Pick the best design, not just a working one.
Candidates describe long scenarios where two options both work. The deciding factor is usually cost, operational effort, performance or security, so read the last sentence of the question carefully.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) Exam Guide
Validates knowledge of designing complex multi-account solutions, improving existing workloads, and migrating and modernizing applications using AWS services.
Each question is a long business and technical scenario with several designs that would work. The exam tests whether you can spot the requirement, such as cost, recovery time, operational effort or security, that makes one design the best. Build on real AWS design experience, learn the multi-account, hybrid and migration patterns, and practise many scenarios with explanations.
Understand the exam
Syllabus
Domain 1Design solutions for organizational complexity26%
- 1.1Architect network connectivity strategies
- 1.2Prescribe security controls
- 1.3Design reliable and resilient architectures
- 1.4Design a multi-account AWS environment
- 1.5Determine cost optimization and visibility strategies
Example scenario: A company with 40 accounts wants every new account to send logs to one place and block disabling of CloudTrail. How would you enforce this across the organization?
Domain 2Design for new solutions29%
- 2.1Design a deployment strategy to meet business requirements
- 2.2Design a solution to ensure business continuity
- 2.3Determine security controls based on requirements
- 2.4Design a strategy to meet reliability requirements
- 2.5Design a solution to meet performance objectives
- 2.6Determine a cost optimization strategy to meet solution goals and objectives
Example scenario: A trading application needs an RTO of under one minute across Regions, but the budget rules out running two full environments. Which disaster recovery pattern would you compare first?
Domain 3Continuous improvement for existing solutions25%
- 3.1Determine a strategy to improve overall operational excellence
- 3.2Determine a strategy to improve security
- 3.3Determine a strategy to improve performance
- 3.4Determine a strategy to improve reliability
- 3.5Identify opportunities for cost optimizations
Example scenario: A legacy application stores database credentials in config files on 200 EC2 instances. How would you move to rotating secrets with minimal downtime?
Domain 4Accelerate workload migration and modernization20%
- 4.1Select existing workloads and processes for potential migration
- 4.2Determine the optimal migration approach for existing workloads
- 4.3Determine a new architecture for existing workloads
- 4.4Determine opportunities for modernization and enhancements
Example scenario: A company must move 500 TB from a data centre with a 1 Gbps link within three weeks. Which transfer options would you evaluate?
Official SAP-C02 exam guide · SAP-C02 until 16 November 2026
Format
- Questions
- 75
- Duration
- 3h
- Passing score
- 750 / 1000
- Delivery
- Test centre or online
- Languages
- English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish
Question types
Choose the single best answer from four options; one is correct and three are distractors.
CertUp example
A company has 40 AWS accounts and must stop anyone in any account from disabling CloudTrail. Which approach enforces this centrally?
Show answer
Use a service control policy in AWS Organizations that denies the CloudTrail stop and delete actions. It applies to every account in the organization and even account administrators cannot override it.
Choose two or more correct answers from five or more options; you must select every correct option to get credit.
CertUp example
A company must move 500 TB from its data centre to AWS within three weeks over a 1 Gbps link. Which TWO options should it evaluate?
Show answer
AWS Snowball Edge devices, and AWS Direct Connect with a higher-capacity connection. A 1 Gbps link needs well over a month for 500 TB, so physical transfer or more bandwidth is needed.
Eligibility and booking
Create an AWS Certification account with a personal email and schedule with Pearson VUE at a test centre or online. Book SAP-C02 for a date up to 16 November 2026; SAP-C03 bookings open on 27 October for exams from 17 November. Non-native English speakers can request 30 extra minutes.
Make a study plan
Check the exam guide against your experience first. Then work through one Professional course, building the patterns you have not used, and spend the last weeks on scenario practice.
Plan for 80–160 hours. Plan for the low end if you design multi-account and hybrid AWS architectures at work; add time if networking, migrations or recovery patterns are new to you.
- 1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.6 h
- 3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.72 h
- 4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.36 h
- 5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.6 h
If you start now, your exam may fall on or after 17 November 2026. Check that your course and practice tests cover SAP-C03.
Learn the core concepts
Choose one Professional course. Build the multi-account, networking and recovery patterns you have not used at work.
Best hands-on courseAWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional
Best fast reviewUltimate AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional 2026Best with practice examAWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02Name the deciding requirement. For each practice scenario, write down the one requirement that rules out the other workable answers, such as cost, recovery time or least operational effort.
Practice with mock exams
Use a large scenario bank in review mode first, then full three-hour timed exams. AWS's official practice exam is the closest match to the real exam's style.
Official Practice Question Set (SAP-C02)
Free SAP-C02 Practice Exams SamplerOfficial Practice Exam (SAP-C02)Are you ready?
- You can explain which disaster recovery pattern meets a given RTO, RPO and budget.
- You can design network connectivity for many VPCs and an on-premises site.
- You finish fresh three-hour timed exams and can name the requirement behind each correct answer.
Prepare for exam day
Choose the checklist for your test-centre or online appointment.
Before going to the test centre
Before testing from home
- Bring two IDs, or one primary and one secondary ID, matching the name in your AWS Certification account.
- Arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your appointment.
- Store your belongings as instructed. Breaks are allowed, but the exam clock keeps running.
- Run the OnVUE system test on the computer and network you will use.
- Prepare a private room and a clear desk, and have one government-issued photo ID ready.
- Start check-in early. Arriving more than 15 minutes late forfeits the exam fee.
- You cannot leave the camera view or take a break during the three hours.
You can reschedule or cancel up to 24 hours before the appointment, and reschedule twice at most. Results are posted to your AWS Certification account within five business days.
Advice from exam takers
Low early practice scores are common.
Passers describe starting practice tests around 43 to 60 percent and passing weeks later by learning from every wrong answer.
Use the official practice exam for the real feel.
Several 2026 passers met newer networking and service topics that third-party banks had not covered yet, and named AWS's own practice exam as the closest match.