70-431 in 4 weeks?

eltoro

Do you think it is realistic to study for 70-431(Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance) and take this exam in 4 weeks?
I am currently studying for my masters in CS and this semester will end next week. I only have like 4 weeks before Spring semester starts in January. I know SQL programming but know nothing about MSSQL server. I just want to give it a shot. Any tips / experiences?? Can anyone tell me how difficult this exam is?

tribe_menx

With the right materials of course especially MSSQL 2005 ( Installed on ur machine )and a test DB like adventure-works

RobertKaucher

Yes, there is no reason why you could not. Get the MS Press book and I believe the best resource out there is the TestOut for the 431. Very good stuff. The important thing is to get some hands on as the exam is simulation heavy.

eltoro

Thanks guys. I am gonna give it a shot.

RobertKaucher

eltoro wrote: »

Thanks guys. I am gonna give it a shot.

I would also suggest doing the labs in this book:
Amazon.com: SQL Server 2005 DBA Street Smarts: A Real World Guide to SQL Server 2005 Certification Skills (9780470083499): Joseph L. Jorden: Books

brad-

Depends on your experience with databases.

I'll disagree with everyone here and say that 1 month is not enough time. For me, the concepts were so new, the lingo so foreign, it literally took me about 2 weeks before I felt like I could read something and understand what it meant.

DB Files, filegroups, indexes, backup devices, log types...and on and on...were all new concepts to me. If you're not starting from nothing though, maybe 1 month is ample.

drewkeg

the majority of the exam is on SSMS, not much on T-SQL. But you sound motivated and seems as though you have the time right now to invest, so I say, why not? What's the worst that can happen. For me, it was a pretty difficult exam, but I lacked SQL experience.

Good Luck!

elover_jm

I'd be very very surprised if you pass this exam with only 4 weeks of studying and little experience (unless the exam is that easy).

i'd say take your time and do it the right way, understand the concepts before you start practicing.