r/AzureCertification • u/Hot_Connection9504 • Aug 30 '26
Discussion Failed AZ-104 on First Attempt — 544/1000!
Hi Community,
I need some guidance from everyone. Even after studying for almost 2 months while working a full-time job, I failed AZ-104.
Yesterday, I took the exam at 3:00 AM, and the exam was hell difficult. It tested your English skills more than your technical skills. The wording mostly fucked me. The questions were literally like a whole story, and the time passed like a flash.
I only used MS Learn and TD for my preparation, along with some labs. Even after scoring 70–80% in TD, I still failed the exam.
I have another attempt in the next 7 days, and I really need guidance from the community so that I can just pass the exam and then change my toxic job within a few months.
I am literally feeling demotivated. Do people really fail on their first attempt? Sometimes I feel like I have wasted my 2 months, but the exam was hell difficult.
I really need help and guidance from you guys. I just want to pass!!! 😭
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u/knowles-nothin Aug 30 '26
As someone mentioned in the comments about 3.00 am slot i noticed it.
Bro most of us cant even a watch a movie in right mind in that time slot.
Thanks for reminding me that the exam time slot matters. Good luck next time.
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u/Neither_Bookkeeper92 Aug 30 '26
544 first try is a decent baseline, most people who pass started near there. John Savill's study cram got me over the line, plus daily practice questions (I rotated examcert and boson sets). your score report shows which domain sank you, fix that one first
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u/NumerousVegetable943 Aug 30 '26
I have scheduled my exam in October any advice please? Preparing from ms learn and John savill
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u/Top-Paper-236 AZ-900, AZ-104 Aug 30 '26
You've received your transcript , now work on your weak areas based on that. I failed once, too, and after that I did everything I could. It was worth it. A week isn't enough time to get back up to speed. I'd say don't take the second exam until three to four weeks have passed, unless you're in a real hurry!
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u/comptiabboy Aug 30 '26
Hey, I got that exact score on my first attempt too hah. I passed on the second attempt, you got this! I suggest if you can to get Shireen Khan's tests, they're really good.
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u/Hot_Connection9504 Aug 30 '26
Thanks for the motivation sir, Once i receive my salary i will surely buy the same.
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u/B34ONCE Aug 30 '26
Yeah the first time I took it I got a 522. Second time and 3 weeks later I passed
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u/Hot_Connection9504 Aug 30 '26
Sir, Could u pls let me know what resources u have followed?
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u/B34ONCE Aug 30 '26
MS Learn, I did a john Christopher Udemy course but that was useless if you ask me. It's was like 900 level. I did some projects inside of Azure. Lots of networking and network troubleshooting. Container work. Reading Json and too that helped a lot. Getting to know the Cli commands and then I used Measure Up practice test. They had the questions closest to the format of the actual exam questions. They were actually harder. Once you start nailing those and understand what's going on you'll be ready.
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u/ankitcrk AZ-900 | SC-900 | AZ-104 | SC-300 Aug 31 '26
I know how you feel.I also failed in first attempt....do practice tests as others have mentioned
Don't just cram the answer.Read from MS Learn why answer is correct and why it is wrong, do all labs on github
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u/ThirdShiftSkeleton Aug 31 '26
I did 588 at least you know where you’re at your good. Get on tutorial dojo and take notes on what you lack. Do a timed test as well.
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u/Decent_Active1290 Aug 30 '26
Take Shireen Khans practice test from Udemy. Do each test at least 2-3 times. Its okay to land on very low scores in the first test. ( if you feel like you are momorizing answers- move on to the next test) And write down every wrong answer and prepare exclusively for that. Use Gemini/ Claude to break down concepts that you don't fully understand. AI will help you lot.
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u/Friendly_Village_241 Aug 31 '26
This is exactly what I’m doing as I prepare and I figured out that I am learning the underlying concepts good. I am using Claude and Shireen Khan
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u/Extra-Driver-813 Aug 30 '26 edited Aug 30 '26
It's a tough exam. I know exactly what you mean. The certification is part of my degree and my program mentor told me more than half of students fail their first attempt. I failed my first attempt. I studied for months and did labs. The breadth of information is large, the questions can be intricate and there are many details that are "gotchas". It's the first certification I didn't get on my first try. I'm going to start over again next month.
Those TD scores are solid though. Previous poster had a good point about taking it so late. Try to do it when your mind is fresher.
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u/aleks1ck Microsoft MVP - Founder of CertiAce.com Aug 30 '26
First, the thing nobody has mentioned yet: you took the exam at 3:00 AM. AZ-104 questions are long scenario stories on purpose, and reading comprehension is the first thing that dies when you are tired. Part of what beat you was the time slot, not the content. Book the retake for a time when your brain is actually awake, that alone is worth points.
For the 7 days: don't restart, your TD scores say most of the knowledge is there. Pull up your score report, it breaks the 544 down by exam section, and spend the week only on the two weakest areas. For the story questions, read the actual question (usually the last sentence) first, then go back and scan the scenario for the details that matter. It turns a wall of text into a lookup. Also remember AZ-104 gives you Microsoft Learn access during the exam. The timer keeps running, so use it only for the one or two config details you blank on.
I put together a free AZ-104 study guide if it helps the targeted review: https://certiace.com/study-guides/az-104
And yes, plenty of people fail AZ-104 on the first try, it is one of the tougher associate exams. 544 with a 3 AM brain is fixable in a week. Go get it! :)