How Copilot helped me pass the PL-600!

I checked off a big box last week– I passed the PL-600: Power Platform Solution Architect certification exam! Wow, that feels good to type out.

I want to share my experience preparing for the PL-600, not to boast but to help others who may be on the same journey - you don't have to do it alone.

The PL-200 and PL-600 were my first exposure to Microsoft exams and I had no idea what to expect. I leaned on the testing strategy that got me through college: learn the material, build out a detailed study guide, and take practice exams.

This seemed to work– at first. The Microsoft Learn modules gave me a taste of the topics that would be on the exam. Building a detailed study guide helped me review the material and understand it from a definitions perspective. Then I subscribed to MeasureUp for the practice exams.

Before taking practice exams, I felt confident - until the first one showed me just how much deeper I needed to go. The practice exams hurt my confidence, making me feel less prepared instead of reinforcing what I knew. There was just so much to wrap my head around. That's when I realized I needed a different approach.

What if Copilot could help me?

As I took a practice exam, I reviewed the question, selected my answer and then checked if I got it right or wrong. If I got it wrong, I added it to a list of topics that I wanted to research further.

After the practice exam, I opened up Copilot and asked a series of questions to help me understand why I got the answer wrong.

Prompts that really helped my understanding:

• Help me understand [topic], in the context of the Microsoft PL-600 exam.
• What do I need to know about [topic] as it relates to the PL-600?
• Explain [topic] in simple language and provide me a mnemonic device to help with memorization.
• Help me understand the relationship between these topics: [List topics].
• Create a visual diagram to help me understand the relationship between these topics: [List topics].
• Explain [topic] like I am a 10 year old.
• What is the difference between [topic A] and [topic B], and when would I use each?
• Provide three sample multiple-choice questions where my understanding of [topic] is being tested. Provide the answer to each question.

I asked Copilot many other questions, but I often returned to these for nearly every topic I needed clarity on.

Copilot created a safe space for me to ask some really silly questions. I often had to ask Copilot to explain the concept to me in multiple ways to ensure I fully understood. Once I had a solid understanding, I would ask Copilot to give me additional multiple-choice questions so I could get a sense of how questions might be worded.

Along the way, I learned a few key lessons about using Copilot effectively. These are worth reviewing before you start using Copilot as a study partner.

Lessons Learned from using Copilot

• Enable Chat History: I saved so much time not having to remind Copilot that I was studying for the PL-600. Instead, open Chat Settings > Personalization > Turn on Chat History. This allows Copilot to remember what you've told it in prior conversations.
• Custom Instructions: Sometimes Copilot was too helpful, returning responses that were longer than I had time to read. To fix this, I customized my instructions so Copilot would give me direct, concise answers. If I needed more detail, I simply asked for it.
• Web Toggle: When prompting Copilot, I made sure I was working under the 'Web' version. This ensured that no enterprise data influenced Copilot's responses.

As you are studying alongside Copilot, be sure to keep the following tips in mind.

Tips that helped me prepare for the PL-600

• When reviewing a question, always ask yourself where the data lives and who needs access to it. Knowing this will tell you if you need dataflows, Power Automate flows, internal/external access, etc.
• Understand integrations. This includes APIs, custom connectors, Azure Service Bus, Azure Data Factory, etc.
• Watch demo videos for each Dynamics 365 app, especially if you are a visual learner.
• Subscribe to MeasureUp - it is worth the investment! For each question, they explain why the correct answer is right AND why the other options were wrong.
• Review as many practice questions as you can. The questions are wordy and the sooner you get comfortable with them, the more prepared and comfortable you'll feel on exam day.
• Gain hands-on experience. Ask for opportunities or create opportunities to apply your knowledge.

You can do this!

As I wrap up, I want to end with something very important. If you feel like you're not ready, or feel like you lack the technical expertise, or you're anxious about failing...you're not alone. I felt all of these things, and more.

Know that you are capable of passing this exam. The Power Platform community is welcoming, supportive, and genuinely wants to see you thrive - lean into that. Look up YouTube videos, read blogs (like this one 😉)...ask Copilot!

And if you're pursuing this certification, let me know– I'd love to cheer you on!

Thank you for reading!

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

-The Autonomous Edge