VCP6-DCV Delta Beta Results?

I didn't base my comments on a hunch but on a transcript I have seen on a PSO Bootcamp

scott28tt wrote: »

As I mentioned - getting results early and therefore being one of the first to earn the certification - that's clearly not a reason to take a beta as has been demonstrated.

Perhaps not to you, but there are plenty of people for whom this is a matter of pride. Getting the certification before the exam goes public is less the point than it is to be in the first group to earn the certification. Now for VMware, it's beginning to look like you will not find out if you pass until after the exam is released (unless they plan on updating all of our records on a Sunday). However, I have been involved in certification for almost 20 years, both as a test taker and writing items for exams for several vendors. This is the first time that I have ever seen results for a beta exam being postponed until at least the GA of the exam. Had I known how badly VMware was going to milk this process then I would have saved myself the frustration and scheduled the exam for next week.

goibhniu wrote: »

Perhaps not to you, but there are plenty of people for whom this is a matter of pride. Getting the certification before the exam goes public is less the point than it is to be in the first group to earn the certification. Now for VMware, it's beginning to look like you will not find out if you pass until after the exam is released (unless they plan on updating all of our records on a Sunday). However, I have been involved in certification for almost 20 years, both as a test taker and writing items for exams for several vendors. This is the first time that I have ever seen results for a beta exam being postponed until at least the GA of the exam. Had I known how badly VMware was going to milk this process then I would have saved myself the frustration and scheduled the exam for next week.

I have sat several beta exams myself and one thing I always thought is crucial: Feedback

I was quite surprised that VMware didn't allow any feedback during the beta exam. In the Microsoft world you had a different status when passing an exam very early on (forgot the name and the MCP site is down atm).

Edit: "Charter" was the name I was looking for

Charter- Certification that was achieved within six months following the retail release date of the certification. Charter Members are recognized by being given the Charter version of the certificate acknowledging their early adoption of the technology solution.

As for cost, I am lucky enough to work in a company which pays for them. So it doesn't really make much difference whether I take the Beta or GA. Beta exams were always for me great because I knew I can

a. comment on questions and MAY make a difference
b. get the exam results early

This has obviously changed with now so I don't think I will bother with future beta exams, given that there is slightly more stress involved.

goibhniu wrote: »

Perhaps not to you, but there are plenty of people for whom this is a matter of pride. Getting the certification before the exam goes public is less the point than it is to be in the first group to earn the certification. Now for VMware, it's beginning to look like you will not find out if you pass until after the exam is released (unless they plan on updating all of our records on a Sunday). However, I have been involved in certification for almost 20 years, both as a test taker and writing items for exams for several vendors. This is the first time that I have ever seen results for a beta exam being postponed until at least the GA of the exam. Had I known how badly VMware was going to milk this process then I would have saved myself the frustration and scheduled the exam for next week.

I am pretty sure that beta results at the same time as GA has happened in the past with VMware, and the comment of mine that you quoted wasn't it not mattering to me - it was based on what's happened in this instance - that's all.

jibbajabba wrote: »

I didn't base my comments on a hunch but on a transcript I have seen on a PSO Bootcamp

Whereas I've seen some internal discussion where employees are also asking when they'll get their results, and no comments yet from anyone who does have them already...

For the record - I agree with you guys - people should have the chance to give feedback during a beta exam, and they should get their results before those who take the final exam.

scott28tt wrote: »

Whereas I've seen some internal discussion where employees are also asking when they'll get their results, and no comments yet from anyone who does have them already...

Really really weird ... Thank you for your input Scott .. well either way, as I say - given the circumstances I think I will skip future beta exams, just don't see the value anymore ..

I am now more interested as to when the VCIX-Cloud exams are being released .. Hoped I can take it at VMWorld in Barcelona ..

jibbajabba wrote: »

I have sat several beta exams myself and one thing I always thought is crucial: Feedback

I was quite surprised that VMware didn't allow any feedback during the beta exam.

Yes, I had forgotten about that. I was also surprised when I took the beta that there was no way to provide feedback or challenge the exam questions during the process. Other vendors usually do provide this capability.

goibhniu wrote: »

Other vendors usually do provide this capability.

Unless my brain went all fuzzy - VMware did, too - AND you had your results prior GA

As I say - unless you pay for your own exams, there is no real benefit (anymore) in taking beta exams ... Unless you are SME in that version already and you just want to get it over with

* logs into vue.com *

They really let us wait till the last second ey.

emerald_octane

Will probably be at 11:59 PM on Aug 31

J.Tot

I expect they wont announce results until vmworld ends..

They've done this before.

https://communities.vmware.com/message/1372051#1372051

read that. They announced VCP4 scores after vmworld. Some people claim they took the exam in July and they were still waiting on results in October...

This is leaving a really bad taste in my mouth.

Still 'Taken'

From vmware forums

Message from Certification "Support":

Please be informed that we have not yet received announcement date for
VCP6 result. Beta exam score reports are still being processed and
analyzed.

Unfortunately we do not have the estimated time.

