Recently, I completed the AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) certification. I took on this challenge as part of the Campus 19 (42 Network) Bootcamp, where we received structured guidance and plenty of resources to accelerate our learning. My goal? Go from knowing absolutely nothing about AWS to understanding its core architecture—and do it all in just one week.
My Learning Resources
To cover everything efficiently, I focused on high-quality study materials:
- Udemy AWS Cloud Practitioner Course by Stephane Maarek – A well-structured course that breaks down AWS services in a clear and digestible way.
- Practice Exams (Stephane Maarek + ExamTopics) – Mock exams played a crucial role in identifying weak points and reinforcing my knowledge.
These two resources alone were enough to prepare me well for the certification.
What I learned
AWS covers a lot, and here’s a condensed list of the key topics I worked through:
- Cloud Computing & AWS Global Infrastructure
- Identity & Access Management (IAM)
- EC2, S3, EBS, ELB & Auto Scaling
- Databases & Analytics
- Networking (VPC, Security Groups, etc.)
- Deployments & Managing Infrastructure
- Cloud Security & Compliance
- Billing, Pricing, and AWS Support Plans
- Machine Learning & Additional AWS Services
Each of these topics came with its own challenges, and while some clicked instantly, others required deeper effort to fully grasp.
Beating The Dunning-Kruger Effect
Early in my learning, I had that moment—the one where you think you’ve figured it all out. "Oh, I get it! AWS services are just building blocks, easy!" I thought. That confidence, however, was short-lived.
As I dived deeper, I realized how much I didn’t actually know. Differentiating services, understanding networking configurations, and managing IAM policies were far more intricate than I first assumed. My knowledge curve went from high confidence to a harsh reality check—classic Dunning-Kruger effect in action.
To push through:
- I took extensive notes and refined them as I learned.
- I drew AWS workflows on whiteboards to visualize concepts.
- I compared notes with peers to challenge my understanding.
- I took six full practice exams, scoring ~65% at first.
- I reviewed my mistakes and revisited weak points.
After a few intense days of refining my knowledge, my scores steadily improved and I managed to score ~90% on all of them.
Exam Day (Online - Pearson VUE)
By exam day, I didn’t cram too much. Instead, I:
- Reviewed my personal notes and weak areas.
- Went through previously failed practice questions.
- Stayed calm and confident (well, mostly).
The exam was scheduled late in the day since no other spots were available. The proctoring process went smoothly, except for a frustrating issue with the exam app—it simply wouldn’t activate my phone’s camera for ID verification, even though my camera was working perfectly fine. Luckily, I was able to use my laptop’s camera instead. After answering a few security questions, I was all set to begin.
Once I completed the exam, the screen flashed the verdict: PASS. No dramatic countdown, no fireworks—just a simple notification. And just like that, I was officially AWS Certified.
Final Thoughts
Studying for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam in one week was a challenge, but it was absolutely doable with the right resources and a structured approach. More importantly, it reinforced a valuable lesson: true learning isn’t about feeling smart—it’s about identifying gaps, filling them, and embracing the process.
Would I recommend this approach? Yes, but only if you're ready for an intense week of focused studying—I averaged 12 hours a day to make it work. If that sounds too demanding, it's perfectly fine to take your time and go at a steady pace. Either way, just keep learning. 🚀