Software Architecture Fundamentals Certification

The Software Architecture Fundamentals Certification is a free 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests architecture decisions — monoliths vs microservices, quality attributes, scalability, caching, messaging, data consistency, trade-off analysis and documenting decisions. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Software Architecture Fundamentals certificate (SOA-SARC). Every question is based on published standards and research — including AWS Well-Architected Framework (AWS), Azure Well-Architected Framework (Microsoft Learn), Site Reliability Engineering (Google) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Software Architecture Fundamentals certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: AWS Well-Architected Framework (AWS); Azure Well-Architected Framework (Microsoft Learn); Site Reliability Engineering (Google); Kubernetes concepts (kubernetes.io (CNCF)); SP 800-207: Zero Trust Architecture (NIST); Threat Modeling Manifesto (threatmodelingmanifesto.org). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Architectural styles (Monolith vs microservices, Event-driven systems and Layering and boundaries); Trade-offs (Scalability and reliability, Consistency and data and Decision records); Cloud-native and integration patterns (API gateways and service mesh, Sagas and outbox and Serverless); Security, observability and evolution (Security architecture, Observability and Evolutionary architecture). Every question is an original scenario based on a published standard, official documentation or research, named under the question.

Software architect, Senior software engineer, Tech lead, Solutions architect and Engineering manager. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Software Architecture Fundamentals skills, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Advanced: assumes years in the role or deep specialist knowledge. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

To become a software architect in 2027, show you can make and explain trade-offs across a whole system: choosing between a modular monolith and microservices, designing for scalability, reliability and consistency, using cloud-native and integration patterns, and building in security and observability — and recording decisions so others can follow them. Most architects grow from senior engineers over 8+ years; in India, software architects typically earn ₹32.1–35.5 lakh. Our full career guide covers the hiring process, interview loop, pay and a prep plan: scienceofapps.com/blog/software-architecture-fundamentals-career-guide/

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.