1.1.1. Exam Structure, Question Types, and Scoring
First Principle: Understanding the exam's mechanics and cognitive demands guides efficient preparation — you study differently for a recall exam than for a scenario-based architecture exam.
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty (SCS-C03) exam validates advanced skills in designing and implementing security solutions across AWS environments. It was released December 2, 2025, replacing the SCS-C02.
Exam Format:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 65 (50 scored + 15 unscored) |
| Time | 170 minutes |
| Passing Score | 750 / 1,000 (scaled) |
| Penalty for Wrong Answers | None — always answer every question |
Question Types:
The SCS-C03 introduces two new question types beyond traditional multiple-choice and multiple-response:
- Multiple Choice: One correct answer from four options
- Multiple Response: Two or more correct answers from five or more options (e.g., "Select TWO")
- Ordering: Arrange 3-5 steps in the correct sequence (e.g., incident response procedures)
- Matching: Match items from two lists (e.g., match services to their security functions)
The ordering and matching formats test procedural knowledge and service differentiation — areas where rote memorization fails but first-principles understanding succeeds.
Scoring: The exam uses compensatory scoring, meaning strong performance in one domain can offset weaker performance in another. However, each domain carries specific weight, so the highest-weighted domains (IAM at 20%, Infrastructure and Data Protection at 18% each) have the most impact on your score.
⚠️ Exam Trap: Unscored questions are indistinguishable from scored ones. Treat every question as if it counts. Never rush through questions you suspect are unscored.
Scenario: During the exam, you encounter an ordering question asking you to sequence the steps of an incident response. You've never practiced this format before and waste 5 minutes figuring out the interface.
Reflection Question: How does practicing with all four question types — especially the new ordering and matching formats — prevent wasted time on exam day?
