3rd Fail of 70-686

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.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

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.

method115

ITMonkey wrote: »

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.

I dont want to scare you but just a small warning.The ICND1 exam I felt was very very easy. If you had that much trouble with it I would suggest making sure you fully understand ICND2. It's a very tough exam and I failed it twice, once from being overconfident from ICND1 and the second time I thought I had it but still failed. It's a tough one.

EspiOne

I am 70-680/685 Certified, I took the 70-682, since I was (still am) XP/Vista Support Certified, obtained this when I was in IT School. I am in a situation were, our network infrastructure, does not support AD, all my duties revolve around support for program issues, my agency just moved from XP to Win 7, so it was old programs not working, imaging is done the old fashion way, third party. I had to develop a method to create an image (not with WDS), but just a PC with all programs, policies, and then sysprep and take image. Loading an image is OOBE, for every PC that needs to be replaced. Believe me, it was a nightmare to replace all 250+ PC, I had to image 5 a time, then configure to user and then repeat the process, some of them were shipped and I configured on site, in some cases the image did not load up. Anywho....my agency is planning to move to AD and this the reason, I am looking to gain this Cert, so I can "maybe" show my value and move up in pay. I have review all the CBT Nugget Videos, 680/685/686, and even took a week long course on 686, they thought it was just windows 7 training. I think the overall disadvantage that I have is the experience, and I can only guess and speculate what the answers maybe. Thanks for your comments. Any Additional advise would be greatly appreciated.

kriscamaro68

One of the big hurdles on this exam is the Group policy questions as well. Sometimes they are asking about server side policy that is pushed to the clients and other times they are asking about local client policy and you need to figure out which one its talking about.

Then there is the plethora of deployment options.

Good luck on your next try.

JayBlisk

Just started the Microsoft 70-686 book today and I have read four chapters so far. I have to say after passing the win7 70-680 exam last week this book seems super easy compared to the 680. Most of the information seems repetitive. I made 100% in deployment and migration which were my two favorite sections in the don poulton 680 book. Also I am use to project management and I think this one seems geared a lil towards that. Are you labbing? I have a lab build with VMware ESX and Vsphere with and ADDS server 2008 R2, WDS server and several versions of windows. That seemed to help a lot with the 680 exam. Also are you reading the questions carefully? Microsoft can be tricky how they word their questions. Good luck bro!!

Budzy

Usless I'm reading it wrong, both Windows 7 MCITP certifications will not expire until Jan 31 2014. (So need to rush it).

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

JayBlisk

@budzy I'm glad you put that link up. I have been studying like a mad man to get the 680 and 686 done. I just passed the 680 and I have my exam setup for the 686 on the 20th of this month with a free retake if I fail.

JayBlisk

Well failed today with a 592 after studying for two weeks and I will use my free retake before the 31st. Back to

EspiOne

May 31st, @ about 435pm, Mountain Time, I received a passing score of 782.

Next move, Windows 8, Prometric has allowed me to extended my second shot until July 23rd, no later.

Now I will focus on Windows 8 and move to Server 2008 MCSA and prepare for Server 2012, 70-417: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012, Hopefully I can get Server 2008 by the end of the year.

paul78

Congratulations! I admire your persistence. Good luck with your next steps.

JayBlisk

Congrats!!! I passed Wednesday also

srabiee

Good job guys.

JayBlisk

@srabiee Thanks!!! Server 2012 bound 70-417. Got my book today!

EspiOne

JayBlisk wrote: »

@srabiee Thanks!!! Server 2012 bound 70-417. Got my book today!

Congrats, I am right behind you, well, maybe in a couple of months, looking at 70-417 in Jan 2014, looking to take a stab at Server 2008 after Windows 8.

One of the other main reason for getting this exam was too have a crack at the 70-417.

In 2012, I was trying my chances at MCSA 2003, to progress via Exam 70-648:

TS: Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 MCSA to, Windows Server 2008, Technology Specializations.
Which covered, 640/642. but I was looking at MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008.

Passed 70-290 (3rd try), but could not get passed 70-291 (Failed twice), so moved on to 70-686.

My old professor, recommended I look at getting MCSA 2008, as it would give a better understanding of Server 2012.

JayBlisk

@EspiOne congrats again and good luck on your next exam.

Rosco2382

Congrats guys and thats very good persistence. I might have quit after the third time. I am nervous as I have just started my studies for this test.

JayBlisk

@Rosco2382 You'll do fine. See if you can find any practice case study questions. To me those were the most difficult. Also labbing is kinda difficult to do for this exam. Use TechNet and MSDN as much as possible for research. This website has a lot of great people also that are willing and happy to help. Good luck brother

70-417

EspiOne

Rosco2382 wrote: »

Congrats guys and thats very good persistence. I might have quit after the third time. I am nervous as I have just started my studies for this test.

I am with you there, when I finished the 40 questions, I reviewed them 3 times and changed two or three, I was "really" nevous as I click on the "end review" button and bypassed the "comment" section, I was sooo relieved when I saw my score. I think I would quit on my 4th failure. In the end, I realized that it is a matter of "knowing" what the situation calls for, but all in all, I covered everything over a second and third time. I had just started gaming "FAR CRY 3" and uninstalled from my PC, so I could concentrate. Trying to do the same thing for my Windows 8 exam. "No rest" for those that are determined.