Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need AZ-900 before AZ-104?
There are no formal prerequisites. Candidates should have at least six months of hands-on Azure administration experience. If you have never touched the Azure portal, starting with AZ-900 first is a worthwhile investment.
How many practice questions should I aim for?
Prioritize quality over quantity. ExamOS provides scenario-based practice questions across every domain, designed to explain the rationale behind both correct and incorrect answers.
When should I book the exam?
Book when your readiness score is stable and above 80, and you have covered every domain at least once.
How long is the exam?
You get 100 minutes of actual exam time. Total seat time is 120 minutes, which includes NDA review, instructions, and post-exam comments. If the exam includes interactive lab tasks, review the overview pages at the start to confirm the exact duration.
I am a non-native English speaker. Can I get extra time?
Yes, under certain conditions. Microsoft offers an additional 30 minutes if the exam is not available in your native language. AZ-104 is currently offered in English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Traditional), and Italian. If your native language is not among these, request the accommodation:
- Visit the English as a Second Language request form on the Microsoft Learn credentials page.
- Submit your request before scheduling your exam.
- Once approved, the extra time applies when you schedule and take the exam.
If the exam is available in your native language, you can still take it in English, but the additional 30 minutes will not be granted. Request this accommodation before scheduling. It cannot be added after the exam is booked.
Can I use Microsoft Learn during the exam?
Yes. All associate and expert role-based exams, including AZ-104, give you access to Microsoft Learn during the exam.
A "Learn" button at the bottom of the exam screen (Pearson VUE) opens Microsoft Learn in a split-screen view. Use the search bar at the top right to find documentation. This is not available on Fundamentals or GitHub exams.
- You can only access Microsoft Learn. No other websites, no browser tabs, no search engines.
- CTRL+F does not work reliably in the embedded view. Use the search bar.
- Use it to confirm specific details like service limits, SKUs, or feature availability. Candidates who know the material well use it to verify edge cases. Candidates who rely on it consistently run out of time.
What are the interactive lab tasks?
The exam includes interactive components where you complete tasks in a simulated Azure environment. These test hands-on skills, not just knowledge recall. Use the exam sandbox on Microsoft Learn to practice the interface before test day.
What changed in the April 2026 update?
Minor adjustments to specific sub-tasks within storage (Azure Files and Blob), compute (VMs and Containers), and virtual networking. Also added added AI service management and Copilot administration content. No domains were added or removed. Review the official skills measured page on Microsoft Learn before your exam date.
What is the most important domain to study?
Networking and compute together account for 35-45% of the exam and are where most candidates lose marks. Every domain carries enough weight that skipping one is risky. The biggest trap is over-studying the domain you already know from daily work and under-studying the ones you rarely touch.
What are the most common ways people fail?
- Ignoring networking. VNet peering, service endpoints vs private endpoints, and load balancer configuration come up constantly.
- Studying theory without hands-on practice. If you have not actually created a VNet, configured an NSG, or set up a storage account with lifecycle policies, you will struggle.
- Confusing RBAC with Azure Policy. RBAC controls who can do what (authorization). Azure Policy controls what configurations are allowed to exist (governance). This distinction is tested constantly.
- Missing the networking gotchas. VNet peering is not transitive. NSG priority uses lower number = higher priority. First matching rule wins.
- Forgetting storage tier behavior. Archive tier blobs require hours to rehydrate, not minutes. ZRS protects a zone, not a region. For regional outage protection, you need GRS or GZRS.
What are the three biggest preparation mistakes?
- Studying without touching the portal. The AZ-104 is a practical exam. Reading documentation is not enough. You need to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot in Azure.
- Neglecting networking. It is the hardest domain and the one most likely to cause a failed attempt. Give it the time it deserves.
- Rushing through the plan without repeating Challenger quizzes. The repetition is the point. Passing a quiz once means you got lucky. Passing it twice in a row means you actually know the material.
Is there a renewal option?
Yes. AZ-104 is valid for 1 year. You can renew it for free by passing an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. The renewal assessment is shorter than the original exam and focuses on what has changed since you certified.