Which order to take MCSA exams?

meadIT

How would you suggest taking the exams? Will doing any of them first help in the studies for the others? I've been through college classes for 290 & 291, but was thinking of doing 270 first because I would be a little ahead on stuff like AD and the networking. How hard is 270 compared to 290 & 291? I've been using XP Pro for about 4 years, but am currently in a semi-programming position, so I don't have hands-on experience supporting XP clients on a network.

bighornsheep

For me, I'm trying to get 291 first because it's the hardest. I figured I want to get it out of the way before I go for 270, and 290.

deneb829

I think that depends on you and what you already know. I took the 70-290 exam first and am taking the 70-270 this month. There is a fair amount of overlap, but I heard someone who failed the 70-270 complain that you have to be familar with server to pass XP. I haven't take 70-270 yet, but I only believe that to a point. I have also heard others say that taking 70-270 first causes you to underestimate the difficulty of 70-290. Of course there are always those sick barstards who take 70-291 first!

jimi444

I took them all out of order...
290
270
294
291
293
Security+(next)
298(last)

Slowhand

Personally, I did the exams in the following order:

70-290
70-291
70-270

And I'd already done Security+, so the 70-270 was the last in the series. I did it that way because I didn't want to have a super-difficult exam as my last, saving me some heartache and worry when I was trying to complete the actual MCSA cert.

eltoro

Passed 270 on second try and I am working on 290 now. Personally, I should have taken 290 considering the level of difficulty in 270.