam Scope

Many candidates, especially those taking entry-level exams like AZ-900 (Microsoft Azure Fundamentals), underestimate the breadth of topics covered. While the AZ-900 is an introductory exam, it still spans core cloud concepts, Azure services, and pricing models. Similarly, the AZ-104 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) and Azure DevOps (AZ-400) exams delve into deeper technical knowledge, including role-based configurations, monitoring, and DevOps practices.

Solution:

Review the official Microsoft learning paths for each exam. These learning paths are aligned with the exam objectives and provide a clear structure for your study plan. Even for the foundational AZ-900 exam, ensure that you are familiar with Azure pricing, support, and fundamental cloud services.

For the AZ-104 don't just focus on Azure services; also study best practices for managing virtual machines, storage accounts, and network configurations. With Azure DevOps (AZ-400), be ready to cover continuous integration, continuous delivery (CI/CD), source control, and infrastructure-as-code concepts.

2. Skipping Hands-on Labs

For exams like the AZ-104 and Azure DevOps, where practical knowledge is key, relying solely on theoretical study can lead to poor performance in practical, scenario-based questions. Microsoft exams often test your ability to apply what you’ve learned through simulations or labs.

Solution:

Microsoft offers Azure free accounts that give you the opportunity to experiment with Azure services. Use this to gain hands-on experience, especially if you’re preparing for the AZ-104, where you’ll need to manage real-world scenarios, such as setting up virtual machines or implementing storage solutions.

For Azure DevOps, ensure you’ve practiced setting up pipelines, working with repositories, and automating processes. Hands-on practice is invaluable for understanding how these tools work in real-life environments.

3. Not Using Practice Tests

Skipping practice exams is a common mistake. Practice tests provide a simulation of the real exam environment and help you become comfortable with time management and question formats. The AZ-900 might seem straightforward, but practice tests reveal subtle question phrasing that could trip you up. The AZ-104 and Azure DevOps exams are even more intricate, with case studies and scenario-based questions.

Solution:

Invest in official practice tests or use trusted platforms like MeasureUp or Whizlabs. These tools simulate the exam environment and provide explanations for correct and incorrect answers. By using these tests, you can gauge your readiness and pinpoint areas that need more attention.

Additionally, time yourself during practice exams to get a feel for pacing. The AZ-104 and Azure DevOps exams are time-sensitive, so effective time management can be the difference between passing and failing.

4. Neglecting Core Concepts

For the AZ-900, it’s easy to assume that the exam focuses only on basic cloud concepts. However, Microsoft certification exams are designed to test your in-depth understanding of those basics. Similarly, for the AZ-104 and Azure DevOps exams, candidates often neglect key services and concepts, like Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, cost management, and governance.

Solution:

Study all exam objectives, including the ones you may consider trivial. For AZ-900, pay attention to core concepts like availability zones, scalability, and governance. For AZ-104, dive into specifics about role-based access control (RBAC), Azure Active Directory (AD), and Azure monitoring. For Azure DevOps, ensure you understand Git repositories, version control, and cloud-native CI/CD pipelines.

5. Focusing Solely on Memorization

While Microsoft certification exams require some memorization, focusing solely on this approach is a common mistake. Exams like the AZ-104 and Azure DevOps place a heavy emphasis on real-world scenarios where memorizing terms and definitions isn’t enough. You need to know how to apply that knowledge.

Solution:

Instead of memorizing every single fact, focus on understanding how Azure services are used in practice. Engage in hands-on labs to see how services like Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Storage, or Azure Kubernetes Service function in real-world situations. Apply the concepts learned to tasks that mirror the scenarios described in the exam.

6. Rushing Through the Exam

One of the most frequent mistakes candidates make is rushing through the exam due to anxiety or the desire to finish early. This can lead to misreading questions, missing important details, or choosing incorrect answers based on impulse rather than thought.

Solution:

Pace yourself. Read each question thoroughly, ensuring that you fully understand what is being asked. Take advantage of the “mark for review” feature in Microsoft exams, which allows you to flag questions you’re unsure about and revisit them later if time permits. This is especially useful for scenario-based questions, which can be tricky.

7. Overlooking Exam Updates

Microsoft regularly updates its exams to reflect changes in technology and Azure services. If you’re studying with outdated materials, you could miss critical updates that are now part of the exam.

Solution:

Always check for the latest updates on Microsoft’s official exam pages. The exam objectivesand study materials are periodically updated, and using outdated resources could lead to studying irrelevant content. For instance, recent changes in Azure DevOps now emphasize more on security and compliance in the CI/CD pipeline.

Conclusion

Success in Microsoft certification exams like AZ-900, AZ-104, and Azure DevOps requires a combination of preparation, practice, and attention to detail. By avoiding these common mistakes—such as underestimating the exam, skipping hands-on practice, and relying solely on memorization—you can increase your chances of passing. Follow a structured study plan, make use of practice tests, and ensure you are fully prepared to handle both theoretical and practical questions.

By taking the right steps and avoiding these pitfalls, you'll be well on your way to achieving your Microsoft certification goals.