AZ-900 exam structure: questions, domains, and passing score in 2026

Before paying for the exam (USD 99 reference price, adjusted by country) and sitting in front of the screen, the smartest thing you can do is understand exactly how the AZ-900 exam is structured. No surprises.

In this article you'll find everything you need to know about the format, the domains assessed, the question types, and the minimum passing score.

How many questions does the AZ-900 have?

The AZ-900 exam has between 40 and 60 questions. Microsoft doesn't publish the exact number in advance — it varies between candidates. In practice, most people report between 40 and 50 questions.

You have 45 minutes to complete it, which gives you between 45 seconds and just over 1 minute per question. That's enough time if you've prepared well.

Question types on the AZ-900

The exam includes several question formats:

• ▸Multiple choice (one correct answer): the most common format. You're given a prompt and four options — only one is correct.
• ▸Multiple choice (multiple correct answers): the prompt tells you how many to select, for example "choose two correct answers".
• ▸Yes / No: a series of statements about Azure services or concepts; you indicate whether each one is correct.
• ▸Drag and drop: matching concepts with definitions or categories.
• ▸Sentence completion: you choose from a drop-down list the option that correctly completes a statement.

💡 You can get to know the interface and question types before the exam with Microsoft's official exam sandbox. That way you won't waste time on exam day figuring out how to answer.

AZ-900 exam domains and their weight

Microsoft divides the AZ-900 into three main areas. Knowing the weight of each one helps you prioritize your study:

Domain 1: Cloud concepts (25–30%)

Covers the general fundamentals of cloud computing, regardless of the provider. It includes:

• ▸Cloud models: public, private, and hybrid
• ▸Service types: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
• ▸Benefits of the cloud: scalability, elasticity, high availability, agility
• ▸Cost models: CapEx vs OpEx

This domain is the most conceptual and is usually the easiest for people who already have IT experience.

Domain 2: Azure architecture and services (35–40%)

It's the domain with the most weight and the most technical one. It covers Azure's main services:

• ▸Compute: virtual machines, Azure App Service, Azure Container Instances, Azure Kubernetes Service
• ▸Storage: Azure Blob Storage, Azure Files, Azure Disk Storage
• ▸Networking: Azure Virtual Network, VPN Gateway, Azure DNS, Azure ExpressRoute
• ▸Identity: Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory)
• ▸Databases: Azure SQL, Azure Cosmos DB

Domain 3: Management and governance (30–35%)

Covers how to manage, monitor, and control costs in Azure:

• ▸Management tools: Azure Portal, Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, Azure Arc
• ▸Governance: Azure Policy, RBAC, resource locks, tags
• ▸Costs: Azure Cost Management, the pricing calculator, service level agreements (SLAs)
• ▸Monitoring: Azure Monitor, Azure Service Health, Azure Advisor

If your study material still mentions Azure Blueprints, keep in mind that the service was retired in July 2026.

What score do you need to pass?

The minimum passing score is 700 out of 1000. That's roughly equivalent to answering 70% of the questions correctly.

Questions don't all carry the same weight — some are worth more than others depending on their difficulty. There's no penalty for wrong answers, so it always pays to answer even if you're not sure.

Is the exam available in other languages?

Yes. Microsoft offers the AZ-900 in English and several other languages. Keep in mind that the English version is always updated first, and the other versions receive the changes approximately eight weeks later.

If you're comfortable with English, taking the exam in English ensures you get the most up-to-date version of the content.

How long should I study?

The key isn't just reading the material — it's practicing with questions in the real exam format. People who practice with mock exams have a significantly higher first-attempt pass rate.

What happens if I fail?

If you don't pass the AZ-900, you can try again, but every attempt is paid. After the first failed attempt you must wait 24 hours; from the second one on, 14 days between attempts, with a maximum of 5 attempts in 12 months.

The good news: once you pass, the AZ-900 doesn't expire and you don't need to renew it.

Practice with the real format before the exam At Brains4Cloud we have AZ-900 practice exams with the same format and difficulty level as the real exam, plus the AZ-900 guide and the Deep Dive by domain. Create your free account and measure how prepared you are before paying for the certification.