SAP-C03 Exam Format, Scoring and Retakes

The short version

SAP-C03 has 75 questions, a 180-minute limit, and mixes multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. You take it at a Pearson VUE test center or online with a proctor. If you fail, AWS makes you wait 14 calendar days before trying again.

Exam at a glance

Item	What AWS says (checked October 18, 2026)
Duration	180 minutes
Number of questions	75 (65 scored, 10 unscored)
Question types	Multiple choice and multiple response
Delivery	Pearson VUE test center or online proctored
Languages	All languages currently supported for the exam, at launch
Registration opens	October 27, 2026
Delivery starts	November 17, 2026
Last day for SAP-C02	November 16, 2026

AWS does not print a beta for SAP-C03. The price is on the AWS site and may vary by country, so we leave it out here.

Question types

You will see two kinds of question.

Multiple choice: one correct answer out of several.
Multiple response: two or more correct answers. The wording tells you how many to pick, for example “Choose two”. Read it twice. A multiple-response question needs the full set of right answers, so treat each pick as a decision.

Professional-level questions are long. Expect a paragraph describing a company and its goals, then answer options that are each a complete design. That is why 180 minutes for 75 questions can feel tight. You have an average of 2 minutes and 24 seconds per question, and the long ones eat your reserve.

AWS also says that some service names appear in short form during the exam, and that a list is available through the Help button. Skim that list before exam day so a short name does not slow you down.

Pace and time

A simple pace check: aim to be near question 25 after about 60 minutes and near question 50 after about 120 minutes. This is a rule of thumb, not a requirement.
Flag a question and move on if you are stuck after about three minutes.
Leave time at the end for the flagged ones.
Answer everything. AWS states there are no penalties for incorrect responses, and unanswered questions are marked wrong.

Delivery: test center or online

AWS offers exams through Pearson VUE, at a test center or as an online proctored exam. Online proctoring is available for all AWS Certification exams, and communication with a proctor is required. Proctoring is available in English around the clock, and in Japanese, Spanish (Latin America) and Mandarin (mainland China) during set hours. If you test in another language, AWS lets you view the English question with a toggle.

Rules that surprise people:

AWS does not configure scheduled breaks. At a test center you may take an unscheduled break, but the timer keeps running and you must check in again. Online, you may not leave the camera view for any reason, including a restroom break.
Non-native English speakers who take the exam in English can request an extra 30 minutes (“ESL +30”). AWS says to request it once, before you register for an exam.
Other accommodations for documented disabilities are arranged with Pearson VUE before you schedule.
AWS allows rescheduling twice per appointment.

See our exam day guide for the practical checklist, and the question types page for how to read this style of question.

Scoring

AWS reports scaled scores, not the raw number of correct answers, so different versions of the exam can be compared fairly. The SAP-C03 exam guide, published October 27, 2026, states a minimum passing score of 720 on a scale of 100 to 1,000. AWS’s general after-testing policy page still lists 750 for Professional and Specialty exams; the exam guide is specific to SAP-C03, so we use 720. AWS says passing scores come from statistical analysis and can change when exam content changes, so check the guide before you book.

Because the score is scaled, 720 does not mean 72 percent correct. Be wary of any site that converts your raw practice score into an exam score.

Results

Most AWS exams do not show pass or fail on screen. AWS says results are posted to your AWS Certification account within five business days after the exam closes, and you get an email when they are ready. You may receive a Credly badge email before the results post. For exams with a score report, you can download a PDF from the Exam History tab.

Retake policy

If you fail, you wait 14 calendar days before you retake.
AWS sets no limit on attempts, but you pay the full fee each time.
After you pass, you cannot retake the same exam for two years. If the exam gets a new guide and series code, you can take the new version.

Validity and renewal

AWS lists a validity of three years. Renewal adds three more years. For the Professional credential, AWS lists passing the latest version of the exam as an option, and maintaining it through AWS Skill Builder as another. The renewal page does not say what happens to credentials earned with SAP-C02, so check your AWS Certification account for your own expiry date.

What is not known yet

AWS published the SAP-C03 exam guide on October 27, 2026. According to the guide, the 75 questions are 65 scored and 10 unscored, and the domains are weighted 25%, 25%, 15%, 15% and 20%. See the exam guide for the task statements and the in-scope service list.

More guides for SAP-C03

Next step

Use the study plan to turn these numbers into weekly goals. When you are ready to practice under time pressure, the SAP-C03 practice tests are one way to rehearse the pace.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take SAP-C03 online?

Yes, AWS says online proctoring is available for all its certification exams, and SAP-C03 is delivered through Pearson VUE.

Is there a penalty for guessing?

No. AWS says there are no penalties for incorrect responses, so answer every question.

How long until I get my result?

AWS says results post within five business days, though a review can take longer.

Try these practice exams