Preparing for the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate exam requires dedication, a well-structured study plan, and hands-on experience. However, many candidates make avoidable mistakes that hinder their chances of passing. To help you succeed, we’ve compiled a list of common mistakes to avoid when preparing for this exam and strategies to stay on the right AWS certified SysOps administrator.

1. Not Understanding the Exam Structure

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is failing to familiarize themselves with the exam format, domains, and question types. Before starting your preparation, make sure you understand:

  • Number of questions: 65 (multiple-choice, multiple-response, and hands-on labs)

  • Duration: 130 minutes

  • Passing score: 720 out of 1000

  • Exam domains:

    • Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation (20%)

    • Reliability and Business Continuity (16%)

    • Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation (18%)

    • Security and Compliance (16%)

    • Networking and Content Delivery (18%)

    • Cost and Performance Optimization (12%)

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Read the AWS official exam guide. ✅ Review AWS whitepapers and best practices. ✅ Understand the weight of each domain and focus accordingly.

2. Relying Only on Theoretical Knowledge

Many candidates make the mistake of solely relying on books, courses, and documentation without gaining hands-on experience. The AWS SysOps Administrator exam tests your ability to manage, deploy, and troubleshoot AWS environments, which requires practical knowledge.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Use the AWS Free Tier to practice with real AWS services. ✅ Set up an AWS environment and work on real-world scenarios. ✅ Perform tasks related to EC2, S3, CloudWatch, IAM, and VPC configurations. ✅ Utilize hands-on labs from platforms like AWS Skill Builder, A Cloud Guru, and Whizlabs.

3. Not Practicing Enough with Mock Exams

Taking the exam without adequate practice tests can result in surprises on exam day. Many candidates assume they are prepared without testing their knowledge through mock exams.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Take practice exams from AWS, Tutorials Dojo, and Whizlabs. ✅ Analyze incorrect answers and understand why you got them wrong. ✅ Simulate the actual exam environment and time yourself. ✅ Identify weak areas and revisit those topics.

4. Ignoring the Hands-on Lab Component

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate exam includes a hands-on lab component, where candidates must perform tasks in a live AWS environment. Failing to prepare for this practical section can lower your chances of passing.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Learn how to perform key AWS operations through the AWS Management Console and CLI. ✅ Practice deploying, configuring, and monitoring AWS services. ✅ Take AWS Skill Builder labs to simulate exam-like scenarios.

5. Neglecting AWS Documentation and Whitepapers

AWS provides extensive documentation and whitepapers that cover best practices, security, cost optimization, and operational excellence. Many candidates ignore these valuable resources.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Read AWS whitepapers, especially:

  • AWS Well-Architected Framework

  • AWS Security Best Practices

  • AWS Operational Excellence ✅ Study the AWS documentation for core services like EC2, S3, RDS, VPC, CloudWatch, and IAM. ✅ Use AWS FAQs to clarify concepts.

6. Overlooking Security and Compliance Topics

Security is a critical component of the AWS SysOps Administrator exam. Many candidates focus only on deployments and monitoring while ignoring security and compliance aspects.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Learn how IAM roles, policies, and permissions work. ✅ Understand AWS Shield, WAF, and GuardDuty. ✅ Study AWS encryption methods, security groups, and compliance frameworks.

7. Not Managing Time Effectively During the Exam

Poor time management is a common issue. Some candidates spend too much time on one question, leaving little time for the rest of the exam.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Allocate time per question (e.g., 2 minutes per question). ✅ Use the mark-for-review feature and return to difficult questions later. ✅ Avoid second-guessing yourself excessively. ✅ Stay calm and focused throughout the exam.

8. Not Understanding Cost and Performance Optimization

AWS emphasizes cost-efficiency and performance optimization. Many candidates neglect these topics, leading to incorrect answers in the exam.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Learn how to use AWS Cost Explorer, AWS Budgets, and Trusted Advisor. ✅ Understand EC2 pricing models (On-Demand, Reserved, Spot). ✅ Know when to use AWS Auto Scaling, Load Balancers, and caching mechanisms.

9. Failing to Join Study Groups and AWS Communities

Studying alone can be challenging. Candidates who don't engage with the AWS community miss out on valuable discussions, insights, and study resources.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Join AWS study groups on LinkedIn, Slack, Discord, and Reddit (r/aws, r/AWSCertifications). ✅ Participate in AWS forums and Q&A discussions. ✅ Attend AWS webinars and events to stay updated.

10. Underestimating the Difficulty of the Exam

Some candidates assume that if they have passed other AWS exams, they can easily pass the SysOps Administrator exam without much preparation. This exam is more operational and hands-on, making it more challenging.

How to Avoid This Mistake:

✅ Treat the SysOps Administrator exam as a unique challenge. ✅ Prepare thoroughly, even if you have prior AWS certifications. ✅ Use a combination of study materials, hands-on practice, and mock exams.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common mistakes will significantly increase your chances of passing the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate exam. By understanding the exam structure, practicing with mock exams, gaining hands-on experience, and focusing on security, cost optimization, and time management, you can confidently tackle the exam and achieve certification success.

Take a structured approach, learn from the experiences of others, and continuously refine your knowledge. Best of luck with your AWS SysOps Administrator certification journey!