Azure AZ-104 exam-day guide
Azure AZ-104 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
Use the same name as your exam registration. For online proctoring it is typically one government-issued photo ID with signature; some test centres request a second form. Exact ID requirements vary by location - confirm with the provider before exam day.
Exam appointment confirmation and time zone
Note your scheduled start time, the delivery method (test centre vs. online proctored), and the time zone shown on your confirmation. Convert it to your local time to avoid a one-hour-early or one-hour-late arrival.
Quiet, private, well-lit room (online proctored only)
Proctors generally require a closed door, no other people, a clear desk, and a power outlet within reach. Details on permitted items (water in a clear container, tissues, etc.) vary - confirm with the provider.
Working webcam, microphone, and speakers
Built-in laptop hardware is usually fine. Wired or reliable headphones may not be permitted; check what the provider allows rather than assuming.
Stable internet connection plus a backup option
Have a phone with a hotspot or the provider's support number ready so a connection drop doesn't cost you the appointment.
Completed system/equipment test
Run the proctoring vendor's compatibility check on the exact machine you will test on, ideally 24-72 hours ahead so you have time to fix issues.
Cleared workspace and closed background applications
Before check-in, close email, chat, sync clients, and any app that might pop a notification. Notifications on screen can be flagged as a policy violation.
Confirmed the current exam format and section count
Microsoft role-based exams can include multiple-choice, case studies, drag-and-drop, and - on some exams at some times - interactive lab-style sections. The mix changes; do not build your timing plan on a rumour. needs_review - confirm the current format for your exam with the provider.
Approved testing accommodations (if you need them)
Accommodations generally must be requested and approved before the appointment, not on exam day. needs_review - confirm the request window with the provider.
Free Microsoft Learn practice assessment already taken
Do this a day or more before so results can guide your last review, not on the morning of the exam.
Login credentials for the scheduling vendor account
Keep the username and password accessible; a forgotten password five minutes before check-in is a common avoidable failure.
Rest, meal, and restroom handled before check-in
Treat the window as closed once you begin; plan breaks assuming you will not want to leave mid-exam.
Plan the day
Stop adding new topics. Re-read your notes only on the two or three objectives you score lowest on - typical weak spots for this exam are virtual networking (peering, routing, NSGs), storage redundancy and access tiers, and backup/recovery. Take the free practice assessment from Microsoft Learn once, review every wrong answer, and write down the reason it was wrong.
Reconcile your appointment: date, start time, time zone, delivery mode, and the address or check-in link. Reschedule now if anything conflicts - last-minute changes usually have cut-off rules, so confirm the provider's policy rather than guessing.
Run the equipment and internet check on the machine you will actually use. If testing online, test from the room you will sit in, not the kitchen table.
Do one light pass only: ARM resource hierarchy and RBAC scope inheritance, moving resources between subscriptions/resource groups, virtual network and subnet sizing, NSG vs. Azure Firewall use cases, load balancer vs. Application Gateway vs. Front Door, storage account kind/replication/access tier choices, and what Azure Backup vs. Azure Site Recovery each cover. Skim, don't memorise new facts.
Prepare logistics: ID out of the drawer, room tidied, desk cleared, charger packed or plugged in, a snack and water ready. Tell anyone sharing your space that you need quiet during the appointment window.
Sleep a normal night. Cramming until 2 a.m. reliably costs more marks than an extra hour of revision gains.
Eat, hydrate, and re-read only your own one-page summary of mistakes from the practice test. No new material.
Log in or arrive early. Check-in often opens roughly 30 minutes before the start time and includes ID verification and a room scan, so build in buffer rather than cutting it fine.
Work in passes. First pass: answer everything you know cold. Flag anything needing calculation or close reading - often subnet maths, cost/throughput comparisons, or 'which is cheapest / least effort' phrasing. Second pass: return to flagged items.
Watch the clock against the number of remaining questions and leave a few minutes at the end. Never leave a question blank - there is no penalty for a reasoned guess.
If a case study or lab-style section appears, read the final requirement first and only then the exhibits. Note that once you leave a case study set you may not be able to return to it - confirm the navigation rules shown on screen at the time.
Results are usually displayed on screen at the end and appear in your certification profile later. Save or print the score report; if you did not pass, it shows your performance by objective domain, which is the best study plan you can get.
Rules to check
Bring and present a valid government-issued photo ID whose name matches your registration. Name mismatches are a common reason candidates are turned away, so fix the registration before exam day. Specific accepted document types vary - confirm with the provider.
No notes, books, second screens, phones, smart watches, or unauthorised software are permitted during the exam. For online proctoring, keep the phone out of reach unless the proctor instructs you to use it for check-in.
You generally cannot leave during the exam for a break unless the exam explicitly offers one, and if a break is offered the clock may or may not stop. Check the on-screen instructions and confirm the provider's policy rather than assuming.
The exam is scored on a scaled scale, and the passing score is 700 out of 1000. That is not '70% correct' - some questions may be weighted differently and some may be unscored pretest items. Answer every question; do not try to game the unscored ones.
Attempt limits and waiting periods after a failed attempt are set by the provider and can change. needs_review - confirm the current retake policy, including any waiting period and whether a free retake is included with your purchase, with the provider.
Do not share, record, photograph, or discuss specific exam content afterwards. Doing so breaches the non-disclosure agreement you accept at the start of the exam and can invalidate your result and certification.
Certification is not permanent at every level: this certification typically requires periodic free renewal through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Confirm the renewal window for your certification in your learn profile rather than relying on memory.
If something goes wrong mid-exam - disconnection, proctor issue, power loss - stop and contact the provider's support immediately and get a case reference. Do not simply restart; the record of the incident is what supports a retake or extension.