Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ‑305) Practice Exams
About the Azure AZ-305 exam
Exam at a glance
Microsoft's senior Azure architect certification at the expert tier.
Domain weighting
- Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions: 25–30%
- Design data storage solutions: 25–30%
- Design business continuity solutions: 10–15%
- Design infrastructure solutions: 25–30%
Prerequisite (mandatory)
AZ-305 is the only modern Azure exam with a hard certification prerequisite. You must hold the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential — earned by passing AZ-104 — before Microsoft will issue the Solutions Architect Expert title. You can sit AZ-305 without AZ-104, but the Expert certification will not be awarded until the prerequisite is in place.
Who AZ-305 is for
Cloud architects designing complete Azure solutions across identity, governance, data, business continuity, and infrastructure. Microsoft recommends two or more years of hands-on Azure operations plus architecture-design experience, with practical exposure to Azure administration, Azure development, and DevOps processes.
Why take this certification
- Senior architect signal. Expert-tier Microsoft credentials are recruiter shorthand for "can own a regional Azure footprint end to end." AZ-305 is the highest-demand Expert exam in the Azure track.
- Free annual renewal. Unlike AWS's exam-only three-year recertification or GCP's two-year cycle, Microsoft lets you renew AZ-305 for free with an unproctored online assessment every year — a significant lifetime cost advantage.
- Aligns with real-world frameworks. The exam is built directly on the Azure Well-Architected Framework and the Cloud Adoption Framework, so preparation directly improves day-job architectural quality.
- Strong salary multiplier. Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Experts consistently rank in the top tier of cloud-certification salary surveys, frequently appearing alongside AWS SAP-C02 and GCP PCA at the $135,000–$165,000 USD range in the United States.
What you'll learn in the AZ-305 exam
AZ-305 is design-focused. Microsoft moved implementation-heavy content into the AZ-104 prerequisite, so this exam concentrates on architectural decisions, trade-offs, and case-study reasoning across five domains.
Identity solutions
- Microsoft Entra ID architecture (formerly Azure AD): tenant design, multi-tenant scenarios, hybrid identity with Entra Connect, federation choices.
- Conditional access at scale: policy design, named locations, session controls, risk-based access patterns.
- B2B and B2C: guest collaboration, customer identity flows, custom policies in Entra External ID.
- Workload identities: managed identities, service principals, federated credentials for GitHub Actions / Kubernetes.
Governance
- Management groups, subscriptions, blueprints: hierarchy design that scales from a single team to enterprise-wide tenancy.
- Azure Policy at scale: built-in vs custom definitions, initiative grouping, exemptions, remediation tasks.
- Landing zone design: Cloud Adoption Framework reference architectures, hub-and-spoke vs Virtual WAN, platform vs application landing zones.
- Cost governance: tagging strategy, budgets, Azure Advisor, reservations and savings plans.
Data solutions
- Relational: Azure SQL Database flavors (Single, Elastic Pool, Managed Instance), tiering, geo-replication, failover groups.
- Analytics: Synapse dedicated vs serverless SQL pools, Spark integration, Fabric positioning.
- NoSQL: Cosmos DB API selection (NoSQL, MongoDB, Cassandra, Gremlin, Table), consistency models, partition-key design.
- Storage tiering: Hot / Cool / Cold / Archive lifecycle, lifecycle management policies, immutable storage for compliance.
- Data integration: Data Factory pipelines, Event Grid, Event Hubs, Service Bus — choosing the right messaging primitive.
Business continuity
- Azure Backup: vault design, soft delete, immutability, backup policies across VM / SQL / Files workloads.
- Site Recovery: Azure-to-Azure replication, on-prem-to-Azure DR, recovery plans, failover orchestration.
- Storage replication: LRS / ZRS / GRS / GZRS / RA-GRS — matching durability tier to RPO/RTO requirements.
- DR strategies: backup-and-restore vs pilot light vs warm standby vs active-active, and the cost-vs-RTO trade-off curve.
Infrastructure
- Compute selection: VM families, AKS vs App Service vs Functions vs Container Apps, when serverless beats container orchestration.
- Virtual networking design: VNet sizing, subnet segmentation, NSG vs Azure Firewall, Private Endpoints vs Service Endpoints.
- Hybrid connectivity: ExpressRoute (circuits, peering, FastPath) vs VPN Gateway (route-based, BGP), Virtual WAN topologies.
- Container architecture: AKS cluster design, node pools, networking modes (kubenet vs Azure CNI), ingress strategy.
- Migration: Azure Migrate assessment, rehost vs refactor vs rearchitect, database migration patterns.
- Deployment architecture: Bicep vs ARM vs Terraform — when Microsoft expects Bicep on the exam, and how to design for environment promotion.
How the practice exams help
AZ-305 leans heavily on case studies — multi-page business scenarios that reference back as you answer five to ten linked items. Our premium exams mirror that format with long scenario stems, four to six plausible options, and explanations that cover both why the right answer is right and why each distractor is wrong. You learn the architectural trade-offs, not just the answer key.
How to prepare for the AZ-305 exam
If you already hold AZ-104, expect 8–12 weeks of focused study at 10–15 hours per week. Without AZ-104, plan for AZ-104 first — typically another 8–10 weeks — before starting AZ-305 prep. Recommended approach:
- Confirm the prerequisite (week 0). Verify your AZ-104 / Azure Administrator Associate is current. If not, complete AZ-104 first — Microsoft will not award the Expert title without it.
