Cloud
Azure AZ-305Azure Solutions Architect Expert
AZ-305 is the single exam for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential. It validates the ability to translate business requirements into secure, scalable Azure designs across identity, governance, monitoring, data storage, business continuity, compute, and networking. It is a design exam — you recommend solutions — aligned to the Azure Well-Architected and Cloud Adoption Frameworks.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the Azure AZ-305 exam.
- Passing score
- 700 / 1000
- Format & length
- ~40–60 questions (incl. case studies) · ~120 minutes
- Voucher cost
- ~$165 USD
- Prerequisites
- Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) required to be awarded the Expert credential
- Validity
- 12 months (renew free via an online assessment on Microsoft Learn)
Exam facts sourced from the official Microsoft certification page. Last reviewed June 2026.
What’s tested
Key topics on the Azure AZ-305 exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official Azure AZ-305 exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Identity, Governance & Monitoring
- Data Storage Solutions
- Business Continuity
- Infrastructure Solutions
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
Practicing and aspiring Azure solution architects and senior cloud engineers moving from operating Azure (AZ-104) to designing it, plus consultants and cloud leads.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
AZ-305 is the capstone of Microsoft's Azure infrastructure track and the recognized credential for senior Azure architect roles — the deliberate step up from AZ-104.
Sample question
What a Azure AZ-305 question looks like.
A virtual machine must read secrets from Azure Key Vault, and the design mandates that no credentials or connection strings be stored in the application configuration. Which identity approach satisfies this requirement with the least ongoing maintenance?
See the answer & explanation
Correct: B. Enable a system-assigned managed identity on the VM and grant it access to the vault
Why: A system-assigned managed identity gives the VM an Entra ID identity whose lifecycle is tied to the resource, so Azure rotates the credentials automatically and no secret ever lives in configuration.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
70 questions covering every objective on the official Azure AZ-305 exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking Azure AZ-305 unlocks every other Cloud exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
Read while you study
Azure AZ-305 articles & study guides
AZ-305 Study Guide 2026 — Azure Solutions Architect Expert
The AZ-305 is the single exam behind Microsoft's Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential — a design exam, not a config exam. Here's the domain breakdown, the service decision trees that win points, and a study plan that fits around a full-time job.
How Hard Is the AZ-305 Exam? An Honest 2026 Difficulty Guide
The AZ-305 is harder than its question count suggests — not because the content is obscure, but because it's a design exam wrapped in timed case studies. Here's what makes it tough, the hardest topics, and how to prep so time doesn't beat you.
How to Study for an IT Certification (and Actually Pass): A Practical 2026 Playbook
Most certification advice is about books. The hard part is the schedule, the focus, and the test-day mental game. Here's the system that's worked across CompTIA, Cisco, ISC2, and AWS.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Azure AZ-305
What is the Azure AZ-305 exam?
AZ-305 is the single exam for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential. It validates the ability to translate business requirements into secure, scalable Azure designs across identity, governance, monitoring, data storage, business continuity, compute, and networking.
How many questions are on the Azure AZ-305 exam, and how long is it?
~40–60 questions (incl. case studies) · ~120 minutes
What is the passing score for the Azure AZ-305 exam?
700 / 1000
How much does the Azure AZ-305 exam cost?
~$165 USD
Are there prerequisites for the Azure AZ-305 exam?
Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) required to be awarded the Expert credential
How long is the Azure AZ-305 certification valid?
12 months (renew free via an online assessment on Microsoft Learn)
How many questions does the Azure AZ-305 bank have?
70 questions, organized into 4 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Cloud exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the Azure AZ-305 content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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