What Is Stopping Folks from Advancing to 70-411, 70-412, etc.

powerfool

So, there are certainly a variety of reasons that could be to blame, but I see a lot of folks posting about starting "410"... and then nothing. This section isn't the most popular on the forum, so it could just be that folks are passing and moving on without updating. However, if that isn't the case, what is it? Is there anything that could help? Do you need assistance passing 410? Have you lost motivation to continue after passing it? Just curious. Thanks!

thatguy67

It's likely that they gave up.

I know there is a high percentage of people who start the CCNA but never finish it.

poolmanjim

I've kind of wondered the same thing. I see lots of 70-410 posts and then few about the 70-411 and 70-412 (or the other optional exams).

I just chalked it up to people passing the 410 and realizing that this isn't for them or them giving up after that.

nascar_paul

The 70-411! I've found it MASSIVELY difficult, and I'm no light weight!

tmurphy3100

So far I am struggling with the 410, failed twice. I am not giving up and expect to pass my third time around.

Louie1277

Well for me I have always posted when i fail ... No matter what I plan on getting MCSA until it kills me. I don't plan on moving into other cert until i finish this one. I put way to much time and money for me to switch.

signumfidei

I am doing the 70-410 this month. There is a lot of content especially now we are on R2, and it also seems to overlap with 70-411
I think a lot of people think this is an easy starter exam, but actually, its covers a lot.
I'm quite confident because I have a good level of hands on experience of old versions of Windows Server, and I am willing to put the study time in. I also have a decent amount of Azure credit to spend on my lab, as well as a good collection of books including the Microsoft lab guides.
I just think people underestimate this exam, i know many who have started but never finished it.

Lexluethar

My guess is they don't pass and give up. MS exams are tough.

kriscamaro68

I passed the 410 and thought it wasn't bad. I then took the 411 twice and failed both. Most of the 411 dealt with technologies I don't use at work and don't really have interest in. I found that the hardest part. All I need to do is pass the 411 and I would have my MCSA but I was able to get in on the Stanley CC VMWare course so the MCSA got put on hold.

TylerBarrett

For me it's a matter of not having enough hours in the day. Planning a wedding, renovating a house, etc just don't have the time to study currently.

Louie1277

TylerBarrett wrote: »

For me it's a matter of not having enough hours in the day. Planning a wedding, renovating a house, etc just don't have the time to study currently.

I know what you mean. At work when i do have time i read a couple mins then i have staff bothering me or needing my help. I some times have a couple hours or reading but then get side track with BS stuff. it's hard even after work because I go to the gym then have a 1hr drive home. Come home spend time with the family for at least 1hr or so then everyone is off to bed while i'm reading the night away. by the way time i'm done it's like 11 or 12am. Then bed and wake up at 6 .. not enough hours that some times i forgot what i read the night before.

Guess that might be killing me or learning it the right way. We are all human some people its much easier and other we really have to work twice hard to get it(Like ME)

knownhero

I find that I pushed mine back due to the burnt out feeling. I really started to hate server at a point. Add to the fact I only needed it to get to the good stuff (SharePoint) it seemed like it was a waste to me.

NetworkingStudent

I'm still studying for the 70-410.
So far I have completed the following items:
Exam reference book
MCSA sybex 70-410 book.
I took the Measureup exam and got 20% right out of 45 questions.

I watched and most of the plural sight videos for the 70-4010. I labbed along the ay.
I took the Measureup exam and got 30% right out of 45 questions.

I feel the more I lab the better I get.
The reading just isn't enough for me.

Currently I'm watching the Plural sight videos for the 70-410 and going through their virtual labs.

---

I do backup restore tests on servers at work. That's the extent of my server experience at work.
My biggest issue I don't have an exam date scheduled.

powerfool

Louie1277 wrote: »

I know what you mean. At work when i do have time i read a couple mins then i have staff bothering me or needing my help. I some times have a couple hours or reading but then get side track with BS stuff. it's hard even after work because I go to the gym then have a 1hr drive home. Come home spend time with the family for at least 1hr or so then everyone is off to bed while i'm reading the night away. by the way time i'm done it's like 11 or 12am. Then bed and wake up at 6 .. not enough hours that some times i forgot what i read the night before.

Guess that might be killing me or learning it the right way. We are all human some people its much easier and other we really have to work twice hard to get it(Like ME)

What are you doing at the gym? If it is something where you are mostly stationary, like a bike or treadmill, you could read while you do that. That has actually been proven to increase retention as your blood flow is better, including blood flow to your brain.

it2b

I've noticed a lot of people here finish the MCSA but don't continue to on to the MCSE. Very few posts here about 70-413/70-414.

