Expect Python SDK questions.
Several 2026 pass reports say the hardest questions were Python snippets on client setup and response handling, not the AI concepts.
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-901) Exam Guide
Validates foundational knowledge of AI concepts, responsible AI and building generative AI, vision and speech solutions.
AI-901 checks that you can explain core AI ideas and pick the right model or workload, and that you can read and complete small Python apps that call Microsoft Foundry. Work through the two official learning paths, build the exercises in your own Azure subscription, then practise the SDK and portal questions.
Understand the exam
Syllabus
Identify AI concepts and capabilities40–45%
- Describe principles of responsible AI
- Identify AI model components and configurations
- Identify AI workloads
Example scenario: A support team wants to tag incoming emails as positive, neutral or negative. Which text analysis technique is that, and what would you check for fairness?
Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry55–60%
- Implement generative AI apps and agents by using Foundry
- Implement AI solutions for text and speech by using Foundry
- Implement AI solutions with computer vision and image-generation capabilities by using Foundry
- Implement AI solutions for information extraction by using Foundry
Example scenario: A short Python script creates a Foundry client but every request fails with an authentication error. What two settings would you check first?
AI-901 study guide · Skills measured as of April 15, 2026
Format
- Questions
- 40–60
- Duration
- 45 min
- Passing score
- 700 / 1000
- Delivery
- Test centre or online
- Languages
- English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
Question types
Choose the best answer from the options, or the stated number of answers when a question asks for more than one.
CertUp example
A company wants a model to summarize long contracts. Which type of AI workload is this?
Show answer
A. Writing a new, shorter text from a long one is a generative AI task.
Drag items from a list into the matching places; an item can be used once, more than once or not at all.
CertUp example
Drag each responsible AI principle to the example it matches. The examples are explaining why a loan was refused, treating all applicants equally, and protecting applicant data.
Show answer
Explaining why a loan was refused → Transparency, treating all applicants equally → Fairness, protecting applicant data → Privacy and security.
Pick one value from each drop-down list in a block of text, code or a diagram to complete it.
CertUp example
Select the correct value in each list. Raising the temperature makes model output [more varied / more predictable], and a system prompt sets the model's [role and rules / training data].
Show answer
More varied, and role and rules. A higher temperature adds randomness, and the system prompt sets how the model should behave.
Eligibility and booking
Sign in to Microsoft Learn with a personal Microsoft account, complete your certification profile, then schedule AI-901 with Pearson VUE. Students and educators can schedule through Certiport.
Make a study plan
Read the study guide, then work through the two official learning paths and build each exercise in Foundry.
Most candidates spend 10–30 hours. Plan for the low end if you already know basic Python and some Azure; plan for the high end if Python, cloud or AI concepts are new to you.
- 1Understand the examRead the syllabus and format, check you’re eligible and pick a target date.1 h
- 3Learn the core conceptsWork through one main course or book, topic by topic.12 h
- 4Practice with mock examsTake timed practice tests and review every mistake.6 h
- 5Prepare for exam dayBook the exam and check the ID and delivery rules.1 h
Learn the core concepts
The two official learning paths map to the two skill areas. A short video course or John Savill's cram helps you review.
Best free official courseAI-901 Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals course
Best video courseAI-901 Azure AI Fundamentals Exam Preparation
Best free reviewAI-901 Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals Study CramRun the code yourself. The SDK questions are easier once you have created a client, sent a prompt and handled a response in Python. Copy the learning path samples and change one setting at a time.
Practice with mock exams
Start with Microsoft's free practice assessment on AI Skills Navigator, which needs a sign-in. Then use a question bank and rerun any code example you got wrong.
AI-901 practice assessment
AI-901 Azure AI Fundamentals Practice ExamsAI-901 Practice Tests 2026: Microsoft Azure AI FundamentalsAre you ready?
- You can match each responsible AI principle to a scenario.
- You can read a short Foundry SDK script and say what it does and what is missing.
- You finish a fresh timed practice set and can explain your wrong answers.
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 a current government-issued ID whose name matches your Microsoft certification profile exactly.
- Arrive early enough to check in and store your belongings.
- Allow about 65 minutes of seat time for 45 minutes of questions.
- Run the OnVUE system test on the same computer, network and room you will use. A personal computer works better than a work laptop.
- Use a walled room with a closed door. Clear the desk of notes, pens and extra screens, and keep your phone out of reach.
- Check in from 30 minutes before your appointment. You photograph your ID and workspace with your phone.
- You can take a break, but the clock keeps running and you cannot return to questions you saw before it.
- If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours. Later retakes need 14 days between attempts.
Advice from exam takers
Spend time in the Foundry portal.
Passers say some questions expect you to know where things are in the Foundry portal, so they recommend clicking through it with a free Azure trial before the exam.
The official paths can be enough.
Some passers used only the Microsoft Learn paths and a practice test, sometimes after a few days of study, and finished John Savill's cram as a last review.