1.2 Exam Format, Scoring & Logistics

Format, Scoring, and Logistics at a Glance

Quick Answer: The DVA-C02 is a 65-question, 130-minute exam. Only 50 questions are scored; the other 15 are unscored pretest items. You need a scaled score of 720 out of 1000 to pass, the fee is 150 USD, and the certification is valid for 3 years.

The Core Numbers

At 130 minutes for 65 questions, you have roughly 2 minutes per question. In practice, multiple-response and long-scenario items eat more time, so a good pacing rule is to finish a first pass in about 100 minutes, flag anything uncertain, and reserve the final 30 minutes for review.

Scored vs. Unscored Questions

Of the 65 questions, 15 are unscored pretest items AWS uses to calibrate future questions. They are mixed in throughout and look identical to scored questions, so you cannot tell them apart. The practical takeaway: answer every question with full effort and pace yourself for all 65 items, not 50. There is no penalty for guessing — an unanswered question and a wrong answer score identically, so never leave a blank.

How Scoring Works

Results are reported as a scaled score from 100 to 1000, and you need 720 to pass. AWS uses a compensatory scoring model: you only have to pass the overall exam, with no requirement to hit a minimum in each individual domain. A strong showing in Development can offset a weaker showing in Troubleshooting.

Because scoring is scaled (not a raw percentage), 720 does not map cleanly to "72% correct." Different question forms carry different statistical weight. Aim for roughly 80%+ on quality practice tests before booking to leave a comfortable margin. Your result on the score report appears as Pass or Did not pass plus the scaled number; AWS also shows a per-domain "Meets / Does not meet competencies" breakdown to guide future study.

Question Types

There are no fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, or hands-on lab questions on the DVA-C02. Every item is selectable from a fixed option list.

Logistics: Where and How You Test

You can take the DVA-C02 two ways:

1. Online, with a remote proctor (Pearson VUE OnVUE), from a quiet private space with a clear desk and webcam
2. At a test center operated by Pearson VUE or PSI

Register through your AWS Certification account (CertMetrics). If you do not pass, AWS enforces a 14-day waiting period before retaking. There is no cap on the number of attempts, but the full 150 USD fee applies each time. Passing this or any AWS exam grants a 50% discount voucher toward your next exam, valid until your current certification expires.

Online vs. Test Center: Which to Choose

Both delivery modes use identical content and scoring; the choice is about your environment.

For online testing, run the OnVUE system test days in advance, close all background applications, and remove dual monitors — proctors will end the session if the rules are broken. Whichever you pick, bring or have ready a valid, government-issued photo ID whose name matches your AWS Certification profile exactly.

Recertification

The certification stays valid for 3 years. Before it expires you must recertify, either by retaking the current DVA-C02 (or its successor) or, for some paths, by earning a higher-level certification that includes the same scope. AWS will email reminders, and your 50% discount voucher can offset the recertification fee if used before expiry. Plan recertification a few months ahead rather than letting the credential lapse, because an expired certification removes you from the AWS Certified community benefits until you re-earn it.

Time-Management Traps

The single most common scoring loss is running out of time on the long scenario questions near the end. Multiple-response items with five options and a two-paragraph stem can take three or four minutes each. Discipline yourself: if a question is not yielding after about 90 seconds, flag it and move on, then return during the review window. Because there is no guessing penalty, every flagged item should still receive your best guess before you submit.