Pabs Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 Hey all, Sorry about the vague title to the thread, couldn't really think of what to put. Anyway, I work as a 2nd/3rd line IT Support Technician, and currently I've not actually got any "qualifications" other than my Masters degree in Computer Engineering, which I graduated from in 2004. I feel it's about time for me to sit some Microsoft exams, to at least cover my back should I be made redundant (which is still a possibility) I've now booked my XP MCP - I'm not doing the usual 70-270 as I think for me, I'm going to complete the MCDST (Desktop Support), which can still be used towards the MCSA later on anyway. I've booked the 70-271 exam, which is suprisingly similar to 270 anyway. I'm totally self-taught when it comes to the exam - I've bought books/cd's etc, and I've got a good 3yrs experience working in different home/SB/Corp. environments. I didn't feel a course was worth it for the first exams, but maybe for harder exams later. My questions are to those who have already completed a Microsoft exam. How did you find the exam? Easier/harder than you thought? What did you use for training/revision material? There seems to be no exact pass mark - I assume this is because there is no set # of questions either - the harder questions give you more credit or something....? Any tips for a first-timer like myself? To be honest, I usually pap myself when it comes to exams. Since I've booked this one (2 weeks time) I'm already pretty nervous! Thanks in advance peeps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edd_t Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 wow its been a few years since doing that one, but... My top tip would be, learn everything you would never need to actually use!!! The exams never ask you how to add a printer! lol Also, know exactly where everything is, they will ask you something like: "Do you go into Start - Programme Files - Communications" or "Do you go into Start - Programme Files - Communication" Trying to trick you with 1 leter missing! very crafty!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRALOOPY Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 4k it cost me, mcse/mcsa got four out of the seven exams done then had daisy..so bye bye new carreer.. very hard exams but well worth it if you get them done quick enough not to be out of date. I passed 70-210/70-215/70-216/70-217 plus the networking essentials diplomas stage 1&2. BTW I'm still a mechanic/car restorer..you work it out..LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 I've been doing them for as long as I can remember, and they're not that bad. Study hard, and do AS MANY practice exams you can get your hands on. The more you do, the more questions you will have seen by the time you get to the exam. Also, go over the answers once you've finished to see how they think. Make a list of the things you keep getting wrong and study them hard. At the end of the day, most of them are common sense, usually 2 of the answers are blatently rubbish, and the other 2 are things like Edd T mentioned. Tricky questions that both look right and you need to know what they're asking. Good luck dude... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 thanks peeps. To be honest, I don't particularly care if i have the exams or not, but I'm getting them in order to be able to "demand" a bit more dosh, or should I need another job, I can get my foot into the interview room easier. I'm quite saddened by the fact that a lot of companies REQUIRE you to have XXX exam before they even talk to you - I've got 3yrs experience and for 1.5yrs i've been supporting various servers/apps etc. But hey.... The good thing is, I should be able to expense all costs to work anyway, so I won't actually have to pay anything. The other thing that has pushed me to do exams is the fact my "counterpart" overseas actually has a LOT of these exams completed - and is now starting to show me up a bit. That said, I'm certain he's probably paid double what I'm on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 I've got the big Blue Microsoft books and MeasureUP tests/cd's, and I've used a couple of online "brain-dump" sites just to look at more questions and test myself. I seem to be constantly getting around 70-85% marks from the practises, and i tend to complete these in about 1/2hr. With the real thing being much longer, I'll hope to be able to take more time and REALLY think about the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRALOOPY Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 good luck.. i have nuggets if you want them.cd's of training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 11, 2007 Author Share Posted August 11, 2007 good luck.. i have nuggets if you want them.cd's of training ???? nuggets? Isn't that something Maccy D's sell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPRALOOPY Posted August 11, 2007 Share Posted August 11, 2007 nope but they will be for 2000 server ect.....as thats what i've passed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 aww thanks mate - it's very decent of you to offer I might take you up on it when i've got passed my XP exams, as they might be very useful for 2003 server etc?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I did the MCP courses, quite good. If you want to earn better money IMO do something like the ITL practitioners courses and DR courses - go more into the helpdesk management / project management / Technical Analyst side of things. I'm a TA for a refinery and I try my best to move from desktop support as there is very little to do now with all the tools available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 well hopefully through work, we HAVE to do certain qualifications to reach a required level of knowledge. I've done some very basic ITIL stuff, as well as some Digital Six Sigma, and there is yet more of that to come, so I'll just see what happens there. TBH I think both of those are boring as hell, but i don't get a choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASHTHEBISHOP Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 These might help:- http://www.braindumps.com/70-271.htm http://rbytes.net/software/free-a+-certification-exam-stu-review/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DamanC Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Pablo, strangly to say i found them really easy I done almost no studying for them and iirc the pass grade is really low about 60 or 70 percent. I too am pritty much self taught too, there is only so much you can learn in the class room. My tips for you would be to get hold of some practice pappers, to see how questions are worded, MS try to catch you out with things but the biggie is MS want you do something their way not your way even thou your way will achieve the same results. I think the main goal of it is to make learn/qulify you in working to the MS standard. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I have CBT nuggts for 2003 kicking about if you need a copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 wow its been a few years since doing that one, but... My top tip would be, learn everything you would never need to actually use!!! The exams never ask you how to add a printer! lol Also, know exactly where everything is, they will ask you something like: "Do you go into Start - Programme Files - Communications" or "Do you go into Start - Programme Files - Communication" Trying to trick you with 1 leter missing! very crafty!!! Knowing the difference between a programme and a program will probably be a good start too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 I have CBT nuggts for 2003 kicking about if you need a copy? oohhhh could also be very handy I've got some of the brain-dump type questions from a site thats been recommended by a few who have already taken the exams, as they say a lot of the questions in these examples are actually used in the real thing It would seem that 700 is the pass mark, but I have no idea how weighted the questions are, and how many questions there are. I think these 2 seem to vary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 Here's a little secret of mine. Get yourself utorrent or something similar and go to http://www.ebookshare.net. All those books are free PDF downloads. Very very useful!! I keep all of em on USB key and take them with me to work everyday. I had a question on Linux the other day, popped in my usb key, looked up the answer in a linux book, and looked like a legend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 I must say i find a lot of the questions written with the folder setup in Windows set to "Category view". I ALWAYS switch straight to Classic view, so have had to swap back to get used to finding the links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 This site also has loads of exam cram books in PDF format with test questions on each chapter etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 I hate category view... classic all the way Category view is for housewives... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 lol - indeed But Microsoft q's are all in Category mode What do you search for, to find the exam related ebooks? Just exam cram? I've search XP so far... EDIT: Found them (i think ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkR Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 click on certification central... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted August 12, 2007 Share Posted August 12, 2007 PM me your address and I'll have some dvd's sent out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pabs Posted August 12, 2007 Author Share Posted August 12, 2007 PM sent mate - really appreciate the offer Thanks to everyone who's offered to help! Being a member of a club/forum like this is great - but when the members are SOOOO helpful it makes it FANTASTIC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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