Failed 70-461 today

aaronchristenson

Well the title says it all, I did not pass. I was kind of close, I will use my second shot in a couple of weeks. If I fail it a second time I am thinking of doing the upgrade exams even though I passed the middle exam 70-462 when I sat it during the beta trials only because they are offering a 25% discount on the bundle of exams plus second shot. My lowest point was the 4th section Troubleshoot and Optimize Queries.

N2IT

Wow Aaron sorry to hear that. I'm sure you'll bounce back strong. Just curious what did you use to study? What did you feel helped and what didn't if you don't mind?

You'll get it next time brother.

aaronchristenson

I read the MS Press book twice and watched the jump start videos once. I do not think the jump start videos helped much. I purchased the Measure UP practice exam, that did not seem to help much either. I do not do any coding at my job only a DBA / Windows Administrator work, so its no real surprise that I passed the 462 exam in beta. My plan for this retake will be to split the pdf up into the sections of the test read them in that order, I have done that before and I think it keeps the information grouped together and makes my scattered brain process it more.

NotHackingYou

What was your practice routine? Sorry to hear that you failed.

N2IT

Splitting up the PDF's sounds like a brilliant move. I'm the complete opposite of you, I do a lot of SQL coding for reporting etc, but not much in the way of pure administration or data warehousing.
If I attempt 462 something tells me I would struggle.

aaronchristenson

This could have also lead to the failure, other than doing the practices in the book (the first time while reading from front to back), I really do not have a good strategy here. I don't use code to create, alter, or delete tables at work, I don't create stored procedures at all or even use complex select statements looking for data.

N2IT

That's why I am scared of 462, I literally don't do much of any of that. I don't tune or optimize or even do migrations we have DBA and architects who do that. If I asked to help they would look at me weird and tell me know, I already asked LOL.

Do you think this MCSE track is too broad in scope? It seems like they want you to be a super dba, developer, architect to be able to get your MCSE BI or Data Platform.

aaronchristenson

I just like to keep current on the newest certifications that come out for products that I use. I was fortunate that the SQL 2008 track did not have a query exam like the previous ones did. As for Windows, my primary role at work is Windows Admin and since I am the only one that knows SQL I am the DBA, we have developers that write the code and create the websites and applications. I just manage the data and the Windows side of it. Once I am done updating my SQL certifications to 2012, I will go back to finishing the MCSE on Windows Server 2012, hopefully before they release the last 2 exams with R2 content. When that is done I bet that the SQL 2014 exams will be out and I will get to start the whole process all over again.

NotHackingYou

This exam is really, really tough without experience and practice or just a lot of flat out practice. You can do it, just keep practicing.

N2IT

I thought 433 was brutal and I had very little experience. Now my experience is 10 times as of what it once was. I agree with Carl the experience is critical for this exam you can tell just by the requirements. I've been more engaged with the development team which has helped.

knownhero

Sorry to hear about the fail. I'm like you, in that I was a Windows Admin before moving to my current job, the 462 I can pick up quite easily but the 461 is beast. Lucky for me though I work with some very talented SQL/programmers that helped me vastly. I managed to scrap a pass and by no means great at TSQL.

I wish you the best of luck on the second shot and hope to see good news posted here at a later date.

N2IT

I remember a few years ago MS saying if you take the exam a second time you have a ~80% chance of passing the second time. I think the odds are in your favor. Good luck Aaron!

RobertKaucher

The more specialized exams seem to have fewer possible questions (at least in my experience at failing a few exams and taking betas). The Windows 7 beta exam took me 2 flippin' hours it had so many questions. So once you take an exam like this and have an idea of where you need to put your effort, it does not surprise the pass rate goes up.

aaronchristenson

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I have scheduled the retake for Jan 29th, this should give me plenty of time to practice.

N2IT

Aaron I'll be requesting assistance when I get around to taking 462 lol.

aaronchristenson

Well I did not pass it this time either. I did about the same as before. Not sure what I am going to do next. I am tempted to schedule the upgrade exam but I am afraid that it is 2 separate exams in just 1 sitting. If they are combined I bet I could pass because I have already passed the Admin test. I would be able to save 25% on the upgrades with that one offer that they are running now. Has anyone else taken the upgrade exams?

NotHackingYou

Sorry to hear about this. What did your score report say? What material did you use to study?

RobertKaucher

That sucks, Aaron. Good luck on the next one.

The upgrades have historically been a much smaller subset of the full set of exams in question. The server 2008 upgrade from MCSe was three mini-exams and the SQL 2008 upgrade was two 1/2 exams.

I really wish I had more time to devote to SQL server as I miss it a lot. But I hardly ever even touch it any more. I occasionally have to design a data model or do some programmatic work but it's almost non-existent now.

knownhero

aaronchristenson wrote: »

Well I did not pass it this time either. I did about the same as before. Not sure what I am going to do next. I am tempted to schedule the upgrade exam but I am afraid that it is 2 separate exams in just 1 sitting. If they are combined I bet I could pass because I have already passed the Admin test. I would be able to save 25% on the upgrades with that one offer that they are running now. Has anyone else taken the upgrade exams?

Mate sorry to hear that you failed. If I were you though I would try one more time to knock it out of the park, you know what they say 3rd times a charm

aaronchristenson

If I take it again I will have a fresh second shot. I was hoping to have been able to move on to the BI exam I did do better on yesterday's retake than the first time I took it. The bars were even across all of them. I just wish there were better practice exams for these query exams.

N2IT

Aaron I know the feeling, failed 2008 SQL Developer exam. It floored me for a while, but now I am learning 461. It's tough and I may never take or pass the exam, but I am sure learning a lot. The best part is using some of the material from 461 at work.

aaronchristenson

I finally passed this exam. Now on to the Data Warehouse exam to complete the MCSA.

RobertKaucher

Awesome work! What was your score?

aaronchristenson

I scored 850. This time I did not second guess myself with the series of questions that have the same answer pool. The XML ones I would keep thinking it is this one or that one then come back later and change it to the wrong one.

N2IT

Yeah the XML piece really is a major black hole. I don't use it at work at all. If I had more experience with the XML piece I would be way better off. Anyway congrats on your pass Aaron!

NotHackingYou

Congrats on the pass!

NotHackingYou

Sorry, I don't remember how much time I had on mine. I do not recall feeling more rushed than usual. What are you using to study?

JamesLast

Hi, can anyone recommend any practice exam websites (hopefully with a free demo)? I'm looking for one which has some of the dynamic boxes which can be dragged (like in the real test) and with text-boxes to enter code into (also like in the real test. I would like to get the practice as close to the real thing as possible.

NotHackingYou

JamesLast MeasureUP might have what you are looking for. My advice to you for this exam is to practice, practice, practice every technique covered in the book.