October 10, 2012 at 8:32 am
My lab exam is 22nd of October in London, hopefully the builders have finished their drilling and banging in the Prometric center there by now :-/
On PowerShell training all this week and on holiday next week so should be in good shape for it, no excuses.
Fingers crossed Simon, good luck
Paul
October 11, 2012 at 1:08 am
Good rest is definitely essential. I've got a few "stupid me" moment a day after the exam. I think i've stuff up some question and only realise it later :ermm: Oh well, its not the end of the world 😀
Simon Liew
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
October 22, 2012 at 9:59 am
I definitely did not pass, no complaints though. The exam was nothing like expected (or prepared for) but it was fair. In 90 days time, I will know what to do on second attempt.
Hats off to everyone that has passed it, you all are very, very good.
October 22, 2012 at 10:26 am
That's a common sentiment, Paul. Definitely, knowing what to expect makes a big difference. When I was the PM for the program, I wanted to create sample exams for people, but I just couldn't get any budget for it.
October 22, 2012 at 10:45 am
I don't mind really, if it were easy it wouldn't be worth getting. At the end of the day I just wasn't quite good enough. 90 days before a retake is just about the right time frame for us to up our game to the required level.
Thanks Robert
October 25, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Robert Davis (10/22/2012)
That's a common sentiment, Paul. Definitely, knowing what to expect makes a big difference. When I was the PM for the program, I wanted to create sample exams for people, but I just couldn't get any budget for it.
Hallo Robert,
I didn't pass the first time, too (due to technical problems AND definitely missing knowledge in some technology requirements. But - just from my point of view - the "master" is the highest technical certification a candidate may reach and "sample exams" will "downgrade" this certification.
Have a look to the hundreds of thousand of "test exam" in the web for all aspects of SQL Server.
I bet some of certificate holders didn't know the deep technology but have learned their answers from these exam tests.
I wouldn't agree to "sample exams" for the master.
A master need to have the deep knowledge of SQL Server as DBA and DEVELOPER as required by both exams (knowledge and lab).
Only this knowledge makes the difference between the "master" and the DBA and DEV certifications!
* Just my 0.02 € 🙂
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
MVP - Data Platform (2013 - ...)
my blog: http://www.sqlmaster.de (german only!)
November 1, 2012 at 12:55 am
Hi all,
Maybe you remember that I had my first shot for 88-971 in April 2012 which ended in a technical desaster...
yesterday I had my second shot for 88-971 in Berlin (Germany). It was a technical nightmare again 🙁
At 6:15 am I travelled from Frankfurt to Berlin (the exam should start at 10:30 am)
After checking the personal data I wanted to login to the exam 88-971 and while the LAB was loading we've got the message that "Internet connectivity has lost!" Uuups - don't sounds really good.
O.K - second try... AND
"Sorry, no exam for Uwe Ricken available!"
at 11:15 am we cancelled the login process and tried it with a second test computer, same fail!
Emergency call to technical hotline of PROMETRIC Europe.
At 2:00 p.m. (!!!) the problem was fixed. Next try
After the lab has loaded successfully I wanted to open the VM and the given exercices.
When I was IN the VM the exercices were not accessable anymore. So I was not able to read the exam exercices!
We stopped completely at 2:30.
- I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND
- so tired because of the long trip from Frankfurt to Berlin and the stress with the technical problems.
So - next steps:
- claim damages
- a whole day without income because of the SECOND unsuccessfull try!
- travelling costs
I will redo at 11/28/2012 - please all...
CROSS FINGERS it will work than 😀
From Frankfurt from a really "pissed off" and disappointed dba 😉
Best, Uwe
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
MVP - Data Platform (2013 - ...)
my blog: http://www.sqlmaster.de (german only!)
November 1, 2012 at 1:43 am
WHAT!! OMG!!! Speechless.. :w00t:
Best of luck on next exam
Simon
PS if I were you, I'd check if it's easier to get a refund and schedule directly with Microsoft.
