3rd Fail of 70-686

EspiOne

I just received my 3rd Fail of 70-686, yesterday. I don't understand what I am doing wrong. Using a scale of 50% being half way between "need development" and "strong", I approximate my score % in each area. I have also, determined that each questions seems to weight 18 to 20 points. So I am missing more then 13 questions, and each section must have 8 to 9 questions. I just want to achieve a passing score this exam so I can apply for a better paying jobs, I am currently doing support, but my organization does not see me as more then support, thus I can not be consider more then a "Computer Assistant" as opposed to a "IT Specialist", $15K difference, I am hoping passing this exam can demonstrate abilities more.

1st Exam Dec 2012- 507
Section 1- about 55%
Section 2- about 55%
Section 3- about 45%
Section 4- about 65%
Section 5- about 55%
Section 6- about 55%

I reviewed all areas

2nd Exam March 2013- 628
Section 1- about 85%
Section 2- about 55%
Section 3- about 70%
Section 4- about 85%
Section 5- about 75%
Section 6- about 55%

I focused on areas that I was weak in, 2, 3, & 6, and reviewed the other areas too.

3rd Exam May 2013 - 592
Section 1- about 50%
Section 2- about 90%
Section 3- about 60%
Section 4- about 75%
Section 5- about 50%
Section 6- about 65%

I have second shot on May 31st. I have not seen any duplicate questions. So, I can see that if I just don't know, I am just guessing.

I am hoping to pass this exam before July 31st, when the MCITP expire. I want to hold both MCITP and MCSA in Windows 7.

I have read both MS 70-686, Win 7 Pocket Guide, and Sybex 785/686, I have also worked through the labs in Hyper V.

Any Advise on the direction that I should take. My high confidence in this exam has lost my chances at passing 70-689, which had to push back twice and now taking on May 18th, and then again May 30th, since I expect to fail. Purchased two shot exams at the beginning of the year, which expire May 31st.

ITMonkey

That must sting the soul! And with the MCITP expiring in a couple months, that would be like rubbing salt into an open cut.

I studied for the 70-686 because it's scope covered a larger technical area than the 70-685 (the later appeared to have a deeper technical content that the 70-680 which I had begun to have a strong distaste for). Could it be you are not a "big picture guy"? Would the 70-685 be better suited for you?

Maybe doing it yourself is the problem. Perhaps you need to use other tools, such as offered by Transignal or CBT, which are written about often in this (and other) forum.

Whatever your learning approach is, it obviously isn't working well for you. I'd look to making some change there, I guess.

By the way, I struggled with the Cisco ICND1 exam -- it took 3 tries to pass it. I am a couple weeks away from taking the ICND2 to earn a CCNA. Still feeling squeamish about taking the exam, as I don't want to experience another series of failures like that again.

Good luck.