July 17, 2017 at 3:16 pm
I bombed this exam and afterwards discovered the 70-461 Querying Microsoft sql server 2012 book has nearly all the material needed to pass it.
However the exam requires exact syntax for many TSQl commands. I don't do enough development to
memorize this stuff. Seriously how many people can code a Pivot command from memory?
It's also heavy on XML, a feature I seldom use. Any advice on how a senior IT resource (In age and experience)
can conquer this beast? I even tried Transender.
When the snows fall and the white winds blow,The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.
Once you've accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.
July 19, 2017 at 11:27 am
I'd rather eat crushed glass than use either of the PIVOT or UNPIVOT operators. That's because they're both garbage. There are better ways to accomplish either, using manual cross tabs (for pivot) and CROSS APPLY (VALUES (for UNPIVOT).
Considering that XML violates the 1NF, it's ridiculous that they'd test on it (IMO).
If that really is the direction that MS is taking these tests, then it no wander that no one seems to care about them.
July 19, 2017 at 11:46 am
Jason A. Long - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 11:27 AMI'd rather eat crushed glass than use either of the PIVOT or UNPIVOT operators. That's because they're both garbage. There are better ways to accomplish either, using manual cross tabs (for pivot) and CROSS APPLY (VALUES (for UNPIVOT).
Considering that XML violates the 1NF, it's ridiculous that they'd test on it (IMO).If that really is the direction that MS is taking these tests, then it no wander that no one seems to care about them.
+1000 on all of it.
July 19, 2017 at 11:47 am
It does require memorizing exact syntax for obscure TSQL and XML. I agree this is not relevant for most developers.
The other reason the tests are falling out of favor is the rapid release of new versions.
By the time you are certified on a version, it's time to study for the next one. The squirrel cage spins round and round.
When the snows fall and the white winds blow,The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.
Once you've accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.
July 21, 2017 at 2:05 pm
Do you have to take 70-461? Personally I think it's a really crummy exam. Can you look into taking 70-761 and 70-762 instead? I've passed 70-461, 70-462, and 70-761, and 70-762 and I think 461 was definitely the worst. Personally, 7xx is the way to go if you can. If you look at the descriptions on MS's website, I think it breaks things down into much more manageable and realistic chunks.
August 2, 2017 at 8:30 am
Answer to any technical exam, install the product e.g. evaluation copy,write notes and practice!
August 14, 2017 at 10:39 am
I passed the 2005 exam and at the time XML queries was a new feature so you can say it was on the exam (a big part of it) for "marketing reasons" and I'm fine with that.
I guess that "feature" is still around for... retro compatibility LOL.
Anyway that's not the right attitude if you want to pass the exam.
I advice you, no matter how dumb a feture is, to try a "hey I'm learning a new thing, Ohay!" attitude. That helped me a lot.
August 14, 2017 at 10:53 am
I've passed several SQl exams. But this exam with its emphasis on memorizing exact syntax for obscure SQL and XML seems misguided. When I need this type of information I google it. Not something I use on a day to day basis.
I don't believe the test is crummy, just extremely difficult for those of us who aren't up to our elbows in advanced SQl.
When the snows fall and the white winds blow,The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.
Once you've accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.
August 14, 2017 at 10:58 am
If you don't know the covered material and have no interest in learning, then why bother sitting for the exam? Perhaps the Administration or Azure related example would be more relevant to your specific IT background.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
August 15, 2017 at 12:13 am
Hi fizzleme,
Alas, we don't get to choose what goes on exams. These features are available in SQL Server and one is tested on them. I have never used full text searches, for example, but I will learn them for the exam. I think that you need to give considerably more time to your preparation. If you are studying and practicing a couple of hours per week, then give yourself a year to get through the course material. Take notes, experiment with different ways to do things and in general make progress learning by doing. The Microsoft Training Kit book is good. I am most of the way through it now, but I need to sit down and revise it. There is a lot of material to cover.
While you need to remember the exact syntax for the exam, it is sufficient that you remember the capabilities of SQL Server. You know that SQL Server can handle XML. If a project comes along where this feature makes a difference, then you go back to your notes and bring yourself up to speed. Once you know what SQL Server can do, you can start to incorporate it into your everyday work.
Good luck with the next exam,
Sean.
August 15, 2017 at 9:36 am
I've studied extensively but clearly not sufficiently to pass. I agree extensive practice in the obscure, seldom used features is necessary and memorizing exact syntax is necessary. My memory is not what is used to be and that is a hindrance. Thanks for al the feedback.
When the snows fall and the white winds blow,The lone wolf dies but the pack survives.
Once you've accepted your flaws, no one can use them against you.
August 15, 2017 at 9:48 am
I remember focusing in XML and service broker just because never used those features.
I practiced 1-2 hours/day for a month and passed the exam.
In those fetaures I'm not familiar with my grade sinked to the minimum needed in another topics where I was well versed I nailled it.
Just try to practice those things you don't knows until you are confident enough. Schedule the exam, practice a bit more and you ill be fine.
Good luck
August 16, 2017 at 2:12 am
There are sample exams available from third party companies (and I don't mean brain dumps). I found one via the Microsoft Certification website.
The exam says to the world that you have good grounding in the basic TSQL toolkit. As the saying goes, 'one should know something about everything about everything about something.
The exam lets others know what you know (or, at least, have studied).
Your decision is whether the effort you need to put in is worth the result.
Microsoft often have second exam free offers. Pay attention to these. Subscribe to MSDN Microsoft e-mail newsletter. You get a print-out of how well you did in each section. If you did poorly in one section, then pay more attention top it when you are revising for your next exam.
Also, as I mentioned before, try incorporating what you've studied into your work (although you'll have to allocate more time to it). If you normally use a DELETE statement, an UPDATE statement and an INSERT statement to bring 2 datasets into agreement, try it with the MERGE statement instead and learn from it. It may turn out, for example, that while it works, it is horrendously slow or easy to make fallacies in. Whatever you learn you will have practical experience in it and can talk about it and them when the appropriate opportunity arises.
If you are loading data into an SSRS report or simply making a report that will be sent as Excel, try out the PIVOT statement in TSQL, even though it can be done perfectly well in Excel. If the search functionality in your application is not bad, try out Fulltext-Search on a sandbox-copy of the DB. You'll need to install Fulltext-Search first (which is why it is to be done in a sandbox) and then see if the new functionality that Fulltext-search brings either worthwhile new functionality or improves the current functionality.
You may have difficulty remembering academic text but learning by doing may make all the more accessible. Of course, it comes at a price, namely time.
August 16, 2017 at 7:32 am
When SQL Server 2005 was released, the new XML features were much hyped, and that hype has been reflected in subsequent certification exams. Now, 12 years later, the prevalence of XML on the exam seems disproportional to it's actual use by developers and DBAs in the field. My dread for XQuery syntax is rekindled every time I see it. However, we all will occasionally see it, so for that reason we must know how to use it.
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho
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