I've been on the fence for a while about completing it, since there is so much emphasis on System Center and MS Cloud offerings that we don't use in the environment I work in.

powerfool

it2b wrote: »

I've noticed a lot of people here finish the MCSA but don't continue to on to the MCSE. Very few posts here about 70-413/70-414.

I've been on the fence for a while about completing it, since there is so much emphasis on System Center and MS Cloud offerings that we don't use in the environment I work in.

Well, keep in mind that there are many paths to the MCSE. For instance, up until the past couple of days, I hadn't really ever considered the MCSE Server Infrastructure, which is what the exams that you are referring would complete. I am working towards two MCSEs, Messaging (only awaiting the completion of the MCSA) and Communications (MCSA plus 70-337). Those are specific to the work I do. If my experience with the Exchange and Lync exams is similar to the 70-413 and 70-414, then I can see why many don't pursue those... because my experience was not a cakewalk.

I think with the rigor involved, the Windows Server 2012 R2 MCSA is nearly on par with the MCSE of old. The program has come a long way.

knownhero

Agree with @powerfool.

I like to come to this thread as I like seeing people passing the exams after all the hard work, its like a motivation boost. I would also post in here but my MCSE is in SharePoint so I will just be making duff posts.

seth479

SharePoint? Ewww.

I kid, I kid. My employer does Exchange, Lync, and SharePoint and some other services and I plan on continuing with the Message and Communication MCSEs but going to stay far far away from SharePoint lol.

AlexM

kriscamaro68 wrote: »

I passed the 410 and thought it wasn't bad. I then took the 411 twice and failed both. Most of the 411 dealt with technologies I don't use at work and don't really have interest in. I found that the hardest part. All I need to do is pass the 411 and I would have my MCSA but I was able to get in on the Stanley CC VMWare course so the MCSA got put on hold.

I had the same experience with 410 and 411, the former was related to what I do at work and I found it a cinch, the 411 barely relates and I have failed twice. I intend to return to it shortly as it's my only remaining exam for the MCSA, but the failures really knocked me back.

actionhank1786

signumfidei wrote: »

I am doing the 70-410 this month. There is a lot of content especially now we are on R2, and it also seems to overlap with 70-411
I think a lot of people think this is an easy starter exam, but actually, its covers a lot.
I'm quite confident because I have a good level of hands on experience of old versions of Windows Server, and I am willing to put the study time in. I also have a decent amount of Azure credit to spend on my lab, as well as a good collection of books including the Microsoft lab guides.
I just think people underestimate this exam, i know many who have started but never finished it.

I have to admit, I guess in my head I assumed it was going to be easier. I'm still working on the 410, but it is a daunting level of stuff to learn for something that still seems to be considered "Entry Level".

I remember getting the Sybex book for the 410-412 and just thinking "There's no way that's all fitting in my brain..."

cruwl

I Failed the 410 in may and june with a 662, and a 644. It crushed my will to go on as the year prior I failed the 2008 642 with very similar scores before going on to the stanley VMware class.

I was close, and to have my score go down the 2nd time after studying I felt burnt out. Crazy thing is I really improved my weak areas in my first test, but did much worse in my strong areas. I really didn't have a ton of 2012 experience at the time so decided to put it on hold for a few months which turned into 6.

So hear I am ready to try again, I'm hoping to test again in march, hopefully the 2nd shot comes back around by then.

powerfool

I didn't realize that for the folks doing the three exams for the MCSA Windows Server 2012 that you could substitute 70-346 (Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements) for 70-412. That is a nice little option to have as you would only need four exams in total to get MCSA W2012R2 and MCSA O365. Just keep that in mind in the event that you intend to pursue that, as well.

powerfool

cruwl wrote: »

I Failed the 410 in may and june with a 662, and a 644. It crushed my will to go on as the year prior I failed the 2008 642 with very similar scores before going on to the stanley VMware class.

I was close, and to have my score go down the 2nd time after studying I felt burnt out. Crazy thing is I really improved my weak areas in my first test, but did much worse in my strong areas. I really didn't have a ton of 2012 experience at the time so decided to put it on hold for a few months which turned into 6.

So hear I am ready to try again, I'm hoping to test again in march, hopefully the 2nd shot comes back around by then.

Just remember that if you happen to be a verifiable student (have a .edu email address), you can get your exams for about half price, anyhow. I don't know if you get something like that from Stanley... if not, you may be able to get some other means of verification.

vanillagorilla3

I also think people are giving up on it. I see a lot of posts about people failing the 410 3 or 4 times. That can be pretty demoralizing and a nice dent in the wallet.

powerfool

Yeah, the first time I did MCSE (2000), I went through one of the tech schools and the courses were a big waste of time, but included in the fees were my books (Sybex cert series and MOC) plus the exam fees. I spent way too much as we basically just played Unreal Tournament and Duke Nukem all day once we got through the "MCSA" level stuff (I quote that because MCSA was only just started in the middle of our program and wasn't officially part of it). Had I had to come up with my exam fees OOP, I would have probably hesitated and maybe had some "analysis paralysis", because it was early in my career and I didn't have many exams under my belt.

