Hello! I'm Ahmed Tarek Alhusainy, welcome to the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) Self-Study Guide! 👉 Open the Repo Navigator Website For Non GitHub Familiar
This repository is a roadmap based on my successful completion of the AWS SAA certification through the ALX Cloud Computing Program, which began with the Cloud Practitioner (CCP) track and was powered by AWS Academy Cloud Architecting v3.
Whether you're just starting or deep into your cloud journey, this guide offers a structured, resource-rich path to mastering AWS architecture principles and passing the certification with confidence. 🚀
- Why This Guide?
- Study Strategy: SQ4R
- ALX Program Overview
- AWS Modules M01–M17
- Weekly Structure
- Labs & Demos
- Exam Preparation Kit
- Getting Started
- Support My Work
I created this README to:
- Share the exact resources I used to pass the AWS SAA exam
- Provide a week-by-week breakdown of the ALX program structure
- Offer a modular study plan aligned with the AWS Well-Architected Framework
- Help others track progress, avoid overwhelm, and stay focused
It serves as a structured roadmap for:
- 📘 Understanding course modules (M01–M17)
- 🧩 Tracking hands-on labs and Well-Architected principles
- 🔁 Applying study methods (SQ4R & Checkpoint Reflections)
- 📂 Accessing official PDF guides and assets
- 🚀 Connecting learning to real-world AWS architecture skills
The materials in this guide are not all created by me but were collected through research and peers recommendation. My intention is not to claim ownership of any content but to provide a resource that can assist others in their cloud certification journey, just as it helped me. I hope this compilation of resources benefits everyone seeking to learn and grow in the field of cloud computing. 🎯
- Start with the SQ4R Study Strategy
- Follow the Weekly Breakdown for module pacing
- Use the Exam Kit in your final 2 weeks
- Explore Arabic & English resources based on your preference
Don't Feel Overwhelmed! Use the SQ4R Study Strategy , To maximize retention and clarity, I recommend using the SQ4R method firstly over the resources:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| S – Survey | Scan the material for structure and key ideas |
| Q – Question | Ask questions to guide your focus |
| R – Read | Dive into the content actively |
| R – Recite | Summarize in your own words |
| R – Review | Revisit key concepts regularly |
| R – Reflect | Connect new knowledge to existing understanding |
💡 Tip: After every module, draw a mini-architecture in Lucidchart or draw.io to visualize the service flow.
There is no one ultimate resource that fits all learners.
Some prefer Dion Training Notes, others like Stephane Maarek’s Udemy course, and many blend different approaches.
For Arabic native speakers, I highly recommend keeping both:
- 🗣️ Arabic Instructor sources such as Essia Abou Sharaf, Mohamed Rezk, and other Arabic Udemy or YouTube creators.
- 🌍 English end-to-end courses such as Stephane Maarek’s top-rated Udemy SAA course.
💡 My path: I studied with Essia (DolfinED) for Arabic clarity + Stephane Maarek for depth — alongside the official ALX Program.
This balanced approach covered concept mastery and exam strategy effectively.
The ALX AWS Cloud Computing Program is a 6-month, career-oriented journey jointly designed by ALX Africa & AWS Academy to equip learners with two industry-recognized certifications: the AWS Cloud Practitioner (CCP) and AWS Solutions Architect (SSA).
- 💡 Curriculum: Developed and maintained by AWS Academy — covering design, deployment, and management of cloud applications.
- 🧑🏫 Delivery: Fully online via the ALX LMS (Savanna) with structured weekly content, PDF study guides, and mentor support.
- 🧠 Engagement: Weekly live sessions + peer squads for accountability and knowledge exchange.
- 🧰 Hands-On Labs: AWS Management Console access + Knowledge Checks & Capstone projects.
- 💬 Community Support: Dedicated channels on Circle and Zendesk for guidance and technical assistance.
- 🧾 Certification Vouchers: Eligible graduates receive AWS exam vouchers via Pearson VUE and one retake option if needed.
- 🧩 Outcomes: Portfolio-ready projects, real-world cloud experience, and career launch support.
- Duration: ≈ 6 months (20 – 30 hours/week)
- Tracks: Cloud Practitioner → Solutions Architect
- Capstone: Real-world AWS deployment project
- Final Phase: Career Launch + Community Mentorship
| Phase | Certificate | Platform | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Cloud Practitioner (CCP) | AWS Academy Foundations | ✅ Completed |
| 2 | AWS Solutions Architect (SSA) | AWS Academy Cloud Architecting v3 | ✅ Completed |
| 3 | Career Launch & Capstone | ALX Cloud Computing Program Final Phase | ✅ Completed |
🧾 Reference: Content summarized and verified from the official ALX AWS Program Brochure and my personal experience as a graduate of the program.
Each module in the AWS Academy Cloud Architecting v3 curriculum directly maps to the AWS Well-Architected Framework Pillars:
Operational Excellence · Security · Reliability · Performance Efficiency · Cost Optimization
The modules progressively build the knowledge needed to design, deploy, and operate secure, resilient, and efficient AWS architectures — from foundational concepts to complex multi-tier systems.
