Azure DP-900 exam-day guide
Azure DP-900 · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Use a valid passport or driver's licence. The first and last name must match your exam registration exactly; a mismatch is the most common reason candidates are turned away. If your ID name differs from your registration, update the registration before exam day.
Appointment confirmation and registration/order number
Have your confirmation email or registration ID accessible on your phone before check-in (phone gets put away during the exam itself). Confirm the exact date, time and time zone of your appointment.
A second form of ID if your provider or region requires it
Some test centres ask for a secondary ID or a signature-bearing card. Requirements vary by location and delivery method - confirm with the provider before exam day.
Completed system test (online-proctored delivery)
Run the provider's system/pre-check tool on the same computer, camera, microphone and network you will use on exam day. Do this at least 24-48 hours ahead so you have time to fix issues or reschedule.
Stable wired internet connection and a working webcam/microphone
Wireless can be acceptable but a wired connection reduces dropout risk. Close bandwidth-hungry apps (updates, streaming, VPNs unless required) before check-in.
A quiet, private, well-lit room with a clear desk (online delivery)
Remove phones, notes, books, second monitors, smart watches and any other devices from the desk and surrounding area. The proctor will ask you to show the room with your camera.
Confirmed test centre location, travel time and arrival instructions (test-centre delivery)
Do a route check the day before and allow buffer time for traffic and security screening. Specific arrival and locker rules are centre-dependent - confirm with the provider.
Know the exam shape before you sit down
DP-900 is a fundamentals-level exam with roughly 40-50 multiple-choice/multiple-response questions in about 45 minutes, scored on a 1-1000 scale with 700 to pass. No labs or hands-on coding.
Skim the official skills outline one last time
The four measured areas are core data concepts (roughly 25-30%), relational data on Azure (20-25%), non-relational data on Azure (15-20%), and analytics workloads on Azure (25-30%). Use it to decide what to review, not to cram new topics.
Restroom and water before check-in
Fundamentals exams are short and scheduled breaks are not part of the standard delivery. Take care of physical needs before the clock starts.
Know where your score report will appear
You typically see a provisional pass/fail at the end of the test, with the official score and certification status appearing in your Microsoft Learn / certification profile within a short period afterwards.
Plan the day
Re-confirm the appointment (date, time, time zone, delivery method). Run or re-run the system test if you are testing online. Re-read the skills outline and spend your remaining study time only on the two domains you score weakest on in practice questions - for most candidates these are analytics workloads and non-relational data.
Do one timed practice set under exam conditions (no notes, single screen) to check your pacing against roughly one minute per question. Stop studying new material after this point; only review what you already know.
Light review only: service-to-scenario mapping (Blob vs Files vs Tables vs Queues, Azure SQL vs SQL Managed Instance vs Synapse, Cosmos DB APIs, Data Factory vs Synapse Pipelines vs Databricks vs Stream Analytics vs Power BI). Prepare your ID and confirmation email, tidy the test room, charge devices, and go to bed at a normal hour.
Eat and hydrate normally. Avoid last-minute cramming of unfamiliar topics - it raises anxiety without adding reliable points. Reboot the computer (online delivery) and close all other applications, or leave early enough for the test centre with a buffer.
Begin check-in / arrive at the centre. For online delivery, complete the ID photo, room scan and proctor handshake early; the check-in process can take longer than expected and time spent waiting is not deducted from your exam clock, but a late start can be.
Read the full question stem before looking at options - many DP-900 items hinge on one word such as 'unstructured', 'petabyte-scale', 'relational' or 'real-time'. Answer every question (there is no penalty for guessing), flag anything slow for review, and use remaining time to revisit flagged items rather than to second-guess confident answers.
Note your provisional result, then confirm the official score in your certification profile. If you did not pass, check the provider's retake waiting period before rebooking, and use your domain-level score breakdown to target the next attempt.
Rules to check
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID with signature; the name must match your registration exactly. No ID, no exam - and the fee is generally not refunded in that case.
The exam content is confidential under the candidate agreement. Do not copy, screenshot, share or discuss specific questions or answers afterwards.
No notes, books, phones, smart watches, second screens or other aids are permitted during the exam. Online proctors will ask you to clear and show your workspace; test centres provide a locker for personal items.
Do not leave the camera view or your seat during an online exam except as directed by the proctor. Repeated movement or looking away can be flagged as a policy violation.
Scoring is scaled, not a raw percentage: you need 700 out of 1000. A handful of wrong answers does not doom the attempt, so keep moving and answer everything.
Scheduled breaks are not part of the standard fundamentals exam delivery. If you need an accommodation, request it through the provider well before exam day - do not assume it will be granted on the spot.
Rescheduling, cancellation windows, fees, retake waiting periods and accommodation rules vary by provider and region. Confirm the exact terms with the provider rather than relying on second-hand information.
If technical problems interrupt an online exam, stop and contact the proctor immediately through the on-screen chat; do not attempt to fix things by closing the browser or restarting on your own.