How I Passed the AZ-104 Exam: A Practical Study Guide

Learning is something we always do as engineers. We think we know it all, but there's always something new to learn as things change and new technologies emerge. My company offered us training on topics that would help both our work and our careers, and I jumped at the opportunity.

Why AZ-104?

Since our primary cloud provider is Azure and I've been familiar with it for about 5 years, I decided to take the AZ-104. I already had the experience - why not get certified?

The Azure Administrator Associate certification validates your ability to implement, manage, and monitor Azure environments. For someone already working in Azure daily, it felt like the natural next step.

My Study Approach

I spent about an hour a day learning, skipping some days here and there, for roughly 3 weeks. Here's what worked for me:

Resources I Used

• KodeKloud ($134/year)

  • Includes a comprehensive AZ-104 course with hands-on labs
  • Great for structured learning and practical scenarios
  • Worth the investment if you want guided content

• Gemini AI for Question Generation

  • This was extremely helpful for finding my weak spots
  • I'd ask it to generate practice questions on specific topics
  • Helped me identify areas that needed more focus

• Microsoft Practice Exam

  • The official practice exam from Microsoft
  • Gives you a feel for the question format and difficulty
  • Highly recommend taking this before the real exam

• John Savill's Study Cram Video

  • All the important info condensed into one 4-hour video
  • Perfect for final review before the exam
  • I highly recommend watching this in your last week of prep

What I Didn't Use

I skipped the Microsoft Learn modules. If you don't want to spend money, these are a solid free option. Pair them with the free version of any AI tool to generate practice questions, and you've got a budget-friendly study path.

The Exam Experience

When it came to test day, I was nervous. The questions were different from what I'd been reviewing during my prep. What helped me most was understanding the basic fundamentals of the material rather than memorizing specific scenarios.

Once I was ready to submit, I was sure I had failed. The questions felt harder than expected, and I second-guessed several answers.

But I passed with a score of 735 (minimum passing score is 700).

Key Takeaways

• Fundamentals matter more than memorization: Understanding the "why" behind Azure services helped me reason through unfamiliar questions.
• Use AI tools strategically: Generating custom practice questions helped me identify and fix knowledge gaps.
• Don't skip the practice exam: It's the closest thing to the real experience.
• Consistency beats cramming: An hour a day for 3 weeks was more effective than marathon study sessions.
• Trust your experience: If you've been working with Azure, you know more than you think.

Final Thoughts

The AZ-104 requires dedication, but it's absolutely achievable if you have hands-on Azure experience and commit to consistent study. Don't let exam-day nerves shake your confidence—trust your preparation and your fundamentals.

If you're considering the AZ-104, go for it. The certification validates what you already know and fills in the gaps you didn't realize existed.

Good luck!