How I studied and passed 70-640 and 70-642
chief120
Member Posts: 6 ■□□□□□□□□□
I'm posting this in case it helps someone in their certification quest.
In 2011 I decided to get certified in Windows Server 2008, going for what is now known as the MCSA. I work with Server 2008 on a daily basis but for the most part I'm working with the basics and am not delving into the things used by enterprise organizations, such as AD trusts, or things not used, such as using Windows Server as a VPN server instead of your hardware firewall. In late 2011 I took an online bootcamp that covered much of the material on these tests. The instructor gave an unrealistic expectation of how quickly you could pass the test, saying that if you studied 2 hours a night for 2 weeks after the class you should be able to pass. I studied and in early 2012 passed 70-646. My study material was the PDFs from the class and Transcender practice tests.
I then turned to 70-642. I used the same testing methods as 70-646 but this time I failed multiple times. I then switched to 70-640 using the same studying methods and got the same results. I purchased a book on 70-642 from Microsoft Press and that didn't seem to help, mostly, in retrospect, because I was reading it independent of working with the actual interface on a test machine. While reading it I could agree that the screen shot says I have three options, I lacked the familiarity with the utility within Windows to give those three options real meaning.
About a year ago I changed my methods. I created two virtual machines on my home computer. I bought a streaming subscription to CBT Nuggets. James Conrad, the trainer, did a good job of describing the technology and giving demos of how it worked. I then went through all or most of the links provided on this site for studying and tried 70-642. I failed yet again. I went through some of the links I was weaker on and then returned to my Transcender test, which I had ignored. I took the test again and this time passed with a score in the 800s. I used the same testing method of CBT Nuggets, a home virtual server with the training links on this website, and Transcender practice tests and passed 70-640 with a score in the 800s.
In my case I needed all three to pass the tests. Each one touched on items that the others skipped or didn't go into as much detail. In the last year I spent about 3 hours per week in the weekday evenings plus about 6 to 8 hours of studying on Saturday for 3.5 months to pass 70-640 and 70-642.
Hope that helps someone in their certification quest.
In 2011 I decided to get certified in Windows Server 2008, going for what is now known as the MCSA. I work with Server 2008 on a daily basis but for the most part I'm working with the basics and am not delving into the things used by enterprise organizations, such as AD trusts, or things not used, such as using Windows Server as a VPN server instead of your hardware firewall. In late 2011 I took an online bootcamp that covered much of the material on these tests. The instructor gave an unrealistic expectation of how quickly you could pass the test, saying that if you studied 2 hours a night for 2 weeks after the class you should be able to pass. I studied and in early 2012 passed 70-646. My study material was the PDFs from the class and Transcender practice tests.
I then turned to 70-642. I used the same testing methods as 70-646 but this time I failed multiple times. I then switched to 70-640 using the same studying methods and got the same results. I purchased a book on 70-642 from Microsoft Press and that didn't seem to help, mostly, in retrospect, because I was reading it independent of working with the actual interface on a test machine. While reading it I could agree that the screen shot says I have three options, I lacked the familiarity with the utility within Windows to give those three options real meaning.
About a year ago I changed my methods. I created two virtual machines on my home computer. I bought a streaming subscription to CBT Nuggets. James Conrad, the trainer, did a good job of describing the technology and giving demos of how it worked. I then went through all or most of the links provided on this site for studying and tried 70-642. I failed yet again. I went through some of the links I was weaker on and then returned to my Transcender test, which I had ignored. I took the test again and this time passed with a score in the 800s. I used the same testing method of CBT Nuggets, a home virtual server with the training links on this website, and Transcender practice tests and passed 70-640 with a score in the 800s.
In my case I needed all three to pass the tests. Each one touched on items that the others skipped or didn't go into as much detail. In the last year I spent about 3 hours per week in the weekday evenings plus about 6 to 8 hours of studying on Saturday for 3.5 months to pass 70-640 and 70-642.
Hope that helps someone in their certification quest.
Comments
-
coralreefguy
Member Posts: 98 ■■□□□□□□□□
I am working on studying for this as well and hope to take the exam in the next few months. Thanks for the tips, and congratulations on your pass!System Administrator / DevOps guy
2015 passed: CCNA R/S, CCNA Sec, Project+, VCP5-DCV
2016 goals: MCSE Server 2012; continue to use/learn more Chef w/Ruby and Powershell on Azure -
Chev Chellios
Member Posts: 343 ■■■□□□□□□□
Thanks for the tips, kind of glad I am not alone in struggling and failing the exam there is so much to prepare for in both. They are beasts, I'm going to try and do everything I can and get the 70-642 done in the next few months as lost motivation for the 70-640 currently (besides there are extra incentives at work if I can get the 70-642 dones) -
gadav478
Member Posts: 374 ■■■□□□□□□□
Thank you for sharing your story. I am working on passing the 70-640, 642, and 646. Hopefully I can get this done before next March. Right now, I'm taking a bit of a break after my first semester at WGU. 11 classes in 5 months was fun but draining. What test would you recommend tackling first?Goals for 2015: CCNP -
iBrokeIT
Member Posts: 1,318 ■■■■■■■■■□
I also used CBTNuggets, Transcender and VM labbing. I also used Microsoft's Technet articles on subjects that I felt CBTNuggets did not cover well enough.2019: GPEN | GCFE | GXPN | GICSP | CySA+
2020: GCIP | GCIA
2021: GRID | GDSA | Pentest+
2022: GMON | GDAT
2023: GREM | GSE | GCFA
WGU BS IT-NA | SANS Grad Cert: PT&EH | SANS Grad Cert: ICS Security | SANS Grad Cert: Cyber Defense Ops | SANS Grad Cert: Incident Response -
netsysllc
Member Posts: 479 ■■■■□□□□□□
I would suggest to anybody taking these tests to do the 646 last as the 640 and 642 will get you about 75% of the way towards that test and the rest of the test does not translate to the 640 or 642.
As for the other 2, I found the 642 to be much easier than the 640 and it helped me to as there is much overlap between them. For these to tests technet and labing are the best ways to study supplemented by cbt and books.