How to Pass the GCP Professional Cloud Architect Exam: My Complete Study Guide and Resources
Introduction
For the past 6 weeks, I’ve been studying for the GCP Professional Cloud Architect Exam and I’m pleased to share that I’m officially a GCP Certified Cloud Architect! ☁️👩🏻💻🎉
Given the demands of my role as a Senior Solutions Engineer in the Enterprise Blockchain/Distributed Ledger Technology industry, I recognized the importance of mastering cloud technology to securely and efficiently scale dApps (Distributed Applications) in a globally distributed environment. That’s why I set my sights on the GCP Professional Cloud Architect Certification — a challenge I knew would push my skills to the next level.
For those who aren’t familiar with what GCP Professional Cloud Architects do - this is Google’s overview:
In this blog post, we will explore my preparation strategy, resources used, as well as tips for those who are looking to pass the exam.
Why I Chose the GCP PCA Certification
Google Cloud Platform offers an array of different cloud certifications — ranging from Foundational, Associate, and Professional.
After taking a look at what the recommended experience is and considering the type of skills I wanted to acquire, I decided to pursue the GCP PCA Certification. In addition to it being useful in my current role, here are my 3 main reasons:
- For Career Growth 🪜
- For Personal Growth 💡
- To Stay Relevant in the Ever-Changing Tech World 🌍
The GCP Professional Cloud Architect Certification holds significant value in the tech industry, especially for software engineers. It demonstrates a deep understanding of cloud architecture, enabling us to design robust, scalable, and secure solutions on Google Cloud.
Understanding the GCP PCA Exam
According to the GCP PCA Exam Guide, the following areas are tested:
Section 1: Designing and planning a cloud solution architecture (~24% of the exam)
Section 2: Managing and provisioning a solution infrastructure (~15% of the exam)
Section 3: Designing for security and compliance (~18% of the exam)
Section 4: Analyzing and optimizing technical and business processes (~18% of the exam)
Section 5: Managing implementation (~11% of the exam)
Section 6: Ensuring solution and operations reliability (~14% of the exam)
Some of the questions may also refer to the following 4 case studies (as of Aug 2024 — please check the official GCP PCA website for the most up-to-date case studies):
You can opt to do the exam in person or remotely — I chose the remote proctored option. The exam duration is 2 hours and there are 50–60 multiple-choice questions to answer.
Preparation Strategy
According to the VARK (Visual, Auditory, Reading & Writing, Kinesthetic) learning model, I am primarily visual.
Please keep in mind that the strategy I share below is merely my experience. There are numerous methods when it comes to understanding and retaining information efficiently, and the following describes what worked best for me.
I did a bit of initial browsing to estimate how much time it would require to prepare for the GCP PCA on average. From the get-go, it was obvious that the duration of time varies massively and is highly dependent on the level of experience, time available, and velocity of learning.
Once I had a better idea of what preparing for the GCP PCA would involve, I decided on a target exam date and figured out how much time there was. I also had a browse to see what resources were available to me. (For more information on what resources I used, please see the Resources section below.)
Based on the deadline, the resources I had access to, and the topics I needed to cover, I created a 6-week study plan. (I highly recommend using the Project Timeline template from Google Sheets to create this study plan.)
Within this study plan, I made sure to cover all of the sections mentioned in the GCP PCA Exam Guide, scheduled some time to go through the 4 case studies in depth, and included plenty of time toward the end of the plan to drill practice tests.
I started by exploring the overarching topics in a general sense and once I had a better grasp of how the different services work with one another, I dug deeper into the details.
I used AI tools such as ChatGPT and Claude.AI to get swift answers/ example use cases for certain tools and services, as well as to generate questions for particular topics to test my knowledge. If you would like me to share the prompts that I used, please leave a comment below!
Over time, I realized that some sections required more time than others. As a result, I adjusted my study plan along the way.
As I’m a visual learner, I found diagrams, illustrations, and video content a lot more engaging. When it comes to retaining information, I also prefer to make color-coordinated notes in a notebook instead of typing them on my MacBook.
A few days before the exam, I also regularly looked through the Google Cloud 4 Words cheat sheet created by Priyanka Vergadia to help retain keywords in my mind.
Resources
With my study plan in place, I turned to a variety of resources to help me prepare. As part of my work, I get a Learning & Development budget which enabled me to access Google’s Cloud Innovators Plus subscription and Udemy Business.
