CIW Database Design Specialist 1D0-541

I am enrolled in the Database course at WGU for the CIW Database Design Specialist 1D0-541 exam, but I am really struggling on it. There dose not seem to be much in the way of other study material out there. I am an experienced IT professional but have very limited knowledge of database architecture as a whole. I have worked with MSSQL, installing, securing, managing with SQL server manager, but the database theory is not sticking. I scheduled my exam for two weeks out to light a fire under me, and am looking for some input on what to concentrate on for the exam. I know its entry level stuff but the WGU material is not sticking at all....

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RobertKaucher

I am not familiar with the exam nor its requirements. But this is one of the best books on the topic.
Amazon.com: Database Design for Mere Mortals®: A Hands-On Guide to Relational Database Design (2nd Edition) (0785342752847): Michael J. Hernandez: Books
Anything covered in the exam should be covered in that book. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me via email (forum username at gmail.com) and I'll give you a hand. Please let me know what you think of the difficulty of the exam as well!

drumrolfe

novovictus wrote: »

I am enrolled in the Database course at WGU for the CIW Database Design Specialist 1D0-541 exam, but I am really struggling on it. There dose not seem to be much in the way of other study material out there. I am an experienced IT professional but have very limited knowledge of database architecture as a whole. I have worked with MSSQL, installing, securing, managing with SQL server manager, but the database theory is not sticking. I scheduled my exam for two weeks out to light a fire under me, and am looking for some input on what to concentrate on for the exam. I know its entry level stuff but the WGU material is not sticking at all....

I finished this exam in September with no database experience. That being said, I was used to taking the CIW tests and reading from their exam preparation materials. What really sealed the deal for me was going to youtube and searching for videos on "Normalization", "1NF/2NF/3NF", and relational algebra.

I have found CIW tests are usually more about the breadth of knowledge for a given field, not the depth.

HTH!

Pilotreborn

drumrolfe wrote: »

I finished this exam in September with no database experience. That being said, I was used to taking the CIW tests and reading from their exam preparation materials. What really sealed the deal for me was going to youtube and searching for videos on "Normalization", "1NF/2NF/3NF", and relational algebra.

I have found CIW tests are usually more about the breadth of knowledge for a given field, not the depth.

HTH!

Yes this is what I have found as well, I just started studying for the Database cert. I am familiarizing myself with the terms, and I took your advice and am watching some youtube videos which is helping. This is a little trickier than the previous CIW tests but doesn't seem like it will be too bad.

I am slightly worried about the CIW javascript test though and the WGU classes that require you to write some apps or programs in java(I have little to no experience with this)....

Daniel333

what database are they focused on?

PLENTY of material out there on databases. given your cert background I have the feeling you are on the verge of destroying this exam with little effort at all. Something else in life holding you back right now?

Go for a couple hour hike. Rest up. Come back swinging!

drumrolfe

Daniel333 wrote: »

what database are they focused on?

PLENTY of material out there on databases. given your cert background I have the feeling you are on the verge of destroying this exam with little effort at all. Something else in life holding you back right now?

Go for a couple hour hike. Rest up. Come back swinging!

Its databases in general. No particular database brand. It focuses on normalization, database theory, SQL statements, and relational algebra.

novovictus

Passed with a 76% in about 25min. Woot woot! thanks for all the support guys.

veritas_libertas

novovictus wrote: »

Passed with a 76% in about 25min. Woot woot! thanks for all the support guys.

What did you end up using for study material?

novovictus

I started with the WGU provided pdf book, then uCertify test questions. As I came across something I didn't understand I would look for a youtube video. That is really a great resource I never considered utilizing in the past. Passing score is 74% so I really cut it too close, but I did enough study that it matters. Now onto 1d0-520 Site Designer...

drumrolfe

novovictus wrote: »

I started with the WGU provided pdf book, then uCertify test questions. As I came across something I didn't understand I would look for a youtube video. That is really a great resource I never considered utilizing in the past. Passing score is 74% so I really cut it too close, but I did enough study that it matters. Now onto 1d0-520 Site Designer...

Congratulations

If you need help with Site designer let me know. Good luck!

bryanthetechie

Woot, I passed this exam today with 86%. I used the WGU materials, YouTube videos as suggested by several folks on here, as well as Databases DeMYSTiFieD, 2nd Edition. I also looked over several other intro to databases books at Barnes and Noble.

I aced the SQL and relational algebra, but did not do well in normalization. Normalization is difficult to understand from the WGU materials, so I suggest finding other resources for that.

