Azure AZ-140 exam-day guide
Azure AZ-140 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID
A valid, unexpired ID with your photo and signature. The first and last name on the ID must match your exam registration exactly - if it does not, fix the registration before test day. Accepted ID types vary by country, so confirm the list with your exam delivery provider.
A second form of identification or name-change documentation
Some testing centers and proctoring providers ask for a second ID or proof of a name change (marriage certificate, court order). Requirements differ by location and delivery mode - confirm with the provider in advance.
Appointment confirmation for exam AZ-140
Know your appointment time, time zone, exam code (AZ-140: Configuring and Operating Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop), and confirmation/receipt number. Save it offline on your phone in case the network is flaky.
Exam provider account credentials
Username and password for the account you registered with, plus the email address used at registration. Do not rely on a password manager that needs an SMS code to a phone you have silenced.
Confirmed delivery format and logistics
Know whether you are testing at a physical center (address, parking, travel time, building access) or online proctored (launch link, check-in window). Re-confirm the day before - locations and links occasionally change.
A passed system test on the exact device and network you will use
For online proctoring: run the provider's system readiness test on the same laptop, webcam, microphone, speakers and internet connection you will use on test day. Re-run it the day before; do not swap hardware at the last minute.
A quiet, private, well-lit room with a clear desk
For online proctoring: closed door, no other people or pets entering, desk cleared of papers, phones, watches, second monitors and notes. Expect a room pan/scan and a desk-surface check during check-in.
Power and connectivity backup plan
Charged laptop plus power adapter plugged in, and a stable wired or strong Wi-Fi connection. Whether a mobile hotspot fallback is permitted varies by provider - confirm with the provider before relying on it.
Confirmed note-taking capability
Microsoft-style exams typically provide an on-screen notepad or whiteboard. Whether it is available on your delivery platform, and whether physical scratch paper and a pen are permitted at a test center, varies - confirm with the provider.
Accommodations and comfort items pre-approved
Water, tissues, medication, or extra time must generally be approved in advance. Submit any accommodation request well before test day and confirm what you are allowed to have at your desk.
A one-page personal quick-reference sheet (for pre-check-in only)
Your own handwritten list of the AZ-140 facts you keep missing - for example host pool types (personal vs pooled), load balancing (breadth-first, depth-first, persistent), drain mode, scaling plan behavior, FSLogix profile container vs Cloud Cache, Azure Files identity-based authentication, RDP Shortpath, and Start VM on Connect. Review it before check-in, then put it away - it cannot be in the room during the exam.
A sleep and arrival plan
Book nothing demanding the evening before. Plan to check in or arrive well ahead of your appointment slot (commonly ~30 minutes early) so an ID or connectivity hiccup does not eat into your exam time. Confirm the exact check-in window with the provider.
Plan the day
Lock down logistics: re-confirm appointment time, delivery format, and location/link. Verify the name on your registration matches your ID character-for-character. Run the proctoring system test on your final device and network. Move any meeting or on-call commitment off test day.
Switch from learning to diagnosing. Take one timed practice set and log every miss by objective: identity and security (Entra ID join vs AD DS, Conditional Access, MFA, RBAC), host pool and session host deployment (image, Azure Compute Gallery, networking, private endpoints), storage and FSLogix, app delivery (MSIX App Attach, RemoteApp), and monitoring (Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, diagnostic settings).
Study only your top three weak areas. Read the official skills outline once end-to-end and confirm nothing on it is completely unfamiliar. Stop opening new topics after this point.
Light review only: skim your quick-reference sheet, re-read the load balancing and scaling plan behaviors, FSLogix container types, and the AVD monitoring/log table names. No new labs, no new modules.
Prepare the environment: clear the desk, close the door policy with household members, charge everything, test the webcam and microphone, update the secure browser if required, and lay out your ID next to the laptop.
Protect sleep. Set two alarms, plan the morning including food and travel/check-in time, and stop studying at least a couple of hours before bed.
Eat something normal, hydrate, and avoid cramming new material. A 10-minute skim of your quick-reference sheet is fine; a 90-minute panic review is not.
Arrive or begin check-in early. Silence and stow your phone, remove smart watches and headphones, have your ID ready, and be prepared for a photo, room scan, and desk check if testing online.
Read or skip the tutorial, note the time budget on your on-screen notepad, and take a breath. If a case study appears, read the requirements table and stated constraints (cost, administrative effort, latency, compliance) before reading the exhibits.
Pace roughly 60–90 seconds per scored question so you finish with time to spare. Read the qualifier first: 'most appropriate', 'least administrative effort', 'minimize cost', 'first', 'not'. Answer, then flag anything you are genuinely split on rather than stalling.
Return to flagged items, confirm no question is left blank, and re-read any question that contained a negation. Submit deliberately - after final submission you generally cannot go back.
Read the score report and the per-section performance breakdown if provided, note which objectives were weakest, and confirm where the result will be posted. If you did not pass, check the retake waiting period with the provider before rebooking.
Rules to check
Bring valid government-issued photo ID and be ready for it to be checked more than once. The name must match your registration exactly; if it does not, resolve it with the provider before test day rather than at check-in.
Do not bring or use unauthorized materials - notes, printed sheets, phone, smart watch, headphones, or a second screen. In online proctoring, stay in the camera frame, do not talk to anyone, and do not leave the room; violations can void the attempt and may be treated as a policy breach.
Scheduled breaks are generally not offered on Microsoft role-based exams; if you leave the camera view or your seat, the clock typically keeps running. Whether any break or unscheduled-break option exists depends on the delivery platform - confirm with the provider.
The exam is scored on a scaled scale (reported out of 1000) rather than a raw percentage, and some delivered items may be unscored pretest questions. The exact passing threshold and item count are not something to plan around - confirm with the provider and treat every question as scored.
Expect mixed item types: multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, build-list, and scenario/case-study sets. Case-study context is provided on screen; you do not need any external material, and you cannot bring reference documentation in.
You will generally receive a provisional result at the end of the session, but a pass is only official once it appears on your certification profile. If the result is held for review, wait for the provider's notice before rebooking.
Exam content and questions are confidential. Do not record, photograph, reproduce, or discuss specific exam items afterward - this is an agreement you accept at the start of the session.
Retake eligibility and waiting periods are governed by the provider's policy and vary by attempt number. Confirm the current rules and any fee with the provider before scheduling a second attempt.