Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305) practice exam & study guide

Microsoft positions the Azure Solutions Architect as having subject-matter expertise in designing cloud and hybrid solutions across compute, network, storage, monitoring, and security. The role advises stakeholders and translates business requirements into Azure designs.

AZ-305 is the single exam required for the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, and Microsoft expects candidates to already have administrator- or developer-level Azure experience. It is about recommending and designing solutions, not implementing every detail.

AZ-305 is an expert-level design exam and a clear step up from associate exams. It rarely asks for a single fact; instead it presents requirements — cost limits, recovery objectives, compliance constraints — and asks you to choose the design that best balances them, sometimes as multi-question case studies.

The difficulty is knowing services well enough to compare them under constraints: when to choose Cosmos DB over SQL, which high-availability or disaster-recovery option meets a stated RTO/RPO, or how to structure governance at scale. Practising scenario questions and justifying every choice is the key to passing.

Microsoft does not fix a single question count for AZ-305; it typically presents roughly 40–60 questions in a mix of formats — multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, and case studies that group several questions around one scenario — with about 120 minutes of working time.

Our full-length practice mock uses a 60-question, 120-minute session so you can rehearse pacing under realistic time pressure before test day.

Microsoft scores AZ-305 on a scale of 1 to 1,000, and the passing score is 700. That is a scaled score rather than a raw 70%, because Microsoft adjusts for question difficulty, and there is no penalty for wrong answers, so you should never leave a question blank. Our practice mock uses a 70% threshold to give you a comparable target.

The AZ-305 exam fee is set by Microsoft and varies by region — check the Microsoft certification page for current pricing. Microsoft expert certifications are valid for one year and can be renewed for free through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. Everything on this hub is free.

The Azure Solutions Architect is aimed at experienced professionals who design Azure solutions — solutions architects, senior cloud engineers, and infrastructure leads who advise stakeholders and translate requirements into designs.

Microsoft recommends advanced experience with Azure administration and development, plus knowledge of networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platforms, and governance. AZ-104 is a strong precursor but not a formal prerequisite.

AZ-305 is relevant to roles such as Azure solutions architect, cloud architect, and senior infrastructure or platform engineer, where designing Azure solutions is central. As an expert-level credential it is one of the more senior Azure certifications.

How much any certification moves compensation depends heavily on geography, seniority, and hands-on experience, so treat any single salary figure with caution. AZ-305 is best viewed as validation of architecture-level Azure skill rather than a guaranteed raise on its own.

Candidates who already hold AZ-104 or have solid Azure experience often need six to ten weeks; those newer to architecture should plan longer. The most efficient path is to study each design area, then drill scenario questions that force trade-off decisions rather than recall.

Spend the majority of your time on full-length, case-study-style mocks in the final stretch, reviewing every explanation — including for questions you answered correctly — because AZ-305 distractors are usually valid Azure services that simply do not best fit the stated constraints. Use the per-domain results here to find your weakest area.

Study the four design areas above, giving the most time to infrastructure and identity/governance/monitoring, then drill scenario questions area by area. Every MockAPI question reveals a full explanation and tells you why each wrong answer is wrong — essential for an exam where the wrong options are often plausible designs.

When you can justify your choices comfortably, move to full-length timed mocks, including case studies, to rehearse pacing and requirement-parsing. Use the glossary to keep frameworks and services straight, and aim to score consistently above the pass mark before you book.

Yes. Microsoft delivers AZ-305 through Pearson VUE, so you can test at a physical Pearson VUE centre or online with remote proctoring (OnVUE). The online exam requires a private, quiet room, a clear workspace, a webcam and microphone, a stable connection, and government-issued photo ID, with a proctor monitoring you and a room scan before you start.

If you do not pass, Microsoft requires a 24-hour wait before a second attempt; after that, a 14-day wait applies between further attempts, with a limit of five attempts in a 12-month period, and each attempt needs its own registration. Once you pass, the certification is renewable for free on Microsoft Learn.

After AZ-305, architects often add specialty or complementary certifications such as the Azure Network Engineer, Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500), or DevOps Engineer Expert, depending on their focus, and keep the credential current through the free annual renewal.

For many, the real next step is applying the design skills on larger Azure projects. Pairing AZ-305 with hands-on architecture experience is what turns the certificate into a career.