Are Stephane Maarek’s Practice Exams Up to Date for 2026?
A direct, no-fluff analysis of whether Stephane Maarek’s practice exams stay current for 2026 AWS certifications—and what you should verify before you buy.
Are Stephane Maarek’s Practice Exams Still Valid for 2026?
You’re eyeing an AWS certification in 2026 and you’ve heard the name a thousand times: Stephane Maarek. His Udemy practice exams are the de facto standard for associate and professional-level prep. But with cloud services evolving daily, the question is inevitable: **are Stephane Maarek’s practice exams up to date for 2026?**
The short answer: **yes—conditionally.** If the AWS exam you’re targeting hasn’t been revised (a new exam code), the existing content is fully current. Stephane’s team aggressively maintains courses, often shipping updates within weeks of an AWS exam guide update. However, you still need to check the exam version yourself.
What “Up to Date” Means in 2026
AWS typically refreshes its certification exams every 18–36 months. The Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) launched in August 2022 and is still active. If no SAA-C04 appears before late 2026, the current practice tests remain valid. For exams that have already transitioned—like the Security Specialty (SCS-C02) or Advanced Networking (ANS-C01)—the practice exams reflect those changes.
Stephane’s courses include a “last updated” date on the Udemy landing page. As of early 2025, his SAA-C03 practice exam set was last refreshed in Q4 2024, covering services like AWS Private 5G, Security Lake, and recent IAM policy syntax updates ([source](https://www.udemy.com/course/practice-exams-aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate/) ). This cadence gives strong confidence for 2026.
How Stephane Keeps Practice Exams Current
**Continuous monitoring of AWS exam blueprints** — adjustments are made whenever a new service or service name change appears in the guide.
**Community signal** — student feedback and exam dumps (authorized) trigger rapid fixes.
**Close alignment with real exam experiences** — questions are re-validated by recent test-takers.
Still, no third-party practice exam is a substitute for cross-referencing the official AWS exam guide. It’s a healthy practice to check the [AWS Certification exam guides](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certification-prep/) before you sit the exam.
Caveats You Can’t Ignore
1. **If AWS retires an exam mid-year**, all preparation material (Stephane’s included) will need an update. The update turnaround is usually fast, but you may need to wait.
2. **Beta exams** are not covered. Practice exams are only available for stable exam versions.
3.. **Cloud landscape velocity** means that a practice exam from January will not include a service launched in March—plan accordingly.
Sapior’s Take
At Sapior, we build continuously-updated, scenario-driven practice environments for cloud certifications. We ingest the latest exam guides programmatically and deploy updates within 72 hours of a change. If you’re studying for a 2026 exam, our platform ensures you’re never training on stale material. [Explore Sapior Exams →](https://sapior.com)
FAQ
Are Stephane Maarek’s exams good for AWS Solutions Architect Professional in 2026?
Yes, as long as the SAP-C02 exam remains active. The practice exams are kept in sync with the professional-level blueprint and include the latest service integrations.
How often does Stephane update his Udemy practice exams?
Typically every 4–8 weeks, or immediately following an official AWS exam guide update. The “last updated” date on the course page is the most reliable indicator.
What if the exam code changes in 2026?
You’ll need updated practice tests. Stephane usually releases a new set for the new exam code within 30–60 days. In the interim, the previous version may still cover 80 % of the content.
Does Sapior offer practice exams for 2026?
Yes. Our exam simulators are live-synced with official AWS exam blueprints, so you’re always preparing on the latest version. We support all current associate and professional-level exams.