Simon Liew
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
November 1, 2012 at 2:37 am
Hallo Simon,
refund ... (hahahaha). This shot was "for free" because of the desaster in April 🙂
I'm currently in contact with Bob Taylor from Microsoft to ask for taking the exam directly in a Microsoft Branch (e.g. Bad Homburg or Munich).
Another really bad issue is the equipment of the test center.
It has REALLY old equipment and only ONE 17" flat screen.
This is not really good for such exams.
I would like to have a flat scree with 16 * 9.
This will make it such easier because the VM will be on the left side and the exam questions on the right 🙁
I will get in contact with PROMETRIC on Monday.
Than they will have the results for the failure (who ever believes!)
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
MVP - Data Platform (2013 - ...)
my blog: http://www.sqlmaster.de (german only!)
November 1, 2012 at 5:26 am
You're only allowed to use 1 monitor if taking the exam remotely.
I had a 15" monitor and decided resolution was badly displayed between laptop and monitor resolution size, so I did my exam on my laptop monitor.
Prometric won't have your result, I believe Microsoft have to mark them. I'm still waiting for my result after almost 4 weeks now.
Simon Liew
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
November 1, 2012 at 6:06 am
Exam centre I wrote at had 15" CRT monitor, keyboard out of last century and a 400+ms network latency to Redmond. If I have to write a lab exam again, I'll fly to Europe to write it.
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
November 1, 2012 at 10:11 am
GilaMonster (11/1/2012)
Exam centre I wrote at had 15" CRT monitor, keyboard out of last century and a 400+ms network latency to Redmond. If I have to write a lab exam again, I'll fly to Europe to write it.
Hallo Gail,
thank you for this information. I thought, that just my Testcentre has this bad equipment!
I had a call from PROMETRIC a few minutes ago - will retake at 19th of November.
This time I will start at earliest possible time (9:30 am).
I've learned my lesson - will be overnight in Berlin in a Hotel. 🙂
Better than travellintravelings the same day ...
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
MVP - Data Platform (2013 - ...)
my blog: http://www.sqlmaster.de (german only!)
November 2, 2012 at 4:30 am
Hi all,
just a short update of the situation...
yesterday i got a call from PROMETRIC and we rescheduled for 19th of November for the third try!
Furthermore I've informed Bob Taylor about the problems and he offered me to take the exam at home (as Simon has described!).
So, because the exam date and time is scheduled with PROMETRIC i will give them a third try BUT...
- i will travel to Berlin on 18th of November
- start at the earliest possible time (because in case of an technical isse i could have 1 1/2 hours more 🙂
- will take the definitely latest train back to Frankfurt
Please cross fingers this time all will go perfect...
Best to all and have a nice weekend.
Best, Uwe
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
MVP - Data Platform (2013 - ...)
my blog: http://www.sqlmaster.de (german only!)
November 5, 2012 at 6:14 am
Hi,
It hurts to read about your disaster experience that you have been up to Uwe.
In my case I travelled to Berlin just before christmas last year to sit my Lab exam.
I couldn't dream of that the equipment could be so old with a monitor that was very hard to read from. If I knew it I would have used some of my travelling money to sponsor Prometric with at least a proper monitor.
I also experienced a couple of freezes and lost connection but I cannot blame them alone since it wasen't my day at all when I made everything wrong (it must have been the jet-lag from Frankfurt).
Before reading this I still was thinking about visiting Prometric in Berlin again but...
The earlier forum posts sounds a little bit like a Monty Python sketch:
First I had to build the exam center that should be placed deep in swamp, then I hade to build a keyboard out of only ESC keys and carve the answers into stone - you lucky 😉
Anyway, I wish you the best of luck and crossing fingers and toes for best preparation and a brilliant Master exam 🙂
November 5, 2012 at 4:24 pm
hi everyone,
I just received an email from boB this morning stating I've passed my MCM lab exam. I couldn't feel happier 🙂 Its really a bonus and as stated before, the challenge is real and regardless the result, it offers great experience. The experience going through the exam is indescribable.
My MCM status will be updated officially in a week or two.
Regards,
Simon
Simon Liew
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
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