MPM

Hi all,

I've been asked by work to get MCDST & MCSA by the end of November...

...does anyone have any hot tips/advice on how i should go about this. I have a handful of 'retake for free' vouchers, so can afford to fail a few times. (not that i want to).

Of course, if anyone has any (useful ) comments about the MS Certification routes that would be welcome - i think MS are currently changing how it all works.

Thanks in advance.
Pete

mannyo

If you have not done any MS training courses, then you will need to at least do the more advanced ones even if you know everything and have been in the job for years. The reason being, the exams will expect the answers to be the Microsoft way of doing things even if they seem wrong and long winded to you.

If you have some vouchers, you could always take a gamble and take the test to see if you pass but the caveat above will apply.

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MPM

I have come across 'the MS way' when doing practice papers ...multiple choice seems to make is easier in some ways, but harder in others.

The MCDST i would like to think should be basic enough that even if i do go in 'blind' i should have the information needed in my head (somewhere ). It's the MCSA where i'm a bit more twitchy as i can see plenty of opportunity to go wrong.

Ta,
Pete

matt@theforce

Heres the MCSA certification requirements MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Certification Requirements

Rob recommended to me pass4sure as a way of checking your skills are right prior to sitting any exams and I'm working through it as we speak.

Good luck

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wja96

After about 5 years of working with 'computers' I went to boot camp and did my MCSE in 22 days. It was good because I passed all the exams and it was all over and done with. On the negative side it did cost £4500 including my accommodation and everything else.

MPM

Well as i do these practice exams i'm finding myself arguing with the screen.

If the answer i choose is perfecly valid, no more difficult or lengthy than the suggested answer - yet - wrong - is there any way of contesting it?

For example; picture the basic control panel, the question asked being "how you'd change a system path variable".

My answer:
Click "switch to classic view, with the intent of clicking on the SYSTEM option"

Official answer:
Click "Performance and Maintenance, with the intent of clicking the SYSTEM option"

I am baffled as to how my answer is any less valid.

Anyone got any comments or advice? (braces for comments about "the MS way")

Ta,
MPM

ps - sorry if that's a bit 'ranty' i can see a big fat fail coming, mainly because i know the other ways of skinning the microsoft cat...

nbr_uk

Best not to underestimate the MCDST - a group of 8 of us took it in the last company I worked for about 3 years ago and only 2 of us passed both exams. One of my colleagues got below 40% in each exam after proclaiming that he didn't need to prepare.
As others have mentioned MS seem to want the questions answering in a certain way and in some cases will present several plausible answers. There were also questions on subjects not covered on the official MS course and books.
MS used to have a free practice exam available online, not sure if it was just to introduce the exam though. As far as I know you can use the MCDST as an elective for the MCSA so only need to do 3 more exams after that.

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MPM

Yup, that's the plan MCDST should lead me nicely into the MCSA.

My problem isn't lack of practical knowledge - it's lack of exam knowledge - which frustrates the hell out of me

I just got 58% on a 50question practice, a fair cop on some of them but a few "what's wrong with the way i chose?"

MPM