The following are the study methods and exam tips that we have carefully compiled specifically for the AZ-104 exam content. These methods are not just "general study suggestions", but are optimized based on the knowledge structure, examination focus and exam format of AZ-104. The purpose is to help you master the content more systematically, efficiently and practically, and pass the exam smoothly.

AZ-104 Study Methods

1. Modular Learning Based on the Five Core Domains

AZ-104 covers five major knowledge areas. You should study in a modular and hands-on approach:

1. Start with the big picture (Framework-First Approach)

   • Before diving into details, sketch a mind map for each domain. For example:

     • RBAC Scope → Management Group > Subscription > Resource Group > Resource

     • Storage Types → GPv2 vs Premium vs Blob vs ADLS

2. Learn by doing (Theory + Practice combo)

   • Azure offers a free account and Microsoft Learn Sandbox. For every concept you study, apply it:

     • Studying RBAC? Assign roles in the Portal and CLI

     • Learning about VMs? Deploy one using CLI, PowerShell, and the Portal

3. Daily Micro-Testing (Active Recall Method)

   • After each topic, do 5–10 practice questions to test your understanding.

   • Track your mistakes in a “Mistake Log” with:

     • Question summary | Correct answer | Reason for your mistake

2. High-Frequency Service Grouping for Contextual Recall

Rather than memorizing services by name, organize them by real-world use cases:

Functional Area	Key Azure Services
Identity & Access	Azure AD, RBAC, Azure Policy, Blueprints
Storage Solutions	Blob, Azure Files, ADLS Gen2, SAS, Encryption
Compute	Azure VM, VMSS, Custom Script Ext, App Services
Networking	VNet, Subnet, NSG, Azure Firewall, VPN Gateway
Monitoring & Recovery	Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Alerts, Azure Backup, Site Recovery

Tip: For each service, prepare:

• One-line definition

• Two use cases

• One configuration scenario you’ve practiced

Example:
Azure Policy is a governance tool that enforces rules on resources.

• Use cases:

  1. Restrict VM creation to East US only

  2. Enforce required tags on all resources

3. Spaced Repetition (Ebbinghaus Curve)

Review new concepts at specific intervals:

• Same day: Quick review at night (10 minutes)

• Day 2: Read notes again + 2 practice questions

• Day 4: Try to recall from memory, sketch diagrams

• Day 7: Revisit with a small quiz and reflection

Add a “Mixed Review Day” each week, reviewing all domains briefly to strengthen inter-domain memory.

Memory Boost Techniques

• Mistake Log + Command Cheat Sheet: Keep a notebook or Notion page with:

  • Incorrect questions

  • Correct reasoning

  • Your command reference (e.g., az vm create, New-AzResourceGroupDeployment)

• Compare and Contrast Tables:
  Example: NSG vs Azure Firewall, Blob vs File vs ADLS Gen2

• Record Yourself Teaching a Topic:
  Explain a concept out loud (audio or video). Listening to yourself exposes misunderstandings.

AZ-104 Exam Strategies

1. Understand the Exam Format and Control Your Pace

• Format: Multiple-choice and multi-select, no written or coding answers

• Some exams follow linear flow (no backtracking)

• Total: ~40–60 questions

• Time: ~100–120 minutes

Recommended pacing:

• Aim for ~1.5 minutes per question

• Flag uncertain questions if the platform allows it

• Leave 10–15 minutes for review at the end

2. Common Traps and How to Beat Them

Trap 1: RBAC Scope Confusion

• Tip: Determine the scope level first (Subscription vs Resource Group), then match permissions

Trap 2: Blob/File/ADLS Overlap

• Tip:

  • Blob → Object storage

  • File → Shared file access

  • ADLS → Big data analytics

Trap 3: Availability Options (VMSS vs Set vs Zone)

• Tip: Use this memory trick:

  • Set = hardware fault tolerance (within region)

  • Zone = datacenter-level redundancy

  • Scale Set = automatic scaling

Trap 4: NSG vs Azure Firewall

• Tip:

  • NSG = Basic port filtering (L4)

  • Firewall = Centralized L3–L7 firewall, logging, FQDN filtering

Trap 5: Metrics vs Logs in Monitoring

• Tip:

  • Metrics = real-time, numeric

  • Logs = verbose, event-based, historical data

3. On-Exam Tactics

1. Keyword Matching: Focus on terms like "minimum required permissions", "prevent deletion", "long-term storage"

2. Elimination First: Rule out clearly wrong choices before selecting your answer

3. Don’t Just Cram Practice Questions: Learn from each mistake—know why your answer was wrong

4. Final 48 Hours = No New Content: Only review mind maps, cheat sheets, and errors

5. Stay Calm & Confident: If your practice test scores are above 75%, you're ready!

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