Good luck!

veritas_libertas

bryanthetechie wrote: »

Woot, I passed this exam today with 86%. I used the WGU materials, YouTube videos as suggested by several folks on here, as well as Databases DeMYSTiFieD, 2nd Edition. I also looked over several other intro to databases books at Barnes and Noble.

I aced the SQL and relational algebra, but did not do well in normalization. Normalization is difficult to understand from the WGU materials, so I suggest finding other resources for that.

Good luck!

Congratulations, and thanks for the resource information.

crashdump

I bought the book

"uCertify Guide for CIW Exam 1D0-541: Pass your CIW Database Design Specialist v5 Certification in first attempt" [ISBN-13: 978-1616910846]

I have expirence with SQL queries (Oracle). Is this enough for preparation? Do you recommend me this book?

It sees to me this exam is very entry level. Simple?

novovictus

crashdump wrote: »

I bought the book

"uCertify Guide for CIW Exam 1D0-541: Pass your CIW Database Design Specialist v5 Certification in first attempt" [ISBN-13: 978-1616910846]

I have expirence with SQL queries (Oracle). Is this enough for preparation? Do you recommend me this book?

It sees to me this exam is very entry level. Simple?

Your experience should be more than adequate. I had no experience and the WGU resources were enough.

NotHackingYou

How much time did you guys spend preparing for this exam?

Ivanjam

@CarlSaiyed - about 3 weeks. The exam closely matches the CIW material provided by WGU as do most other CIW exams. I wasted my money on the MeasureUp practice tests for the MTA database exam as the CIW material was also enough for that one.

Psoasman

About 4 weeks and I had minimal database experience. The CIW materials are all you need.

NotHackingYou

I just passed 70-461 and have about 3 years experience in SQL Server. Thinking I might do this one before the Windows 7 and Server MTAs.

Ivanjam

@CarlSaiyed - with that kind of background you should pass the exam off the bat. Just skim through the 10 pdf files provided by WGU/CIW and you should be ready - I simply downloaded them and read them offline.

Mike-Mike

I take this after I finish Win7

FlawlessVictory

Some very good info in here already, but hopefully I can get some further advice...

Quick summary of my background/goals: I am a Web developer/Designer who wants to expand his skill-set. Ultimately I want to launch an on-line business with as little external web developer/company input as possible - With that in mind, I am going to need to develop a fairly broad skill-set. My current Certs are listed under my username.

Databases:

I am looking to do a cert on databases (ideally a single exam). My goal is to build up a fairly high level of knowledge in the field. For the past week I have been studying for 'Querying-Microsoft-SQL-Server-2012-Exam-70-461'. I have gotten through the content ok so far, but I get a strong feeling that this certification is far too advanced for what I want to achieve - (I do not intend to ever become a specialist in the area and become a DBA for example).

With the above in mind, would the CIW database exam give me a good base of knowledge and a worthwhile cert? Or would I better served working towards a slightly harder cert (fair comment?) in the Oracle Database SQL Certified Expert - Despite its title, I think I am right in saying that the course would be vendor neutral and essentially just provide a very solid grounding in SQL which could be applied (with some adaptations/additions) to any vendor platform - MS-SQL, Oracle, MySQL etc...

FWIW, I am going to be working towards the following Microsoft Cert over the next few weeks/months Exam 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3.

FlawlessVictory

Bump...

boredgamelad

I don't list any of the CIW certifications on my resume. That should tell you what I thought of their value.

yyzdslr

I'm currently enrolled in the course and I found this to be very useful
https://class2go.stanford.edu/db/Winter2013

I dont think the WGU material is well laid and/or sufficient enough for the topics required by CIW.

My exam is later this week *fingers crossed*

NotHackingYou

So how did you do?

NotHackingYou

Passed this today, CIW material is enough. Practice test is an ok indicator of the actual exam.

LinuxRacr

Good to know folks.

Mike-Mike

I passed this today, 78 percent... not great, but passing... all I used is the CIW stuff and uCertify

robaato

CIW is worse than MS teaching their own product. Yes, some people can easily grasp it but some people understand accounting and Mandarin. Ucertify is a better book but I need to pass the CIW questions. Even worse, I have to score well on the practice exams before I can request to test. I am now using the flash cards and Stanford course links previously posted. This is my last class and last month to finish.

feddy

hey guys,
working on this test now for WGU, can anyone point out a good youtube URL for normalization that was relevant to the course?

any tip is greatly appreciated..

Dakinggamer87

Congrats on pass!!

I will be taking this exam soon