| # | Module Title | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introducing Cloud Architecting | Cloud fundamentals & Well-Architected principles |
| 2 | Securing Access | IAM, authentication & authorization policies |
| 3 | Adding a Storage Layer with S3 | Buckets, lifecycle rules, static websites |
| 4 | Compute with EC2 & EFS | EC2 instances, AMIs, EFS integration, scaling |
| 5 | Adding a Database Layer | RDS, DynamoDB, migration & backup strategies |
| 6 | Networking Environment (VPC) | VPCs, subnets, routing, NACLs & security groups |
| 7 | Connecting Networks | Peering, Transit Gateway, VPN, hybrid setups |
| 8 | Securing User & App Access | Cognito, encryption, identity federation |
| 9 | Monitoring & High Availability | CloudWatch, Auto Scaling, Route 53 routing |
| 10 | Automation & IaC | CloudFormation templates & stack automation |
| 11 | Caching Content | CloudFront, ElastiCache & CDN strategies |
| 12 | Decoupled Architectures | SQS, SNS, event-driven system design |
| 13 | Serverless Architectures | Lambda, API Gateway, containerized services |
| 14 | Data Engineering Patterns | Pipelines, ETL flows, analytics workloads |
| 15 | Planning for Disaster | Backup, replication, disaster recovery |
| 16 | Capstone Project | End-to-end Café Architecture deployment |
| 17 | Certification Bridge | Exam prep, Skill Builder & whitepaper reviews |
| Week | Focus Area | Core AWS Services | Hands-On Labs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloud Architecting Basics | AWS Global Infrastructure, Regions, AZs | Orientation Lab |
| 2 | Identity & Storage | IAM, S3 | Static Website Lab |
| 3 | Compute & Database | EC2, RDS | Dynamic Website Lab |
| 5 | Networking & Connectivity | VPC, VPN, Peering | Café Network Lab |
| 6 | Security & Monitoring | Cognito, CloudWatch, CloudTrail | HA & Security Lab |
| 7 | Automation & IaC | CloudFormation, CodePipeline | Deployment Automation |
| 9 | Serverless & Decoupling | Lambda, SQS, SNS | Serverless Café |
| 10 | Data & Disaster Recovery | Glue, Athena, Storage Gateway | DR Simulation |
| 11 | Capstone & Certification | Multi-tier Integration | Final Assessment |
Hands-on practice is the core of the ALX + AWS Academy experience.
Every module includes guided labs, challenge scenarios, and live demonstrations designed to strengthen practical skills:
- Identity & Access Management (IAM)
- EC2 and EFS provisioning
- RDS setup and snapshots
- VPC creation and routing
- Cognito & user federation
- CloudFormation automation
- Deploy a Static S3 Website
- Build a Dynamic Website with EC2 & RDS
- Design a Scalable Café Architecture aligned with AWS Well-Architected Framework
- S3 Lifecycle & Versioning
- EC2 Spot Instance history
- Auto Scaling & Load Balancer behavior
- Route 53 failover configuration
💡 Tip: Always pair theory with practice — take screenshots, record key setups, and maintain a personal AWS “Lab Diary” to review configurations and mistakes later.
- Week 1: Cloud Fundamentals
- Week 2: IAM & S3
- Week 3: EC2 & RDS
- Week 5: Networking
- Week 6: Security
- Week 7: Automation
- Week 9: Serverless
- Week 10: Data & DR
- Week 11: Capstone
This section contains my personal exam prep kit, designed to help learners review, practice, and reinforce key AWS concepts before taking the SAA-C03 certification exam. It brings together official exam resources, peer summaries in both Arabic and English, topic-based quizzes, and complete mock exams — all organized for structured and effective study.
0_Summaries– Final revision notes for quick recall and mental mapping0_AWS_Solutions_Architect_Learner_Exam_Info_Pack.pdf– Learner journey and study strategy0_AWS-Certified-Solutions-Architect-Associate_Exam-Guide.pdf– Official AWS exam blueprint1_Shorts_Topic_Based_Qs– Topic-based practice questions by service2_Full_Exam_Sets– Full mock exams to benchmark readiness3_Useful_Websites– Curated links for extra practice
🌐 Online Practice Platforms
| Platform | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| SecExams | Free and paid AWS practice exams for SAA-C03 | secexams.com |
| Tutorials Dojo / Jon Bonso | Community practice sets with detailed rationales | tutorialsdojo.com |
| ExamTopics | User-contributed questions (verify accuracy) | examtopics.com |
💡 Tip: Use this kit with the SQ4R method to maximize retention and confidence before exam day.
💡 Tip: Use this kit in combination with the SQ4R study method to maximize retention and confidence before exam day.
- Review Well-Architected Framework pillars
- Practice with scenario-based questions
- Explore ArabicChannels and community notes if bilingual support helps
- Don’t memorize — understand the why behind each correct and incorrect answer.
- Keep a “Weak-Topics” notebook to revisit after every mock test.
- Use
/0_Summarieseach morning of your final three exam-prep days. - On exam day: stay calm, eliminate wrong options first, and trust your architecture logic.
This guide is more than a study plan—it's a launchpad for your cloud career. If you're part of the ALX program or just starting out, I hope this roadmap helps you stay organized, motivated, and confident. Feel free to fork, share, or contribute. Let’s build the cloud together. ☁️💪 If you found this helpful, consider Supporting ☕ My Mission – Empowering Careers, GIS Innovation , GIS DevOps & Cloud Learning 🚀
- ☕ Buy Me a Coffee
- 📺 Subscribe to My YouTube Channel
- 💻 Follow My GitHub
- 💻 Book A Meeting To Support You
Feel free to reach out and connect:
To clone this repository and start using the materials locally:
git clone https://github.com/AhmedAlhusaini/AWS-Cloud-Associate-Solution-Architect-SelfStudy-Materials && \
cd AWS-Cloud-Associate-Solution-Architect-SelfStudy-Materials
Once cloned:
- 📂 Navigate through folders like `0_Summaries`, `1_Shorts_Topic_Based_Qs`, and `2_Full_Exam_Sets`
- 🖥️ Open PDF guides with any viewer
- 🖥️ Open Stepha Meraak Course Materials
- 📝 Use the markdown files for structured study
- 🧪 Practice with mock exams and topic-based questions
> 💡 Tip: You can also fork this repo to customize your own roadmap or contribute improvements and request pull