How to prepare for Microsoft Fundamentals Exams

Note

Best for non-technical roles and anyone new to Microsoft Cloud products, with a focus on core concepts, key products, and common use cases.

Tip

Use Navigating Microsoft Certification Study Materials to compare resource types, then open the exam study-material collections for links specific to your exam.

Fundamentals exams provide an entry-level view of Microsoft products and cloud concepts. Compared with Business exams, they generally place more emphasis on cloud terminology, service categories, security, governance, pricing concepts, and choosing between related products. They are useful when you are new to a product area or want to validate broad understanding without focusing on implementation depth.

Study Time

As a starting point, allow one to two weeks of consistent study, then adjust based on your prior knowledge and objective coverage. A learner who is new to cloud concepts may need more time than someone who already works with the product.

Where Do I Start?

Study Guide

Tip

Replace examcode in https://aka.ms/examcode-studyguide with the lowercase exam code. For example: https://aka.ms/az900-studyguide.

The study guide defines the skills measured and is the source of truth for the exam scope. Use it as a checklist throughout your preparation and check its change log again shortly before the exam.

How to Prepare

1. Read the study guide and turn each objective into a checklist item.
2. Complete the Microsoft Learn course or another current primary course that covers every objective.
3. Map each course section back to the study guide and review any objectives that were missing or unclear.
4. Take the official Practice Assessment if one is available. Research every incorrect or uncertain answer and record the objective that needs more work.
5. Use the study-material guide and collection for your exam when you need another explanation, Exam Readiness Zone videos, or more practice.
6. For practical familiarity, use the lab setup guide and browse the exam lab collections.
7. Use the exam sandbox and exam-experience guide before exam day. Fundamentals exams do not provide access to Microsoft Learn during the exam.

How to Know When You Are Ready

You should be able to explain each objective in your own words, compare similar services, and choose an appropriate product or capability for a common scenario. Do not rely on a score from questions you have memorized; use unfamiliar questions and your ability to explain every option as stronger readiness signals.