I also registered at my local library (a very budget-friendly option) and borrowed a few books focused on Cloud Computing and GCP.
The following list encompasses the resources I used:
On-Demand Courses
Google Cloud Professional Architect: Get Certified 2022 by Dan Sullivan
Hands-on Learning
Google Cloud Skills Boost
Google Cloud Architect Learning Path
Books
Visualizing Google Cloud: 101 Illustrated References for Cloud Engineers and Architects by Priyanka Vergadia
Blog Posts
Your Google Cloud database options, explained by Priyanka Vergadia
Cheat Sheets
Google Cloud 4 Words by Priyanka Vergadia
AI Tools
ChatGPT (GPT-4o)
Claude.AI (Claude 3.5 Sonnet)
Practice Tests
Whizlabs — Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect (Practice Tests)
Challenges Along The Way
Needless to say, things don’t always go to plan. When the target exam date was imminent, I didn’t feel 100% prepared so I decided to push the exam date back by 1 week. This allowed me some buffer time to go through any areas I was less certain about and to reduce any gaps in my knowledge. (Side note — I didn’t book my exam until the day before, so I didn’t have to reschedule anything officially.)
In my opinion, it’s better to take the exam feeling confident and well-equipped than nervous and underprepared. If you find yourself in the same situation as I was in, I’d highly recommend pushing back your exam date until you feel slightly more confident.
(With GCP Certifications, you have the opportunity to retake the exam if you didn’t pass — please refer to the official Terms and Conditions for more information.)
Tips for Success
Focus Time
When it comes to studying and booking your exam, make sure to schedule it at a time when you know you will have minimal distractions and can focus best. If you’re unsure of when this is or would like to read more about finding the best time for deep work, check out this article, “Find Your Best Time of Day for Deep Work” from Clockwise by Judy Tsuei.
Time Blocking
Time blocking has been a game-changer for my studying. By setting specific time frames for each section, I stay focused and avoid distractions. It helps me break down big topics, manage my time better, and ensure I take breaks to stay fresh. Overall, it keeps me disciplined and makes my study sessions way more efficient.
The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique has helped me stay focused while studying. I like to either do 25/5 or 50/10 intervals using Pomofocus. By working in short, timed intervals with breaks in between, I can keep my concentration sharp without burning out. It’s simple but effective — I get more done in less time and feel less overwhelmed by big tasks.
Opal
Opal helps me stay focused by blocking distracting apps and websites. I use it to set focus timers, schedule breaks, and track my screen time, which helps me reduce distractions and boost my productivity when studying.
On the Day of the Exam
With these strategies in place, I felt well-prepared as the exam day approached. To ensure I was in the best mindset and fully ready, here’s a list of non-negotiables for me when it comes to exam day:
- 8 hours of good quality sleep 😴
- An energizing workout to start the day off 💪🏻
- Nourishing and nutritious food to fuel the mind 🍎
(If you opted for the remote proctored exam) Make sure to clear your exam area and make sure you adhere to Testing requirements for proctored exams.
After the Exam
Upon submitting your answers for the exam, you will see the preliminary result of either PASS or FAIL (see below screenshot).
I can only speak for what happens when you see PASS — after a couple of days you will receive an official email from Credly to accept your GCP PCA badge.
(Google states it takes 7–10 days to confirm the results, but I received the Credly email in my inbox the next working day.)
Conclusion
There are many different cloud providers out there with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform being the top 3 players in the market. With an abundance of cloud providers, comes a variety of cloud certifications to choose from.
Working towards the GCP Professional Cloud Architect Certification has been a rewarding experience that has significantly enhanced my skills and knowledge, and I’m excited to continue exploring the cloud and AI space.
About the Author
Janine is a Senior Solutions Engineer at R3 based in London, UK. She is a GCP Certified Professional Cloud Architect and a Full-Stack Engineer experienced in Java, Kotlin, Javascript (React/Redux), and TypeScript.
Originally from Hong Kong, she has lived abroad since the age of 11 in Northern Ireland, Canada, and France.
In her spare time, she takes on the role of Lead Interview Coach and Ambassador at Code First Girls, where she actively advocates for and mentors underrepresented individuals in STEM.
Coding, languages, music, dance, and golf are her main passions.
What’s your biggest challenge in preparing for the GCP PCA?
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