Azure Certification
Azure Data Fundamentals
(DP-900)
How I passed the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals (DP-900) certification on my first attempt. Below I will outline why I took the certification, my approach and the knowledge gained.
Why I Pursued This Certification
As I continued building my SQL and data analysis skills, I wanted to understand data platforms in more depth. The DP-900 certification was a clear certification that overlaps with my Azure background. It introduced relational databases, non-relational databases, analytics workloads and Azure data services. This gave me a stronger foundation in data concepts while supporting my ongoing learning of Data Analysis and Power BI.
Key Topics Covered
Relational Databases
Tables, relationships, primary keys and SQL fundamentals.
Business Intelligence
Reporting, dashboards, schemas and data visualisation concepts.
Data Warehousing
Centralised storage for analytics and reporting workloads.
Non-Relational Data
Document, graph and key-value database concepts.
Data Roles
Insights into the responsibilities of data administrators, engineers and analysts.
Azure Data Services
Azure SQL, Cosmos DB and Synapse Analytics fundamentals.
How I Studied & Passed
Microsoft Learn Modules
Microsoft Learn was my primary study resource. I completed the learning paths and took handwritten notes as I progressed. It provided a solid foundation in Azure data concepts and covered all exam objectives.
Microsoft Learn Practice Exams
The Microsoft Learn practice exams helped me identify weaker areas and get used to the question style. I focused my revision on those topics and only booked the exam once I was consistently scoring above 90%.
Note: The real exam felt slightly harder than the Learn practice exams
ChatGPT for Clarification
I used ChatGPT to simplify topics I found confusing and to generate Microsoft-style questions based on my weaker areas. I'd say I completed around 20-30 questions on each area of weakness. This reinforced my understanding.
SkillCertPro Practice Exams
I also used SkillCertPro practice exams to cover edge cases and harder question styles. This was optional and cost around £13 but it gave me extra confidence before sitting the real exam.
In short: I believe that consistent 90%+ in the Learn exams as well as the use of ChatGPT in the weaker areas should be more than enough to pass the DP-900 exam confidently. With this approach, I passed on my first attempt with a score of 893/1000.
Exam Score
893/1000
Practice Exam Average
85%
Attempts
1
Mock Exams Visualised
The Power BI dashboard tracks my Microsoft Learn and SkillCertPro practice exams. It helped monitor my progress over time and determine when I was ready to book the exam.
Practice exam performance compared against the 70% passing threshold.
What I struggled with
I found the scenario-based questions the most challenging when multiple Azure services appeared to solve the same problem. Examples included choosing between Azure Data Factory and Azure Cosmos DB or identifying the most suitable analytics solution for a given business requirement.
Closing Remarks
DP-900 was a great introduction to databases, analytics and Azure data services. As an entry-level certification, it provided a solid foundation while reinforcing many of the concepts I was already learning through SQL and Power BI.
For anyone studying on a budget, Microsoft Learn and the official practice exams are more than enough to pass. From here, my focus remains on building practical analytical skills through SQL, Power BI and portfolio projects. Building on from this, I aim to pursue the PL-300 Power BI Data Analyst certification.