How I Passed ANS-C01 Exam on First Attempt

Preparing for the AWS Certified Advanced Networking — Specialty (ANS-C01) exam is not easy. It’s one of the most challenging AWS certifications because it tests real-world networking, hybrid connectivity, automation, security, and complex architecture scenarios. When I started my preparation, I knew I needed a solid strategy — not just random YouTube videos or scattered notes.

This article explains exactly How to pass ANS-C01 exam on the first attempt, based on my real journey, including tools, resources, schedule, and the most important mistakes to avoid. I’ll also share a personal story that changed the entire way I approached the exam.

My Interesting & Realistic Story During Preparation

About two months before the exam, I hit a serious confidence wall.

I was taking an ANS-C01 Practice Test from a well-known platform and scored 48% — the lowest I had ever scored in any IT exam practice. That day I felt like quitting. I sat in front of my laptop for 10 minutes, staring at the screen, thinking, “Maybe this exam is not for me.”

That same evening, something unexpected happened.

A senior cloud architect from my company — someone I admired — noticed I looked stressed and asked what happened. I told him about my poor score and how overwhelming the networking scenarios felt.

He laughed gently and said:

“If you scored 48% today, that means you have identified 52% of what you still need to learn. That’s your roadmap, not your failure.”

That conversation changed everything.

Instead of running from my mistakes, I started tracking every wrong question, studying each concept deeply, and re-attempting questions until I understood the logic, not just the answer.

And that was the turning point in my preparation.

Why the ANS-C01 Exam Is Difficult

The ANS-C01 exam focuses on:

• Hybrid networking

• SD-WAN, VPN, and Direct Connect

• Network automation

• Multi-account architectures

• Security and compliance

• High availability designs

• Complex troubleshooting scenarios

You don’t just memorize answers — you must think like an AWS network architect.

The Resources I Used (What Actually Worked)

I tried many sources, but only a few truly helped.
Here is the list of the most effective ones:

1. AWS Official Documentation

I spent time reviewing sections on Direct Connect, VPC, Transit Gateway, Global Accelerator, and Route 53.

2. Hands-On Labs

Practicing on AWS console daily helped me remember architecture patterns naturally.

3. ITExamstest — My Game-Changing Resource

One of the biggest reasons I passed was using accurate and realistic
ANS-C01 Exam Questions from ITExamstest.

Their ANS-C01 Practice Questions and ANS-C01 Practice Test were incredibly close to the real exam scenarios.
The explanations were clear, updated, and helped me understand why an answer was correct — not just what the correct answer was.

I highly recommend it if you want structured and exam-focused study material.

My Complete ANS-C01 Study Plan (6 Weeks)

Week 1–2: Master the Networking Fundamentals

• VPC basics

• Subnetting

• Routing

• NAT vs VPN

• Direct Connect essentials

Week 3: Deep-Dive into AWS Networking Services

• Transit Gateway

• AWS Global Accelerator

• VPC Peering

• PrivateLink

• Route 53 routing policies

Week 4: High-Level Architectures

• Hybrid connectivity

• Multi-account designs

• Security patterns

• Highly available solutions

Week 5: Full Practice Mode

I took multiple ANS-C01 Practice Tests, focused on my weak areas, and repeated every question until I understood the logic.

Week 6: Final Revision

I revised only:

• My wrong questions

• AWS FAQs

• Realistic practice exams

Important Tips on How to Pass ANS-C01 Exam

✔ Learn the WHY behind every answer

The exam demands architectural understanding — not memorization.

✔ Use updated ANS-C01 Exam Questions

Outdated material wastes time. Use only trusted, current sources.

✔ Hands-on experience matters

Do not skip practical set-ups.

✔ Practice complex architectures

Focus on multi-VPC, multi-region, hybrid setups.

✔ Study Direct Connect deeply

A significant portion of the exam is based on hybrid connectivity.

✔ Use a reliable resource like ITExamstest

Their updated ANS-C01 Practice Questions saved me weeks of confusion.