1.1 AI-901 Beta Format
Key Takeaways
- As of June 6, 2026, Microsoft lists Exam AI-901 as Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (beta), with the English objectives updated April 15, 2026.
- The current AI-901 blueprint has two weighted domains: Identify AI concepts and responsibilities at 40-45% and Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry at 55-60%.
- Microsoft certification exams usually contain 40-60 questions, and fundamentals exams use 45 minutes of exam time with 65 minutes of seat time, but the exact AI-901 item count can change.
- The published passing score is 700, while U.S. local metadata lists a $99 fee; candidates should confirm the live provider price before scheduling.
- Because AI-901 is in beta, candidates may not receive a score immediately after testing, and logistics or practice-assessment availability may change.
What AI-901 Is Testing Now
Exam AI-901 is Microsoft's current Azure AI Fundamentals exam for candidates who are beginning to work with AI solutions on Azure. It is not just a vocabulary exam. The current audience profile expects conceptual knowledge of Azure AI solutions, basic technical comfort with Azure resources, and enough Python syntax awareness to understand small SDK examples.
As of June 6, 2026, Microsoft still labels the exam as beta. The English exam objectives were updated on April 15, 2026, and localized versions can lag behind the English update. That matters when you study: use the AI-901 study guide as the authority for objectives, not older AI-900 lists or older screenshots from Azure AI Studio.
Current Format Snapshot
| Detail | Current prep value | What to verify before scheduling |
|---|---|---|
| Exam name | Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals, Exam AI-901 | Whether the beta label is still present |
| Blueprint update | English objectives updated April 15, 2026 | Localized-language update timing |
| Passing score | 700 on Microsoft's scale | Any score-policy updates on Microsoft Learn |
| Question volume | Microsoft exams typically use 40-60 questions | Exact count is never guaranteed |
| Time | Fundamentals exams list 45 minutes exam time and 65 minutes seat time | Appointment confirmation from provider |
| U.S. fee | Local OpenExamPrep metadata lists $99 USD | Live country/region price at checkout |
| Practice assessment | Microsoft says AI-901 practice assessment is not currently available while beta | Availability after beta release |
Blueprint Weighting
The official AI-901 study guide splits the exam into two domains:
- Identify AI concepts and responsibilities (40-45%) - responsible AI, generative model components, deployment choices, and recognition of workloads such as text, speech, vision, agentic AI, and information extraction.
- Implement AI solutions by using Microsoft Foundry (55-60%) - prompts, model deployments, the Foundry portal, chat clients, single-agent solutions, Foundry SDK usage, Azure Speech, computer vision, image generation, and Azure Content Understanding.
That weighting should drive your time budget. A candidate who memorizes responsible AI definitions but never practices the Foundry flow is underprepared. The larger domain asks whether you recognize how a lightweight app consumes deployed models and services. You do not need to train a foundation model, but you do need to know the sequence: choose a model, deploy it, test prompts, connect from code, and add the right tool or service.
Beta Exam Behavior
A beta exam helps Microsoft validate question quality. The key candidate consequence is score timing. Microsoft's beta policy says candidates should not expect an immediate score because the scoring model is not final. Results are usually released after the exam goes live, and the process can take weeks depending on where you sat in the beta window.
Do not interpret a missing score on test day as a failed exam. Also do not assume a beta discount is always available. Microsoft sometimes posts discount windows, but candidates can still take beta exams at regular price if the provider allows scheduling.
Scheduling And Prep Process
Use this process before committing money:
- Open the Microsoft AI-901 exam page and confirm the exam is still active, its language, and its beta status.
- Open the AI-901 study guide and check the current "skills measured" date.
- Confirm provider price, appointment length, delivery method, ID rules, and accommodations if needed.
- Use the Microsoft exam sandbox to learn the interface, review marking, navigation, and item interaction style.
- Build a prep plan weighted toward Foundry implementation, then reserve focused review time for responsible AI and safety controls.
Exam-Day Implications
Microsoft does not identify every possible question type in advance. Treat the exam as a Microsoft fundamentals certification experience: manage time, read scenario wording carefully, and expect some questions to test service selection by scenario rather than asking for isolated definitions. Access to Microsoft Learn during the live exam is not available for fundamentals exams, so practice from memory instead of relying on search.
The safest mental model is simple: AI-901 tests whether you can explain responsible Azure AI concepts and recognize the first implementation steps in Microsoft Foundry. If Microsoft changes the beta status or practice assessment after June 6, 2026, update the logistics without changing that core study strategy.
A learner has two weeks to prepare for AI-901 and wants to divide study time according to the current official blueprint. Which plan best matches the exam weighting?
A candidate finishes AI-901 while it is still labeled beta and does not receive a score before leaving the test session. What is the best interpretation?