How many times have you failed an exam... or have you ever?

ThunderPipe

I'm just curious what everyone's thoughts are on failing exams.

Is it something most people do here and there?

Or do most people pass them the first time?

How many fails do you have?

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Comments

blargoe

I hope you reported your dissatisfaction with the training center on the survey at the end of the exam. They do look at that stuff. Good luck next time.

dtlokee

Too many to remember, most recently the CCIE Routing and Switching Lab.

I did eventually pass it.

arwes

So far, Security + twice. Thought I had everything down pat and horribly worded questions got me both times. Probably not going to bother with that again.

IT_Admin

Oh let's see.

From 04' - Now.. I've failed

A+ x1 - Software exam hardly studied for it
70-291 x1 - I mean who doesnt fail this one.
70-351 x2 - It's killing me.

BeaverC32

Haven't failed any certification exams yet, although I came close on a few of my MS exams.

I take my time with certs and don't schedule them until I feel over prepared. My recipe for success is that I study from multiple sources, I get hands-on with the technology that is being tested, I read forums such as this for insight into the exams, and I take my time during the test to avoid stupid mistakes.

vCole

I've failed 70-272 twice, still waiting to attempt the 3rd.

jamesp1983

I failed my first attempt at the CCNA and my first attempt at the beast (70-291). I have adjusted my study habits and have been on a roll ever since.

cbigbrick

Failed i-NET+ in 2000.

Claymoore

70-067 (Implementing NT Server 4.0) Back in the day, the passing scores varied by exam and I think I scored about a 750 and the passing score was 760, so I missed it by one question. I got busy at work and didn't study as hard as I should have, but I passed it two weeks later.

70-297 (AD Design) I hate Microsoft's design exam format and I failed this one bad - like in the 500s bad. I passed it 3 days later with a 700. Bad scores considering I went through two different practice exams in the design format and only missed one question.

70-284 (Exchange Implementation) Missed it by one question. I was trying to sqeeze this in before the second shot expired in May and I rushed it, but I passed it easily 3 weeks later. In the meantime I took the Exchange design exam and was surprised when I passed it on the first try.

motogpman

I failed the A+ first go around (1999), think it was the hardware portion, by 2 questions I believe. That was a hard fail, but my pc experience was very limited at the time, was transitioning from component level debug( give me a schematic, soldering iron, and some coffee and it's on) to pc break/fix field. I needed that exam to get a particular job, so I was sweating bullets.

Since then, no fails at all ( KNOCK ON WOOD), have my 70-290 this Friday, so may have to update this after that, ...keeping the positive attitude however.

Failing either gives you the strength to carry on (Gunny Highway says, " Don't give the bastard the satisfaction!"), or makes some people tuck and run. To anyone who does fail, persistence is the key! 18 times...WOW, that person deserves an award.

RussS

arwes wrote:

So far, Security + twice. Thought I had everything down pat and horribly worded questions got me both times. Probably not going to bother with that again.

Been there and done that. Quite frankly I have given up on certification right now as my employer doesn't require it and prefers somone who can do what he needs to do and not just have a piece of paper that says he can.

royal

I failed the Microsoft Operations Framework exam which was the real beast. Much more difficult than 70-291 IMO and was so close to passing.

royal

RussS wrote:

arwes wrote:

So far, Security + twice. Thought I had everything down pat and horribly worded questions got me both times. Probably not going to bother with that again.

Quite frankly I have given up on certification right now as my employer doesn't require it and prefers somone who can do what he needs to do and not just have a piece of paper that says he can.

I see other reasons to get a cert:
1. Microsoft Partner Status
2. Learn new technology (we all know the majority of people obtaining certifications are to learn the technology)
3. Have certifications on a resume in case something happens with your job and you full certain prerequisites for employers. For example, if I thought the way you thought but about a degree (oh, it's just a piece of paper), my resume would have been thrown in the garbage and I wouldn't be close to where I'm at in my career right now.

Of course this is all relative to needs and the time you have available to do study for certifications. So, to each his own.

RussS

We got a Microsoft award the other day - 2nd in New Zealand for some sort of sales or another. There's enough MCSE at work that I don't have to stress it - just spend my time learning what I need to learn to make things happen.

I look at things this way royal - I am old enough that my resume stands for itself and I don't need certificates to prove that. The number of engineers we have hired that we so far above me in paperwork, but couldn't get the job done is huge. Not saying certs are a bad thing, but when it comes to a server down the boss prefers me to get out there and get them back up and running. Not always by the book, but our clients don't pay us for down time.

Did I say before that I can smell a blown cap at 30 feet?

I am going to pick up the books for server 2008. Probably not take any exams, but will learn what I need to survive. Oh yeah - my thoughts on degrees are well known too

HeroPsycho

RussS wrote:

Been there and done that. Quite frankly I have given up on certification right now as my employer doesn't require it and prefers somone who can do what he needs to do and not just have a piece of paper that says he can.