- Walk the official learning path (3–4 weeks). Microsoft Learn's AZ-305: Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions path is free and aligned to the current blueprint. The English content was refreshed on 17 April 2026 — make sure your study material reflects that update.
- Deep-read the architectural frameworks (1–2 weeks). AZ-305 is essentially an applied Azure Well-Architected Framework + Cloud Adoption Framework exam. Read the five WAF pillars and the CAF landing-zone reference architectures end to end. Most case-study questions reward CAF-aligned thinking.
- Hands-on architecture design (2–3 weeks). Open a free Azure account and actually build landing zones with Bicep, design a hub-and-spoke VNet, deploy Cosmos DB with multi-region writes, and configure Site Recovery between two regions. The exam tests design judgment — you build that by making real choices, not by watching videos.
- Practice exams + case-study drills (1–2 weeks). Timed practice tests reveal weak domains. Spend particular time on the case-study format — many candidates lose points by skimming the scenario instead of reading it twice. Aim for consistent 80%+ before scheduling.
Recommended timeline
8–12 weeks for AZ-104 holders. Plan for 16–22 weeks total if you need to clear AZ-104 first.
Official resources
Start with the official AZ-305 exam page for the current skills measured PDF. The free Microsoft Learn AZ-305T00 learning path is the canonical preparation course. Take the free practice assessment linked from the exam page before booking the real exam to calibrate your readiness against Microsoft's own item style.
Frequently asked questions
Are these actual exam questions?
No. All Nex Arc Azure AZ-305 practice questions are original content based on the provider's published exam blueprint, official documentation, and real-world scenarios across every topic the exam covers. We do not offer brain dumps, leaked questions, or actual exam content. Using or distributing real exam questions violates certification provider agreements and can result in certification revocation.
How many questions are in the AZ-305 exam?
The AZ-305 exam typically contains 40 to 60 questions delivered in 120 minutes. Microsoft uses a mix of multiple choice, multiple response, drag-and-drop, case study, and scenario-based items. Question count varies by exam form because Microsoft routinely seeds unscored pilot questions into live exams.
What's the AZ-305 passing score?
The passing score is 700 out of 1000. Microsoft uses a scaled scoring model where not every question carries the same weight, and case-study sections contribute multiple scored items. Focus on understanding the Azure Well-Architected Framework rather than memorizing facts.
Is AZ-104 really required before AZ-305?
Yes. AZ-305 is the only exam on the modern Azure track that has a hard certification prerequisite: you must hold the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate credential (earned by passing AZ-104) before AZ-305 will award you the Solutions Architect Expert title. You can sit AZ-305 without AZ-104, but the Expert certification will not be issued until the prerequisite is in place. Plan for AZ-104 first if you do not already hold it.
How do I access the full AZ-305 practice exam?
Click on the Buy Now button in the sidebar to purchase the complete Microsoft Azure AZ-305 course. After payment, you'll have instant access to 12 practice exams with detailed explanations and lifetime access.
How long is the AZ-305 certification valid?
Microsoft role-based certifications are valid for one year from the date you pass. Renewal is free: within six months of expiration you can take an online, unproctored renewal assessment on Microsoft Learn that covers updates to the Azure Solutions Architect role. Pass once and the certification extends by another year — no fee, no proctor, no test center. This is a significant cost advantage over the three-year exam-only model used by other cloud vendors.
What's the exam cost and can I retake it if I fail?
AZ-305 costs $165 USD globally (pricing varies by country). The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE at testing centers or via online proctoring. If you fail on the first attempt, you must wait 24 hours before retaking; subsequent retakes require a 14-day wait. There is a lifetime cap of five attempts per 12-month period on the same exam. Each attempt requires a new $165 payment unless you have an Exam Replay voucher or Microsoft Partner discount.
What topics are covered on AZ-305?
AZ-305 is organized into four design areas: design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions (25-30%); design data storage solutions (25-30%); design business continuity solutions (10-15%); and design infrastructure solutions (25-30%). Across these you need to design Microsoft Entra ID architecture, conditional access at scale, management group / subscription / policy hierarchies, Azure landing zones, SQL Database / Synapse / Cosmos DB choices, Azure Backup and Site Recovery strategies, compute selection (VM / AKS / App Service / Functions), virtual networking, hybrid connectivity via ExpressRoute and VPN Gateway, and deployment via Bicep, ARM, or Terraform.
How does AZ-305 differ from the older AZ-303 / AZ-304 pair?
AZ-305 (released March 2022) replaced the previous two-exam combo of AZ-303 (Technologies) and AZ-304 (Design). It is design-focused only — Microsoft moved the implementation-heavy content into the AZ-104 prerequisite so AZ-305 itself concentrates on architectural decisions, trade-offs, and case studies. The English version received its most recent content refresh on April 17, 2026, aligning the blueprint with the current Azure Well-Architected Framework and Cloud Adoption Framework guidance. Expect heavier emphasis on Microsoft Entra ID (renamed from Azure AD), landing zone design, and Bicep over ARM templates.
How much Azure experience do I need before attempting AZ-305?
Microsoft recommends candidates have advanced experience and knowledge of IT operations — networking, virtualization, identity, security, business continuity, disaster recovery, data platforms, and governance — plus practical experience with Azure administration, Azure development, and DevOps processes. In practice that translates to roughly two or more years of hands-on Azure work, with the AZ-104 prerequisite ensuring you already understand day-two operations on the platform. Pure career-changers without an Azure background should expect to spend three to four months preparing, not a few weeks.