Exam 70-743: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA: Windows Server 2016... Passed!

origdav · December 2016

Passed with 811/1000, UK based.

Any questions post them here.

I've gotta be careful with the NDA but... I read the eBook: https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/microsoft_press/2016/09/26/free-ebook-introducing-windows-server-2016 and this does not cover all you need to know it seems.

I further watched the (2016 related) YouTube videos from channels like:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrhJmfAGQ5K81XQ8_od1iTg
https://www.youtube.com/user/MSCloudOS
https://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/windowsserver
https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficeGarageSeries
https://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-training/whats-new-in-server-2016
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDMluK89lABNkq60ExkdzcQ
https://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Server2016Storage

There's also a considerable amount of blogs covering the new areas of 2016, and areas of 2012/2012R2 that you should refresh on e.g.

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/ausoemteam/2016/08/14/whats-new-in-windows-server-2016-standard-edition-part-1/

I think anyone that mentions specific areas is pointless, the next guy / girl could have an exam focused elsewhere.

[TOO MUCH INFO, STEPPING ON THE NDA -Management]

There is not a staggered approach whereby if you fail 20 questions from 70-741 then you don't proceed. The exam appears to be structured similar to the 3 exams but it doesn't overtly tell you this, you just answer the questions and find out at the end if you've passed / failed, you don't pass one to proceed to the next.

This is a good starter https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-743.aspx but I'd highlight the following:

Please note that the questions may test on, but will not be limited to, the topics described in the bulleted text.

Again, I can not mention particulars, but make sure you download the ISO, build your labs and don't ignore bits. Ignore the GUI, do stuff via PowerShell.

At most I can maybe say I personally focused on new bits to 2016 but felt new stuff had less focus than in the past, and I fell back to 9 years AD experience / previous exam knowledge.

Best of luck to you, for me it was not easy.

Edit: I can't comment on the official exam prep book:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exam-70-743-Upgrading-Your-Skills/dp/0735697434

as it's not out yet.

Lexluethar · December 2016

Nice congrats! What's next for you?

origdav · December 2016

Nada

I upgrade my MCSA exams and keep them rolling.

If I were to do something it'd be Azure, and that's only because we're moving towards that at work and so I've got a bit of a head start. My understanding of the new MCSE exam is that it's valid for a year but then you need to take another exam to keep it valid - not for me

KainWired · December 2016

origdav - you should check out https://borntolearn.mslearn.net/b/weblog/posts/top-12-questions-about-the-new-streamlined-certification-paths

specifically
"[FONT=&amp]3.[/FONT][FONT=&amp]Q: What is the difference between "recertifying" and "re-earning"?[/FONT][FONT=&amp]A: For all previous MCSE/MCSD certifications, you were required to recertify to keep the credentials in the Active section of your transcript.For the new MCSE/MCSD certifications, you do not need to recertify - the earned credentials will remain in the Active section of your transcript.If you wish to, you have the option to earn the MCSE/MCSD certification every year, to help you demonstrate growth in Microsoft product knowledge."

[/FONT]Congrats on the pass and thank you very much for the info!

AndersonSmith · December 2016

Congratulations!

Piers · December 2016

[email protected]!!

origdav wrote: »

There is not a staggered approach whereby if you fail 20 questions from 70-741 then you don't proceed. The exam appears to be structured similar to the 3 exams but it doesn't overtly tell you this, you just answer the questions and find out at the end if you've passed / failed, you don't pass one to proceed to the next.

This was released at the end of September

https://borntolearn.mslearn.net/b/weblog/posts/the-scoring-of-upgrade-exams-is-changing

In the past, you had to pass all components of an upgrade exam in order to pass the exam. For a variety of psychometric and practical reasons, we are redesigning future upgrade exams so that they are scored exactly like a traditional exam. You will no longer be required to pass each component.

aaronchristenson · December 2016

I was probably having an off day, I did not pass but was close. I am still waiting on the results of the beta exams before I worry about retaking this one. Hopefully I do not have to wait 4 months to get the results of these exams.

waltiti · April 2017

Congratulations,

Question, how much is the passing score, 700 or 800 ????

aaronchristenson · April 2017

All Microsoft exams have a passing score of 700.

waltiti · April 2017

Thanks, I get scared because I preparing this exam and I read somewhere 800 passing score

...AND why you have to wait 4 months for the results, I get an exam 2 weeks ago and I get the score after i finish it. ?????

Slowhand · April 2017

waltiti wrote: »

Thanks, I get scared because I preparing this exam and I read somewhere 800 passing score

Remember, if that "somewhere" wasn't on Microsoft's site then it's probably not valid.

waltiti wrote: »

...AND why you have to wait 4 months for the results, I get an exam 2 weeks ago and I get the score after i finish it. ?????

When the exam was in Beta you didn't get your score right away, you had to wait until the test went live to find out if you passed or not. Now that it's live, the results are instantaneous and you find out as soon as you hit the Finish button.

waltiti · April 2017

Slowhand wrote: »

Remember, if that "somewhere" wasn't on Microsoft's site then it's probably not valid.

When the exam was in Beta you didn't get your score right away, you had to wait until the test went live to find out if you passed or not. Now that it's live, the results are instantaneous and you find out as soon as you hit the Finish button.

Thanks Slowhand, I got mcsa 2008 two weeks ago, next I planing to upgrade to 2012 first, but I will try upgrade to 2016, and after that take another exam to get mcse.

I lnow Is out of topic , but you think is a good idea get a+ or keep growing on microsoft certf or move to virtualization with vmware certf, OR .... ?

Im 43 with kids, so Im more interest in learn and get certf that are worted with job seek and $$$, working for a company or freelance.

I have lot of experience in a+, Im fixing and building computers and servers from windows 3.11 and windows NT.. I feel wasting my time and $400 ( cost of 2 exams ) with a+ certf.

thanks.

greg9891 · April 2017

Congrats!

Slowhand · April 2017

It's probably not going to serve you to work on things like the A+ at this point, stay focused on getting your Microsoft certs up to date with 2012 and/or 2016. As for supplemental certs, I'd say you're probably going to want to do a virtualization-focused cert, (the VCP,) or a cloud-based focus, like Azure or AWS, to round out the ol' skillset. Have a look at what's sought-after in your area, look at the job boards and see what they're asking for.

waltiti · April 2017

Slowhand, thanks a lot for the advice, is what I think, but I need somebody with lot of experience confirm that. !!!!

Thanks

sacredboy · April 2017

Hi guys,

If someone passed 70-743 exam recently please share you experience.

Thank you.

waltiti · August 2017

Hi, I find on a forum some practice questions, I answer them, but Not sure if the answer are correct, I have some doubts... can somebody guide me if what I answer are the correct one and if no why...? Thanks guys WALT

waltiti · August 2017

Exam 70-743: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA: Windows Server 2016... Passed!

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