AZ-900 exam format: questions, score and cost

AZ-900 gives you 45 minutes, requires a scaled score of 700 out of 1000 to pass, and is priced per country at the booking step. Microsoft does not publish the number of questions. The certification does not expire. Here is everything else Microsoft publishes, and what it means for your preparation.

The three domains

The middle domain is the one to plan around. It is the largest, and it holds the most distinct topics: the physical and logical structure of Azure, virtual machines and their alternatives, virtual networking, storage tiers and redundancy, and identity and security. The other two domains are smaller in weight but not small enough to skip; together they are around 60% of the exam.

Every objective starts with “describe”, “define”, “compare” or “identify”. That tells you the depth: you need to know what a service is for and how it differs from its neighbours, not how to configure it.

Forty-five minutes is short

Microsoft’s role-based associate and expert exams give you 100 or 120 minutes. AZ-900, like every fundamentals exam, gives you 45. Fundamentals questions are short, so this is rarely a problem for prepared candidates, but it leaves little room for rereading every question twice. Two habits help:

• Decide on each question in one pass, flag the ones you are unsure about, and come back only if time remains.
• Do not spend three minutes on one drag-and-drop item. Every question counts, and a stuck question costs you the easy ones after it.

Microsoft lists a seat time of 65 minutes for fundamentals exams, because the sitting also includes the instructions, the candidate agreement and optional comments. Block at least that in your calendar. Unscheduled breaks are allowed, but the clock keeps running and you cannot return to questions you saw before the break.

One difference from role-based exams: associate and expert candidates can open Microsoft Learn during the exam. On fundamentals exams, including AZ-900, that option is not available. Everything has to come from memory.

Question types

Expect the usual Microsoft mix:

• Single-answer and multiple-answer multiple choice
• Yes/no statement series about one scenario, where you usually cannot go back once answered
• Drag-and-drop matching, for example service to use case
• “Complete the sentence” dropdowns

Microsoft notes the exam “may have interactive components”. There are no labs on AZ-900. The exam sandbox shows the interface and question types without testing any content, and is worth ten minutes before your first Microsoft exam.

The passing score is scaled

700 of 1000 is not 70% correct. Microsoft scales scores and questions can carry different weights, and the conversion is not published. Aim for a consistent 80% or more on realistic practice material rather than trying to work out a margin.

Free practice assessment

Microsoft offers a free practice assessment for AZ-900 on the certification page. It shows the style, wording and difficulty of the questions, and it is a sensible check at the end of your preparation. Take it once cold, study, then take it again. Do not memorise it: the real exam asks different questions about the same objectives.

Preview features and updates

Most questions cover generally available features, but Microsoft states that preview features may appear if they are commonly used. The English version of the exam is updated first; localised versions follow roughly eight weeks later. If the exam is not available in your preferred language, you can request an additional 30 minutes. Arrange that before you book.

The most recent update, on July 20, 2026, made minor changes to three sub-sections: compute and networking services, tools for managing and deploying resources, and monitoring tools. If your study material predates that, check it against the current outline, especially for Azure Monitor, Log Analytics and Application Insights.

Booking

The exam is booked from the Microsoft Learn certification page. Students and educators can book through Certiport instead. Microsoft strongly recommends registering with a personal Microsoft account rather than a work or school account, because exam records tied to an organisational account are lost if you leave that organisation. That advice matters more for AZ-900 than most exams, since it is often the first certification people earn and the one they keep longest.

Passing may also make you eligible for ACE college credit, according to Microsoft’s certification page.

Retakes and renewal

If you fail, you can retake after 24 hours. Later retakes carry longer waiting periods under Microsoft’s retake policy, and each attempt is paid in full. Once you pass, the certification stays valid: fundamentals certifications do not expire and have no renewal assessment.

For what to do on the day itself, see the exam day guide.