One of the most sought-after certifications for professionals who want to get better at cloud development is the AWS Certified Developer Associate.

The IT Skills and Salary Report from Global Knowledge states that AWS certifications are among the best-paying titles in the world. For example, AWS Developer Associates typically earn more than $120,000 per year. However, despite its importance, many candidates fail on their first try. This isn't because they aren't smart, but because they made mistakes that could have been avoided during their prep.

Now let's look at the common mistakes that could really hurt your chances of getting your AWS Developer Certification, so that you can eliminate them at all costs.

1. Not Looking at the Exam Blueprint and Domains

Candidates make a significant mistake when they don't thoroughly read the official AWS exam guide. The AWS Developer Associate exam comprises several parts, including Deployment, Security, Development with AWS Services, and Troubleshooting. Each is worth a certain number of points on the test.

• Mistake: Starting to learn about services like Lambda or DynamoDB right away without knowing which topics are more important.
• Tip: Carefully read the official guide and set aside time based on the value of each domain. This ensures that you learn the most important things.

2. Ignoring Hands on Practice

It's not enough to read documents or watch tutorials. When it comes to AWS, real-world knowledge is very important. The exam often checks how well you can solve problems in real life.

• Mistake: You will make a mistake by watching videos or tutorials for 90% of the time instead of logging into the AWS console.
• Tip: When you use the AWS Free Tier, you can try out services like Lambda, API Gateway, CloudFormation, and DynamoDB for free. You can practice developing, deploying, and fixing bugs in apps, just like a real coder would.

3. Not Realizing How Important IAM and Security Are

Candidates who focus solely on development-focused services often struggle with security questions. But to get the Amazon Web Services Developer Certification, you need to know how to set up Identity and Access Management (IAM), keep APIs safe, and control who can see what.

• Mistake: Paying less attention to IAM policies and security concepts
• Tip: A good tip is to learn how to write IAM rules, utilize roles with Lambda, and understand how to control access to different services. These subjects frequently appear on both practice tests and actual tests.

4. Not using monitoring tools like CloudWatch, X-Ray, and Monitoring

Monitoring and troubleshooting are important parts of cloud-native development. AWS expects devs to use X-Ray to track requests and CloudWatch for logging.

• Mistake: You will make a mistake by not getting to know CloudWatch's data, logs, and alarms.
• Tip: Get accustomed to using X-Ray to identify speed bottlenecks, set up metrics, and create alarms. These are real-world skills that are tested directly on the exam.

5. Not taking mock tests or practice tests

After completing a course, many students believe they are more prepared than they actually are because they haven't practiced in a real test setting.

• Mistake: Relying only on finishing the AWS Developer training course without putting your information to the test in an exam.
• Tip: Take at least three to four full-length practice tests that give you time limits. Go back and look at each wrong answer to see what you don't know. According to a study, candidates who took at least three timed practice tests were 30% more likely to pass the real AWS certification exams.

6. Ignoring how to manage time and plan for exams

You need to know a lot about AWS for the exam, but you also need to know how to use your time well. It takes about two minutes to answer each of the 65 questions in 130 minutes.

• Mistake: Spending too much time on difficult scenario-based questions was a mistake.
• Tip: Take a note of the tough questions and move on. First, answer the ones you know, and then return to the ones marked in red. Mock tests are an excellent way to enhance your speed and confidence.

In conclusion

You can't just watch a course or read materials to get ready for the AWS Certified Developer Associate exam. You need to plan, practice in the real world, and keep evaluating your progress. If you don't make these common mistakes and instead focus on practical information, you will not only pass the test but also become a better cloud developer.

Are you ready to take the next step? If so, why not start preparing with an AWS Developer course that meets your needs?

Are you making any of these mistakes as you learn to be an AWS certificate Developer?