Failed 70-649

LukeQuake

So I failed 70-649 today with the following scores:-

70-640 (AD): 1000 - 9 Questions
70-642 (Network Infrastructure): 583 - 19 Questions
70-643 (Applications): 880 - 20 Questions

As you know they take your lowest score as the 'overall' score so I ended up with 583/1000...

Main areas which I need to focus study on are:-

NAP (particularly when used with 802.11x)
VPN Technologies - When/where to use them
Event Logging to other servers and 'where' to monitor events in this setup.

Any tips / advise in these areas would be greatly appreciated.

Annoyingly, I booked this exam before Christmas and therefore before the free second shot offer! Plan to refocus my studies on networking and set a plan to retake next week. In addition, my closest test centre is over 150 miles away (2 hour train journey!) and when sitting the exam you can hear the Microsoft classroom training next door so it's hard to concentrate. There used to be a test centre 5 minutes walk from where I work, but that closed down because they weren't making any money from the tests.

I wasn't tested on this specifically but I know it's one of my weak areas. Does anyone have reference material for IPv6 networking, addresses configuration and specially how to work out ranges / allocations / work out subnets etc?

neathneathneath

sorry to hear you didn't get it this time.

I've got my 70-648 in three weeks time

Brush up on your weaker topics and best of luck for next time

BradH

I didn't understand NAP at all until I did these Technet Virtual Lab

TechNet Virtual Lab: Understanding NAP in Windows Server 2008
TechNet Virtual Lab: Network Access Protection with IPSec Enforcement

These are from Claymore's sticky on 642

http://www.techexams.net/forums/mcts-mcitp-windows-2008-general/42947-70-642-resources.html

You'll also find information on your other areas you need to brush up on in Claymore's post. Best resource ever!

LukeQuake

Brad - Thanks very much for that, will take a look!

BradH

Thanks! But I am just passing on the message, Mr Claymore is the man when it comes to resources

danclarke

I'm sorry to hear about your experiences - especially since you did so well on the 640 and 643 sections.

When I was preparing for 649, I was worried about the 640 section - especially given the impact of getting a small number of questions wrong. So - I focused particularly on this section - including using practice exams which were aimed at the stand-alone 70-640 exam.

I don't know whether it really made any difference, but it made me feel more confident.

Sounds like you need to find another test centre though: they ought to provide an exam room which is conducive to the best performance of the candidates. Where do you go?

LukeQuake

Went for this again today and this time failed with 642/1000 !

640: 1000/1000 - 9 Questions
642: 642/1000 - 20 Questions
643: 820/1000 - 19 Questions

Back to the books..... Another 6 hours wasted today (4 hours travelling!) and £150 worse off!

Unfortunatly there are no other training centres without alot more travelling, but it was a lot quieter today as there was no class on!

Going to take a week off the material and refocus my efforts with a plan to take again in 3 to 4 weeks time.

I've just ordered the 70-642 book and will grab some practice tests from Transcenders at some point.

This exam leaves you with very little margin for error and there is an awful lot of material to cover and remember (3 exams worth!). Out of all of the tests I've done this is by far the most frustrating! In my opinion it's the shear volume of content to remember rather than the difficulity of the questions.

danclarke

Once again, I'm sorry - but fingers crossed for the next time. The extra study will be key, with the exam questions still in your mind.

LukeQuake wrote: »

This exam leaves you with very little margin for error and there is an awful lot of material to cover and remember (3 exams worth!). Out of all of the tests I've done this is by far the most frustrating! In my opinion it's the shear volume of content to remember rather than the difficulity of the questions.

I agree. That's my big complaint about this exam. Statistically, because of the need to get a pass in each of 3 sections with as little as 9 questions, it can seem like the MCSE + 70-649 route to MCITP is harder than the 70-640 + 70-642 + 70-643 route: it is just cheaper & quicker as long as you pass first time.

Anyway - good luck for the next one. Don't neglect the 70-640 and -643 sections, but I think you have the right strategy to polish up your -642 knowledge.

LukeQuake

Thanks Chief - greatly appreciated.

I'm taking a break until next weekend as I'm completely burn't out on this at the moment

Will pick it up again and get this passed with the next 3 to 4 weeks!

Regards,

Luke

LukeQuake

Passed this today with 812/1000!

640:1000 (9 questions)
642: 850 (19 questions)
643: 812 (20 questions)

SO PLEASED!

danclarke

Congratulations on a well deserved success!

Great scores, by the way!

-Foxer-

Congrats on passing.

The question I have is how is this test structured? It is just a combination of the info in the 640, 642, and 643 tests?

I'm studying for the 642 test now, but I'm curious what it's like.

neathneathneath

LukeQuake wrote: »

Passed this today with 812/1000!

640:1000 (9 questions)
642: 850 (19 questions)
643: 812 (20 questions)

SO PLEASED!

Well done, your perseverence paid off in the end.

I did the 70-648 and although I passed found it quite hard due to the split format of the exam. I can see why some do not go for the upgrade option.

duw2k

Hi all,
Look the skills measured. I don't see NAP and VPN in that list:

TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist

I'm studing for this exam by the MS-TraingKit Official book 70-648/70-649 and the exam objectives for 70-649 skip the chapter that cover NAP and VPN lessons....

Off course, we need know this technologies, but if I follow this exam objectives, I won't pass on exam.

I'm correct?

Thanks,

Eduardo Pavan

mr2nut

Wow, this is an old topic but congrats. I'm taking this one tomorrow and don't feel all that confident about it now. Perhaps I'll take the 70-642 instead of competency if I fail