Who says knowing your stuff and being certified is mutually exclusive?

I find getting certified helps me to know it better in most cases.

RussS

Not at all Hero, but having my immediate superior replaced recently and seeing the quality of the candidates I am more disillusioned than normal

I watched a MCSE replace the RAM in a laptop the 2nd day on the job with the freakin battery still in the damn thing

The candidate 2 before him worked 5 hours on a downed server trying to rebuilt it before I walked back in and told him to not bother because it was never going to run. After 10 minutes discussion he finally relented and took the side off it and found some blown caps - I could smell them the second I walked into the room.

I'm a very cynical SOB having been in the hospitality industry and watched chefs with several years training and a bunch of certs not able to do what I consider to be the basics of kitchen management. I have also watched experts with MBAs destroy retail businesses that been very successful because they believe their papers make them infallible.

Now I am not saying ALL are like that. One of my colleagues is not only a cert hound, but is a bonafide genius at conceptual things and I enjoy nothing more than helping him with his study if possible. Another is into certification because his English skills are still developing and was dropped in the deep end a few years back and needed to upskill ASAP. He has since developed into a great engineer and continues along the certification path for his own gratification.

As Royal says - To each his own.

HaywoodBurner

Passed A+ and Network+ on the first try, which was nice because they were pretty expensive. I believe CCENT is cheaper, but I'm still trying to be very thorough so I can pass it on the first try.

It sucks when you are not sure if work will pick up the bill!

dynamik

Russ, I have no problem with your opinion, but it seems a bit ironic coming from an admin on a certification forum

I like certs because they push me to learn new things. I wouldn't have learned nearly as much if I just sat down and read Server 2003 Inside-and-out as opposed to earning an MCSE. They're not the end-all, be-all, but they can be a nice push in the right direction.

RussS

I am very ironic dynamic

Don't get me wrong - I am very much pro education. Not only in our industry, but outside it and used to spend a lot of time when I was instructing young motocross riders to drum into them the importance of a strong and rounded education. Where I do have issues is with people who are 'over educated', with no real world experience preening themselves and proclaiming their superiority when in reality they are sadly lacking.
That is something I have had issues with for years and with recent events requiring new staff have got totally wound up about once more. One example to add to the ones about is a guy that had a degree in computing applied for a position as a *nix engineer. Was offered $38K starting salary with bonuses and other benefits but turned it down stating he wouldn't get out of bed for less than $50K. This is from a guy with NO work experience in a market where there are 50 or more applicants for every job

savior faire

Back in July 1999, I did not pass the Solutions Architecture/Design MCP exam. It was part of the tract for the MCSD Certification. I failed it by just a few points and due to my own inattention at the beginning of the test.
In 1999 I passed the three other exams for the MCSD with very good scores, and did it without any work experience in the software(VB, Enterprise VB and SQL Server 7.0). It was all self-study.
I recently(July 200

passed the SQL Server 2005(70-431) exam, again by self study. Received a very good passing grade on that one also.

coax31

I will be honest, judge away if you must but I never give up:

640-801 2 times
640-822 1 time
071-652 1 time
070-291 2 times
070-294 3 times - this one is really kicking my ass

NightShade1

Never failed but i guess i will eventually fail i guess we all will fail at least once

the_Grinch

Man we have some geniuses here! Wish I could say I never failed an exam....

Security+ - passed first time with an awesome score
CCNA - failed horribly
CCENT - failed once, but got a free retake

Never failed a class in my entire educational career! I understand and agree that experience should trump certs, but now a days just to get to the interview they gotta see the alphabet on the resume.

It is funny to see what people believe they should be paid and that is one question in an interview that I hate being asked. It has burned me once so far in all the interviews I have done. At this point I have found what I need to survive and that is the number I give. Good topic!

ThunderPipe

Well, to answer my own post, I just took my MCP (70-270) and passed. That's 1 for 1.
So far so good, eh?

Here's hoping to continue the perfect record for awhile.

ThunderPipe

And I just failed ICND1!! WOO! 1 for 2. LOL.

Hyper-Me

I failed 643 once, totally underestimated that booger.

But otherwise i passed all 10 others on the first try (even some betas I didnt study for at all) so i dont think its a bad record.

bwcarty

I failed my first ever MS exam (70-291)...I was pretty livid since I studied quite a bit and ended up missing it by 1-2 questions. I later failed 70-294 by 1-2 questions, but I went in under prepared knowing full well I'd pass using the Second Shot if I didn't do it the first time.

Everything else I've passed first time by a wide margin.

cablegod

Not yet. Knock on wood......

unsupported

I failed the Microsoft XP desktop exam. The voucher my company gave me was expiring, so I took it. I did not study a lot because I was also doing my Network+ the same day. I think I barely failed.

One day I may return to it, once I run out of security certs.

matradley

I failed that PDI+ beta exam by 10 points. XD