exam 70-432 question out of left field

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exam 70-432 question out of left field

KoldCoffee

SSCoach

Points: 18971
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July 20, 2010 at 11:33 pm

#157092

OK folks, my mcts exam threw me a total curve ball.
**edit: I made mention to the nature of the question which I have removed.
I found that in this particular exam I was not prepared to the extent i felt ready. I did not find the Hotek book to prepare for it though I can see from other reviews that it is good.
Not disheartened just baffled...
Discussion welcome.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

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Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 1

If those questions are from the actual exam you wrote then, by reproducing them here you are in violation of the NDA that you accepted when you wrote the exam. I suggest you remove all references to what was actually in the exam ASAP (as in before someone from MS exam fraud sees them) as the penalty for violating the NDA includes revocation of certification and even being blacklisted from ever writing again.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

KoldCoffee SSCoach Points: 18971 More actions · Answer 2

KoldCoffee

SSCoach

Points: 18971

July 20, 2010 at 11:41 pm

#1195962

Thank you for your attention to this Gila.

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 3

hxkresl (7/20/2010)
I found that in this particular exam I was not prepared to the extent i felt ready. I did not find the Hotek book to prepare for it though I can see from other reviews that it is good.

The books alone will not get you through the exam. You're expected to have the experience with SQL as an administrator before writing. What the exam covers is listed on the MS site, http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-432&locale=en-us#tab2, you should be at least passingly familiar with all of that before writing the exam. Activity monitor is mentioned on that list.

You mentioned that you were surprised you had no filestream questions, but if you look at the skills measures, filestream's not there at all. It's covered on the dev exam (70-433), not the admin one.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

KoldCoffee SSCoach Points: 18971 More actions · Answer 4

That is something concrete I can work with. Thank you. I did not look at this at all yet :blush: (and there is Activity Monitor), but I think I have nearly committed to memory Hotek's book and worked through the practice tests.

KoldCoffee SSCoach Points: 18971 More actions · Answer 5

KoldCoffee

SSCoach

Points: 18971

July 21, 2010 at 12:02 am

#1195969

My score was 644. close!

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736255 More actions · Answer 6

Thanks for the edit. Actual exam questions are not allowed. However if there is a concept that you did not understand, you can ask about the subject, just not the specific question.

KoldCoffee SSCoach Points: 18971 More actions · Answer 7

Today, I passed the exam. Cha Cha Cha!

Ofcourse, there is stil so much to know....but studying towards certification motivated me to learn a lot right up front.

Additional reflections on Michael Hotek's training kit book. It is a good foundation and you need to know everything in it. But...to pass the test, I would advise focusing on the practice exams that are in the CD that comes with the book. To perform well on the practice exam questions you have to do a LOT of your own additional reading, which is what ultimately helps you cinch the test.

But, I will also say, that the difficulty of the exam seemed to vary significantly from the first sitting.

Sudeepta SSCommitted Points: 1666 More actions · Answer 8

Am planning to take 70-432 next month, is the exam pattern same as of 70-431?

Thanks & Regards,
Sudeepta.
http://twitter.com/skganguly

KoldCoffee SSCoach Points: 18971 More actions · Answer 9

I didn't take the 70-431.

My careful advice to you is to read the training kit by M. Hotek and spend a lot of time on the practice exams on the CD. By doing so you will be

1. seeing the same format as on the real exam

2. repeatedly confronted with what you don't know (by way of wrong answers) that will help direct your studies.

Some content is on the exam that isn't on the practice exams but if you can pass the practice exams then you are ready for your sitting. Knowing this should boost your confidence going into the exam, as it should.

I also believe this forum is committed to helping people with a sincere desire to learn and understand, so I encourage you to get your computer loaded with SQL Server 2008 evaluation and practice and post with any questions. Without the actual hands on experience, you are a "goner" and since the Evaluation software is free, no one with a computer has any excuse 🙂

PS. check the link Gila posted for more details on exam content. Activity Monitor was listed there yet never covered in the book or CD.

I hope you pass, soon! Best.

Sudeepta SSCommitted Points: 1666 More actions · Answer 10

Thanks for your advice. When I was attending 70-431, the exam was divided into two parts, One part checks the theoretical knowledge about the product and the other part checks the practical usage of the product.

Currently I am working on to make myself comfortable on both the above aspects.

Thank you once again for your valuable advice.

Thanks & Regards,
Sudeepta.
http://twitter.com/skganguly