Using NotebookLM to Pass Certifications (Like the AZ-104)

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AZ-104 is tough to study for. It’s just a lot of info. While Microsoft Learn is available during the exam, searching on Microsoft Learn isn’t the best option and you don’t have all the time in the world

Traditional study methods involve taking notes and reading through tons of paperwork, but new tools like Google’s NotebookLM (Language Model-powered notebook) can change how you prepare. Here’s a video I made showing NotebookLM’s features that help me study for AZ-104. I also have the links below for you to check out and pass right alongside me.

What is NotebookLM?

NotebookLM is Google’s experimental platform that supercharges your study sessions with AI. Imagine a digital notebook that stores all your notes, references, and resources. And then you have an AI that can read through your content, summarize it, highlight key points, and even answer questions you pose. In seconds, NotebookLM surfaces the information you need instead of digging through endless tabs.

It’s especially helpful when you have a dense exam syllabus like the AZ-104, which covers stuff like Azure compute, storage, networking, and identity management. You can speed up your learning process and make sure you don’t miss any critical details by letting NotebookLM process your materials.

Organizing Your Study Material

Getting organized is key to passing a technical exam like AZ-104. There’s a lot of official documentation from Microsoft, as well as video tutorials, community forums, GitHub repositories, and practice tests. It’s easy to centralize all these resources with NotebookLM:

  1. Start by importing your curated reading list—anything from Microsoft’s Azure docs to your own notes. NotebookLM automatically creates an internal representation of these resources so you can search and summarize them better.
  2. You can break down the materials by Azure services, like Virtual Machines, Azure Active Directory, or Azure Storage. Your notebook can have sections for notes, documentation, and practice questions.
  3. Tag Key Concepts: You can jump right to subtopics like “networking best practices,” “high availability,” or “troubleshooting” with tagging and NotebookLM’s built-in organizational features. As a result, when you’re doing targeted study sessions, you can bring up relevant content instantly.

You’ll spend less time hunting for details buried in multiple sources if everything’s grouped logically. You can focus on mastering the content instead.

AI-Powered Summaries and Q&A

NotebookLM’s AI features make it more than just a note-taking app. You can prompt NotebookLM to generate a summary of your notes whenever you need a refresher on Azure Virtual Machines or security best practices. In seconds, it can scan all your references and distill insights.

The AZ-104 exam can benefit from this in several ways:

  • After a study session, ask NotebookLM to summarize what you discussed. You can solidify your memory with a few bullet points from an AI-driven summary.
  • Identifying Knowledge Gaps: By asking questions in natural language—like “How do I create a scalable virtual machine set in Azure? ”—NotebookLM surfaces the relevant sections of your notes or documentation, helping you identify and learn any missed steps.
  • Condensing Azure documentation: Microsoft’s official Azure documentation is thorough (and searching is a nightmare). AI helps you condense these resources, so you can focus on the things you’re struggling with.

Learning together and sharing notebooks

You don’t have to study alone for the AZ-104. Group studies usually lead to better retention and motivation. With NotebookLM, you can share notebooks with friends, colleagues, and the wider tech community.

  • Give your friends and classmates access to NotebookLM if they’re also preparing for the AZ-104. Users can leave comments, add notes, or suggest improvements, creating a richer study resource.
  • Notes Version Control: When multiple people contribute, it’s easy to lose track of changes. You can keep everyone on the same page by managing permissions and versions within NotebookLM.

Tips for Maximizing Your AZ-104 Success

  1. Set Clear Study Goals: Break the AZ-104 blueprint into smaller objectives and use NotebookLM’s project or notebook structuring to track progress.
  2. Practice Hands-On Labs: Combine theory with practice by completing Azure Labs in your Azure account. Log your steps and results in NotebookLM to ensure you don’t forget important configurations or commands.
  3. Revisit Your Summaries: Make a habit of reviewing AI-generated summaries on key topics multiple times a week. Repetition is essential for memory retention.
  4. Schedule Mock Exams: Use official practice exams or trusted third-party tests. Store your results in NotebookLM and note down areas of improvement, so you can quickly zero in on weak topics during review.

Az-104 Notebooks I Created

NOTE: Just realized that Google restricts the ability to share these notebooks like their other apps. Please send me your email address to add you.

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