Best way to start/complete 70-291

Hi all, (new member, please be gentle!!)

My company are backing me to complete the 'beast' as it appears to be referred on the forum. I've not completed any previous MS exams and am after a little advise on the method taken etc...

Many of you have recommended the self study literature (plus lots of study time). Is this the best way to go or would instructor led training be a better method of learning?

Please help.

Regards
Paul

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helms20

Paul,

I had both, self learning and instructor lead, I would recommend that you get multiple sources to study from and not rely on a single source. I liked the MS Press book, if you can stand how dry the read is. I used TestOut and would not recommend it for this exam as it is more of a high level overview and not a supplement for this exam. I also had 1.5 years experience before finally passing this exam. The best thing for me was setting up exams and testing every possible thing mentioned in the book. There are other books as well that I used, but the best secondary study book, for me, was the "MCSE Guide to Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network, Enhanced." This was the book we used for the college course I took.

Good luck on your studies.

bwcarty

Your study methods should be up to you and how you learn best. If you're good with just tearing into a book and following along with your lab setup, go for it.

Personally, I like watching the CBT Nuggets training videos before going to the books.

Also, since you've never taken an MS Exam, check out Transcender or Self Test Software practice tests. The question formats, wording style, simulations, etc. are very similar to what you'll see on the real test.

If you go with other practice tests, be sure to check them out on www.certguard.com to make sure they're legitimate and not a **** site.

alokin123

I echo the previous 2 posts advice.
I used examcram as a lead in just to give me an overall picture of what to expect. I basically did it exam objective by exam objective. From memory there are 5 objectives for this one. I sat down and devoted a week for an objective until i had a good grounding on the concepts. Then i moved to the next objective and so on. I know for me breaking things up is easier. This exam pulls a lot of stuff from different areas and trying to taking it all in in one hit is overload. Break it up. I liked the MS Press as well. The sticky thread with links to MS website resources is great as well.
Get hands on and know the different interfaces inside out so that when you are reading your notes you can see the configuration window in your mind.

I sat the course for this exam. 2277 i think it is and it was ok. The course tho doesn't cover all of the exam objectives. You would actually do well to sit the courses for 290,291 and 293 as they cross over in areas. All 3 exams have wsus. Do the exams in those orders as well.

PaulSkinner

Thank guy's, I appreciate your help and information.

I will pickup the MS Press as it looks very useful, but I will also have to break this up into sections otherwise I will fall asleep.

Initially I think I will look into CBT Nuggets, Transcender, examcram etc... as self-paced learning would probably be best for me as I can create a test lab at work and I don't have to rush. I've just got to work out which one will be the best value for money.

Again many thanks guy's

Cheers
Paul

pyroflames

I watched a bit of CBT Nuggets on my 70-290 exam, NTFS Permissions always put me to sleep.

Ive always found the MS Press a lot better written and layed out better, dont get me started on TestOut, COFFEE ON STANDBY!!! If its the same guy as 70-290.

I got my 70-291 book yesterday, I wanna get it by the end of Jan Possible??

UncleCid

As dynamik pointed out in this forum, one of the better self-testing is the self-test that explains the reason of the correct answer. I used a test bank on mine that would explain the correct answer and why the other answers were incorrect. This was and still is a BIG help for me. It seems that while you are getting comfortable with testing, you are also reviewing material.

The incite helps you for when the questions on the real test will be arranged differently than your practice exams. That way your learning experience with your practice tests are able to make you more adaptive.

Plus i read the MSPress book back to front.... or front to back. Which ever. ^^

Johnny Johnson

helms20 wrote:

Paul,

I had both, self learning and instructor lead, I would recommend that you get multiple sources to study from and not rely on a single source. I liked the MS Press book, if you can stand how dry the read is. I used TestOut and would not recommend it for this exam as it is more of a high level overview and not a supplement for this exam. I also had 1.5 years experience before finally passing this exam. The best thing for me was setting up exams and testing every possible thing mentioned in the book. There are other books as well that I used, but the best secondary study book, for me, was the "MCSE Guide to Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network, Enhanced." This was the book we used for the college course I took.

Good luck on your studies.

I'm getting ready to take the 70-291 class at the local community college and we're using the "MCSE Guide to Managing..." book that you mentioned. I'm glad to hear that it is a good book.

Other than that I will probably end up buying the MS Press book, and using Transcender, MeasureUp, Techexams and the like.