My recommendation for this kind of stuff is to always find the best deal that you can:
1. Second Shot as a buffer (though I have used this and decided to take my first shot without studying... so not entirely helpful outside of getting familiar with the exam content)
2. Student Discount... I think it is around $80.

Now, a lot of community college now have the Microsoft IT Academy courses... so if you are apprehensive, you could sign up for those (should be relatively inexpensive... I think a 3 cr hr course at my local CC is less than $300), and then you would certainly qualify for the student discounted price (which also is eligible for Second Shot, when the promo runs). The only issue with the CC route is that the courses are generally a full semester length... so slower pace than some are looking for.

actionhank1786

powerfool wrote: »

Yeah, the first time I did MCSE (2000), I went through one of the tech schools and the courses were a big waste of time, but included in the fees were my books (Sybex cert series and MOC) plus the exam fees. I spent way too much as we basically just played Unreal Tournament and Duke Nukem all day once we got through the "MCSA" level stuff (I quote that because MCSA was only just started in the middle of our program and wasn't officially part of it). Had I had to come up with my exam fees OOP, I would have probably hesitated and maybe had some "analysis paralysis", because it was early in my career and I didn't have many exams under my belt.

My recommendation for this kind of stuff is to always find the best deal that you can:
1. Second Shot as a buffer (though I have used this and decided to take my first shot without studying... so not entirely helpful outside of getting familiar with the exam content)
2. Student Discount... I think it is around $80.

Now, a lot of community college now have the Microsoft IT Academy courses... so if you are apprehensive, you could sign up for those (should be relatively inexpensive... I think a 3 cr hr course at my local CC is less than $300), and then you would certainly qualify for the student discounted price (which also is eligible for Second Shot, when the promo runs). The only issue with the CC route is that the courses are generally a full semester length... so slower pace than some are looking for.

I wish I'd paid more attention in my Server course. I could have just taken the MCSA already. Online classes left way too much room for getting distracted by the internet when my instructor started to ramble.

techfiend

I'll go with the common answer of they're too difficult. 70-411 was a heck of a test, I'm shocked I (barely) passed on the first attempt. Luckily there's a few easier ways out of the 70-412.

Meanwhile I'm putting MCSE on hold due to lack of study materials available. I can only imagine how difficult they are going to be.

Dojiscalper

Louie1277 wrote: »

I know what you mean. At work when i do have time i read a couple mins then i have staff bothering me or needing my help. I some times have a couple hours or reading but then get side track with BS stuff. it's hard even after work because I go to the gym then have a 1hr drive home. Come home spend time with the family for at least 1hr or so then everyone is off to bed while i'm reading the night away. by the way time i'm done it's like 11 or 12am. Then bed and wake up at 6 .. not enough hours that some times i forgot what i read the night before.

Guess that might be killing me or learning it the right way. We are all human some people its much easier and other we really have to work twice hard to get it(Like ME)

Sounds like we have the same schedule. I get sick a lot, especially in fall due to an auto immune problem. I had planned to study from Oct 1 through the end of the year and take the test around now, but was only able to get probably 25 hrs done. Good news is I've been in the industry for over 20yrs and am geek enough that really enjoy learning about it and doing it so retaining the information is the easy part for me.
Hopefully I can get another couple weeks in and get through the 70-410.

twodogs62

I started, but workload put it on hold.
now trying to build soft skills like project management.
Been doing and studying lots on Linux at work, so hard to do all 3 plus the expenses.
once I get past pm, I'll try to stick more MS in my brain.

right now I do what I needed to get work done, apps and server running.

netsysllc

For the MCSE the 70-413 was extremely tough, the 70-414 was much easier and more of a review of knowing what technologies to use when.

powerfool

I would recommend just taking some time and trying to get more perspective. One of the things that I look forward to with the round of certs from MS (as I have about 50 exams under my belt between Microsoft, Cisco, and others) is that recertification will be possible through MS Virtual Academy. So, I am really hoping to get through this round with the hope that I won't be taking any more exams on the topics.

For me, it is hard using study materials that try to encompass all folks... those taking the exams for the first time all the way through those that have done this several times. Reading chapters on DNS... again? Yeah, because I need to pick out the morsels of knowledge I need that are new; and while it doesn't seem exciting, I am actually happy about improvements to DNS and really looking for to Windows Server 2016 DNS.