I apologize for the in-convenience and would request you to wait for some
few weeks more.

the_erickee

The certification director, Paul Sorenson, just said it won't be until 9/28/15. Wow... just wow.

Essendon

@the_erikee - link to that? Was this at VMworld?

the_erickee

It was at VMworld. In person.

emerald_octane

9/28?

<Head Explodes>

GSXRules

Am I late to the discussion?

goibhniu has a decent write up of the process up above. Historically the beta results are released after the live exam since they need to be rescored against the final list of questions - as I recall the DCD510 betas were a couple months after the live exam. DTA results might have been at the same time as the go-live. DCA510 was at least 4 weeks after go-live.

The math and rescores are done by a third party so even if its completely straight forward there is some time lag required.

Sorry for the perceived delay and miscommunication!

Also, I'm not in charge of the project but there is no way anyone got a result before the go-live which was... yesterday? (I think) and that would be the normal after-exam results.

GSXRules wrote: »

Am I late to the discussion?

goibhniu has a decent write up of the process up above. Historically the beta results are released after the live exam since they need to be rescored against the final list of questions - as I recall the DCD510 betas were a couple months after the live exam. DTA results might have been at the same time as the go-live. DCA510 was at least 4 weeks after go-live.

The math and rescores are done by a third party so even if its completely straight forward there is some time lag required.

Sorry for the perceived delay and miscommunication!

Also, I'm not in charge of the project but there is no way anyone got a result before the go-live which was... yesterday? (I think) and that would be the normal after-exam results.

I thought last time I took a beta (4 I think) I got the results the day the exam went GA. But I just checked some old forum posts of mine and in fact - it was similar. In fact, back then Prometric blamed VMware for late results and VMware Prometric. So it was kinda worse I guess.

In my case I don't care TOO MUCH about the DCV route so I don't mind waiting. The problem is that the FAQ and Certificate Team kept stating the 8-10 weeks after Beta closure for results.

Based on Paul's comment now - we are talking 16+ weeks. And I think some people are more upset than before, because a lot of people seem to have left their renewal that late and rely on the result to renew (Thankfully I did the VCP6-Cloud instead).

One thing I am more interested in really - why can't we give comments during the exam ? Is that because no one read them before anyway ?

At this stage I really think the only .. and really only .. benefit of Beta exams are the low price.

September 28th? Wow, that's really bad.

scott28tt wrote: »

September 28th? Wow, that's really bad.

Indeed, wonder how many people will be inclined to sit future beta exams.

GSXRules wrote: »

Am I late to the discussion?

goibhniu has a decent write up of the process up above...

The math and rescores are done by a third party so even if its completely straight forward there is some time lag required.

Sorry for the perceived delay and miscommunication!

Sure, there's bound to be some delay. But for the delay to be 30 days after the GA of the exam? That's absurd and, frankly, shameful. You can't release the GA of the exam without knowing the valid questions. No doubt the final question pools were submitted to Vue at least a week ago. Vue can score the GA of an exam in about 30 seconds, but VMware wants us to believe that it will take 30 days for them to score an exam where they only have to drop the invalid questions and then re-score it? Nonsense. The only reason that it would take this long is if VMware is deliberately choosing to make it take that long. Perhaps they don't care about getting results to us in a timely fashion because they're not going to make money off of the beta participants, as opposed to someone who takes the exam in GA?

jibbajabba wrote: »

Indeed, wonder how many people will be inclined to sit future beta exams.

Not this guy, that's for sure.

Interesting FAQ

Feedback is integral to the beta testing process. We encourage candidates to include comments on specific exam questions. There is a feature in the exam that will allow you to do this. You can add your comments as you are working through the exam, or you can mark specific questions and return to add your comments once you are finished answering the exam questions

That was not possible.

J.Tot

jibbajabba wrote: »

Interesting FAQ

That was not possible.

This entire thing was unprofessionally handled. Beyond the discount there is no reason to take a beta exam from VMware ever. If your company pays for your exams just skip the Betas.

The only reason I took the beta exam was to aid the community and give something back. Instead I had no opportunity for feedback, no communication and an abnormally long wait.

What's worse is I can't schedule and take the GA now. Vue wont let me because the prior one is still in "Taken" status. Meaning someone who didn't take the beta can schedule the exam today, take it and get their score. Yet we'll be waiting until October.

I asked about that .. received basically two answers

"Internal Challenges" (re:delay)
"Every Beta is different" (re:feedback)

niles312

The following was just posted on the VMware Education and Certification Blog:
https://blogs.vmware.com/education/2015/09/update-on-vcp6-beta-exam-results.html

Confirmed September 28th it is for Beta testers..

kj0

This is worrying... Just logged on to PearsonVue and my VCP6 Pre-Approved has reappeared. This hasn't been there the numerous other times I have logged on.

PRe-ApprovedExam.JPG

Oh yea you are right, who knows what is happening ... I already forgot about that exam completely ...

Fudge knows what they are doing ... Imagine after months of waiting they tell us we have to re-sit ... That's going to cause mayhem in the community ...

Might check in Socialcast to see if internal staff see the same ...