70-431 Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance
Last week i took exam 70-431, the SQL Server 2005 TS Exam. I had a few vouchers left that had to be used anyway, and i wanted to try taking an exam about a topic which don’t know much about (just to see whether i’d pass).
As my preparation was nonexistent, and i didn’t eve give a close look to the preparation guide, i expected to fail - in the end, i never did much with SQL Server 2005, just the usual stuff with the Express versions used with SPS, WSUS, et. al.
When i started the exam, i was greeted with around 40 multiple choice questions, and about an hours of time. There were no questions related to hardware design/sizing, and nothing to feature licensing by edition - lots of Transact SQL questions though. After i was through with the 40 questions, i thought i was damned lucky for not having to deal with a single simulation - even though i thought i was only able to around 50% of the questions without guessing.
Turns out i was wrong - after closing the first part, a second part with 12 simulations opened. I solved them by first clicking on any element visible and looking at which ones where working. That way, i thought to be able to solve every one of them.
In the end i passed - with just 735 points. The result sheet listed the achieved score on both the multiple choice questions and the simulations seperately - 90% of the simulations were correct, but only 60% of the multiple choice questions.
For me, this was an interesting lesson - the Microsoft exams really *are* that easy.
Jack @ The Tech Teapot:
Doesn’t it stike you as a little worrying that people are being hired on the back of exams like that. In fact, I’d say that Microsoft’s exams in some circles mean more than regular academic qualifications.
25. December, 2007, 22:25Lukas Beeler:
Jack,
I’ve never seen any company laying that much value to IT certifications. In the end, the automated tests can’t really test wheter you
a) have the knowledge
b) learned braindumps
c) are a good guesser
I think most halfway decent HR persons know that. Regarding academic qualifications, i can’t say much about them (i’ve only finished regular schooling/apprenticeship in Switzerland) - but i’ve found several 30 year old students to lack a lot of work skills that anyone with an apprenticeship has.
26. December, 2007, 00:38Jack @ The Tech Teapot:
Oh, Season’s greetings to you Lukas. I enjoy reading your blog and hope to see more in 2008.
26. December, 2007, 18:16