im new here, mcp and I need some help

whizkidtheproducer

Hey guys

Im new here and a current mcp on xp. I passed my 70-271 test like a year ago. So congrats I am a mcp. Here's the problem I am currently in I.T. as a system support specialist. I am working in a win 2k3 active directory environment. I have been working on this current system for almost 2 years. and I have had extensive training on 70-290. I recently took a week long training course at New Horizons.



The problem is my boss wants me to get my mcsa in june so he can officially promote me to Network Administrator. Im a real dumb azz when it comes to these tests. I have failed 70-272 3 times (paid by myself). I have 70-270 one time recently and just recently failed 70-290 (my boss wanted to see where i was). Help. I know the problem is that I am just a bad test taker. It really sucks that I fail these test and I have a patient and understanding boss that wants to promote me and see me do well.


Please guys I really need help and Im not sure where I am going wrong. I do well in my current environment and I am a great troubleshooter but I suck at these tests.


Help.

Smallguy

I think your issue might be finding the right information in the exam questions....the questions are tricky no doubt but the info you need is there.

also depending on your environment you probalby never use alot of the things u are tested on... so expereince mgiht not be helping you as mcu has u would think.

my tips are

For Preperation

1. get several sources resources... I love CBT nuggets becasue Im' a visual leaner... and a book or 2... I find the mspress books are long as hell but have everyithng you need in thme being 1000 + pages at times. Then sometihng like an exam cram book that has the info but is more condensed helps me...it's great for review when u have to brush up on something but don't have the time ot read how it is expaqlnied over 10 pages in an MS Press book. THe Twech notes on this site are also awesome for condensed info.

2. you gotta do labs.... micrsoft has some... techtutorials is also great... MS press boosk have thme aswell usually.

3. use technet

4. trancender or mesaureup software... I c;ant say enough about these... they are as close ot the real experince as u cna get with out takingthe exam and they have tough questions that help trian you to find the important details. There are practice exams on this site as well.


fro the exam

-read the question and the answers once before selcting an answer.

- then reread the last few lines where it usually say what needs to actualyl be done

- then re-read the question

at this point you know the situation based on the first read , you also know what they wnat to achieve and you know our possialbe answers. Usually there are 2 answer chocies that are way outhere so you can mentally get rid of those then look at the remaining 2 and try and piece together everything you've jsur read and why one is the correct one and one is just slightly wrong.

you need to be careful with MS questions cause they try to throw you for a loop the material isn't always necessarily tough but they try to confuse you I find reading the question over a few time helps you find the critical pieces of info.

whizkidtheproducer

My current method is to use the microsoft mcsa study books. I take the practice exams on the cd rom and usually do well on those. im gonna try and get real focused but I seem to not do well on these tests and it's messing with my confidence.

I think I wanna get my mcdst first, 70-270,70-290 and take this new vista certification and my boss should fork up the bucks for training for 70-291.



any more suggestions

Ahriakin

Definitely take the advice on practices exams to heart, knowing how to read the exam and answer in a Microsoft-centric way is half the battle - It's often said, and always true, that it's not enough to know how to do it you need to know how Microsoft want you to do it.

Slowhand

Your first stop should be the book store, pick up the MS Press books on the test you're looking to pass. (In this case, it looks like you might want to go with the 70-290 first.) Reading through the material is going to be one of two major things you can do to get yourself to the point where you can pass this test. The next thing is going to be getting more hands-on experience with the actual Server 2003 operating system and all the tools you'll be learning about for the exam.

It's probably not a good idea to use the production systems at your work for your test machines, as things can go very wrong, very fast. I'd suggest getting using Virtual PC or VMWare to set up virtual machines, and install Windows Server 2003 on those. (If you can't score the discs from your work, the MS Press books each come with a 180-day trial version of the os.) Make sure you do all the suggested labs in the books, as well as play around with things on your own; especially the things you may not understand 100%, since that'll help you learn the technologies.

Beyond that, you're really looking at more interactive training material, such as CBT Nuggets, TestOut, or TrainSignal. These products offer video-based training, where you can see the screen as the instructor walks you through how to set things up. (The TestOut also includes labs and quizzes, so you can really get your hands dirty, but they're still only going to be canned scenarios.)

whizkidtheproducer

I have the exact books. In fact I had some training on server and xp. I have test servers that I can use to practice and I load the trial versions from the book to use as a operating system. I breeze thru the practice exams and it's not like I don't have any real world experience I have a hard time with these tests.



I admit I get a little anxious and second guess myself but I feel like maybe the books themselves are not the best learning tool maybe I need more realistic test questions. ( I heard there are actually practice exams with the real test questions) I think those would really help me.

Smallguy

whizkidtheproducer wrote:

I have the exact books. In fact I had some training on server and xp. I have test servers that I can use to practice and I load the trial versions from the book to use as a operating system. I breeze thru the practice exams and it's not like I don't have any real world experience I have a hard time with these tests.



I admit I get a little anxious and second guess myself but I feel like maybe the books themselves are not the best learning tool maybe I need more realistic test questions. ( I heard there are actually practice exams with the real test questions) I think those would really help me.

Trancender makes amzing software... they are the clsoest i've seen to real exam questions with out maknig you a cheater.

tibul

whizkidtheproducer wrote:

I admit I get a little anxious and second guess myself but I feel like maybe the books themselves are not the best learning tool maybe I need more realistic test questions. ( I heard there are actually practice exams with the real test questions) I think those would really help me.

Please dont use practice exams that use the real questions that just makes you a cheater and lowers the value of the cert whats the point in gaining a cert by cheating would you really have learned anything?

The whole point in certs is to show that you know the material enough to actually do the job and not **** to just be a paper cert, what would you do in a job situation look for **** material everytime you hit a hard situation?.

I think just about everybody in this forum frowns upon people that use any sort of **** material.

crap I forgot my old pwd

Just know the material inside and out. There is no other way. Personally, if you ask me, practice tests are not the greatest way to prepare for something. You should use other methods like flash cards, cross references, etc. One method I used for a couple exams was to write down everything I know about the topic every couple days. Pretty soon my list got longer and longer until I knew that I had accumulated enough knowledge of the topic to pass the exam. (Not saying that method will work for everyone though). The one thing that I think will help you is to get a different book from a different publisher and use that one with the MSPress book. You will see things in ways you havn't before because just like in any research area, don't use all of your sources and info from 1 source. Hope this helps.