Gap between 291 and 293?

ladyfox

How long a gap did you all leave between 291 and 293?

I was advised to take 293 as soon as i can after 291 as I'll have the info fresh in my mind. Passed 291 last week. have 293 scheduled for next week (so 2 weeks gap). Is that 'okay' for someone who passed 291 with a reasonably respectable score do you think?

I'd hate to get into the exam and feel like crap as I hadnt prepared enough but equally wouldnt want to wait months and feel that I could have got it out the way earlier (as i felt after 290).

What do you think? Any tricky areas to 293 that i should be aware of?

Im swotting up on GPOs, PKI and NLB at the moment, feel okay with DNS/RRAS.

Would be good to hear thoughts from those who did these two exams close together.

aordal

I personally did mine about 2 months apart, but I had a falling out reading the Syngress book. It was sooo big and super dry but I eventually got through it. It really is alot like the 291 with a little nlb/clustering added in. I'd say you would be fine as long as you hit those 2 new thing fairly hard but dont forget to brush up on RRAS.

There's lots of SIMs, I think I had 5.

kavanaj

Hi, I'm in a similar boat as you.... I did OK on the 291 (passed at any rate!) but I have just booked mine for the 30th of Jan. (291 was taken on the 28th of Nov)

I think that will give me sufficient time to brush up on areas that I may have been a little weak on in 291 and then allow me to go through the books and lab exercises on my vmware lab at home....

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do!

msnelgrove

I passed 291 on November 6th, it's been more than a month and I haven't started to study for 293.. I wanted to take off 1 or 2 weeks, but I've got a job since I passed and I can't find the time to study right now. I am going to try and get back into studying this week and hopefully take 293 by xmas or early January.

ladyfox

Well, my 293 is this week so i'll let you know how I get on. Right now I'd like a couple of extra days to feel really comfortable with the material but I feel I am doing well, and getting through the practice tests in the books okay.

Fingers crossed I pass, then its on to 294 over Christmas

NetAdmin2436

Good luck to everyone taking it and studying for it. For sure put some extra time into NLB/Clustering, IPsec, PKI and brush up on DNS.

ladyfox

Sat the exam today, and passed with a good score (850), phew!

I have been doing a bit of study each day while leading up to this test. I'm glad I took 291 and 293 close together, but there is a fair bit of stuff i didnt know so well, and I had a couple of questions where I knew I'd been reading about that topic or had very similar topic questions in the books but couldnt quite remember the stuff and wished I'd taken a bit longer to revise some key concepts.

I hit the 'finish' button on the exam and held my breath, honestly thinking I may not pass. Thought I'd scrape by with a 720 or something. I figure that I had a number of lucky guesses on a few questions.

Glad to have that one out of the way. On to 294 now ...

NetAdmin2436

Congrats, that's a pretty good score too.

kavanaj

Yes indeed! Congratulations and good luck with 294

Mishra

Congrats!

jnwdmb

For those who have taken both, I was wondering how similar the material is between the two?

I took my 291 a couple of weeks ago and did not pass....I have my second shot, but I have since taken 2 transcender practice tests and did not exactly smash it out of the park. I have been re-reading my MS Press book, re-watching TestOut CBT's, and have also done all the labs in Microsoft Learning Labs for them. I understand all the principles, but do not seem to be scoring well in DNS and RAS. I have gone over the material morning, noon, and night for a week and a half, and am kind of burned out, not to mention intimidated by the "beast". I was thinking about going on to the 293, just to give myself some fresh material to study, then revisiting the 291 for review before taking them both at about the same time.

Is this crazy or possibly a good strategy?

I guess I was hoping that the 293 would give me something new to liven things up as well as provide a confidence booster for my 291 retake. I am in a rut with the beast and don't know how else to get out of it. Previous certs are in my signature....all input is appreciated.

hustlin_moe20

jnwdmb wrote:

For those who have taken both, I was wondering how similar the material is between the two?

I took my 291 a couple of weeks ago and did not pass....I have my second shot, but I have since taken 2 transcender practice tests and did not exactly smash it out of the park. I have been re-reading my MS Press book, re-watching TestOut CBT's, and have also done all the labs in Microsoft Learning Labs for them. I understand all the principles, but do not seem to be scoring well in DNS and RAS. I have gone over the material morning, noon, and night for a week and a half, and am kind of burned out, not to mention intimidated by the "beast". I was thinking about going on to the 293, just to give myself some fresh material to study, then revisiting the 291 for review before taking them both at about the same time.

Is this crazy or possibly a good strategy?

I guess I was hoping that the 293 would give me something new to liven things up as well as provide a confidence booster for my 291 retake. I am in a rut with the beast and don't know how else to get out of it. Previous certs are in my signature....all input is appreciated.

Dont let the beast get you down, I took it today and scored an 815. I suggest studying for it and getting it out of the way. It's called the beast for a reason. Don't let it haunt you later once you have all but "the beast" completed.

jnwdmb

For an update.....I took my second shot on 291 today and passed with a 884.....thanks to all for your input on my situation....I will be starting my 293 tomorrow. I hope the no gap success continues with me, as I would like to sit my exam next week.

skrpune

jnwdmb wrote:

For an update.....I took my second shot on 291 today and passed with a 884.....thanks to all for your input on my situation....I will be starting my 293 tomorrow. I hope the no gap success continues with me, as I would like to sit my exam next week.

Congrats on the pass, you crazy man!!

I am seriously impressed. I feel so very lazy in comparison...sigh, I've had my 290 book for almost 2 weeks and I've barely gotten a few pages in!