New Google Associate Cloud Engineer Exam? Resources to prepare for new ACE exam?

[Sunny_Vachheta]

We will have new format of GCP ACE exam after June 30 https://cloud.google.com/learn/certification/cloud-engineer

20 Questions 

1 Hour Time

Which resources should I target to tackle this exam?

[ayush007]

🗓️ Option 1: 1-Week Crash Course Plan (Full-Time Study ~4–5 hrs/day)

Day Focus Area Resources Hands-on Practice

Day 1	GCP Overview & IAM - Project setup - Billing - IAM roles/policies	- GCP ACE Skills Boost Path – Modules 1–2 - IAM docs	- Create project, billing account - Assign roles via console and gcloud
Day 2	Compute Engine - VM creation - Metadata - SSH access - Startup scripts	- Skills Boost: Compute Modules - GCE docs	- Deploy VM via console and CLI - Use startup script
Day 3	Networking & Storage - VPC, Subnets - Firewall rules - Cloud Storage - IAM on GCS	- VPC & GCS docs - Skills Boost labs	- Create VPC + firewall - Create GCS bucket with roles
Day 4	Deploying Apps & Containers - Cloud Run basics - gcloud deploy - Cloud SDK use	- Skills Boost Labs - GKE optional	- Deploy simple container to Cloud Run - Deploy app via gcloud
Day 5	Monitoring & Logging - Cloud Monitoring - Logs Viewer - Alert policies	- Operations suite docs - Skills Boost Monitoring labs	- Set up log-based alert - Use logs viewer
Day 6	Practice Tests	- Udemy/Whizlabs (check for updated format) - Google practice Qs (if any)	- Review why Qs are right/wrong
Day 7	Review + Exam Day	- Go over weak areas - Practice again	- Light hands-on to reinforce

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🗓️ Option 2: 2-Week Study Plan (Part-Time ~2 hrs/day)

Week Focus Areas Topics Tasks

Week 1	Core Concepts	Days 1–2: GCP Projects, IAM, Billing Days 3–4: Compute Engine, gcloud CLI Days 5–6: Networking (VPC, firewall) Day 7: Review + Hands-on	Skills Boost modules (Projects, IAM, Compute) Create VPCs, assign IAM roles Start practice Qs
Week 2	Operations & Review	Days 8–9: Storage & Cloud Run Day 10: Monitoring/Logging Day 11: Deployment + cost control Day 12–13: Full practice tests Day 14: Final review	Deploy app on Cloud Run Create alert policy Run 2–3 practice exams Bookmark any confusing topics

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📚 Recommended Resources (Links)

• Cloud Skills Boost (ACE Path)

• GCP Documentation

• gcloud CLI Cheat Sheet

• Practice exams:

  • Udemy: Search for updated 2025 version

  • Whizlabs: Look for new-format practice exams

  • Skillcertpro (sometimes has realistic practice)

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✅ Exam Tips

• Expect scenario-based questions, not just definitions.

• Know how to do things (not just what they are): like “How to grant access to a storage bucket?” or “What command creates a new VM in us-central1-a?”

• Be fast — 20 questions in 60 minutes means 3 minutes/question max.
  
  Ayush