About This Domain
Domain 1 — Designing and Planning — accounts for ~25% of the PCA certification exam. This domain evaluates your understanding of business requirements mapping, technical requirements analysis, migration planning (lift-and-shift, move-and-improve, rebuild), and related concepts. Cloud architecture design and planning. To pass this section you need practical knowledge of how these services and patterns work together in real-world architectures.
What You'll Be Tested On
- Business requirements mapping
- Technical requirements analysis
- Migration planning (lift-and-shift, move-and-improve, rebuild)
- Hybrid and multi-cloud architecture
Key Google Cloud Services in This Domain
Study Strategy for Domain 1
This domain represents ~25% of the total exam, making it a significant scoring area. Balance theoretical study with hands-on practice.
Exam Tips for Domain 1
Know the 3 case studies — Mountkirk Games, Dress4Win, TerramEarth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions on the PCA exam come from Domain 1?
Domain 1 (Designing and Planning) makes up ~25% of the PCA exam, approximately 16 questions.
What services should I focus on for Domain 1?
Key services include Designing & Planning.
How should I prepare for Designing and Planning questions?
Start by reviewing the key topics listed above, then practice with domain-specific questions. Focus on understanding real-world scenarios.
What's the best order to study the PCA domains?
Many candidates start with the highest-weighted domains first: Designing and Planning (~25%), Managing and Provisioning (~25%), Security and Compliance (~21%), Analyzing and Optimizing (~19%), Managing Implementation (~10%).
Practice Domain 1 Questions
Test your knowledge of Designing and Planning with practice questions from our PCA question bank.
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