hardest exam on the MCSE track?

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just out of curiosity, anyone who's completed a 2003 MCSE recently - which exam did you find hardest?

so far i've done 290, 270 and 291. I'm about to start studying 293 as soon as i can get the course & exam bookings..

 

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Someone (Zimbo ) will be along to give you his opinion. Although i have yet to take a Microsoft exam, i think most people say the design exams are the hardest i.e 293,294 and 298.

Si

 

70-216 was the hardest that I've ever taken. Took me three, or was it four attempts to pass.

 

Completed Server 2003 MCSE in January. I suppose overall the 294 exam was the most challenging because I did it at the time that Microsoft were introducing the sims into all the core exams.

I didn't get sims for 293 and I then went into 294 a couple of weeks later and in that time the exam had changed so I got sims! Still I rose to the occasion and got 866.

Hope that helps...

 

The 291.

BTW Boyce, the 294 isn't design.

 

oh, yeah!

 

the 291 for me... so far...

 

I did the upgrade to 2K3 from 2K, so I didn't take individual exams, but if its anything like the 2K track was, then the Network Admin exam will be by far the most difficult.

The design electives are supposed to be harder, but since you can 'cheat' and do the AD design to satisfy the elective requirement I'd do that - God alone knows how difficult the Network Design elective would have been - I did the SQL exams (228 & 229) due to a background in DB theory and admin.

 

so it seems like once you've got past 291 you've pretty much got the measure of the mcse exams? just wondering if i can expect any more nasty suprises

i think i'm looking at 293,294,298 then probly either 284/228/229

 

the idea that i get is that 284/228/229 are nasty as you are supposed to have experience working with SQL Server and Exchange and if you dont they can take a while to do and get through. Why not do 70-431 SQL Server 2005 and become a Tech Specialist?

 

i know, i am currently set to do exchange but we don't run it at work so it'd be hard + i can't see the point really

still, i'm determined to finish the MCSE so my choice of electives is:

086, 227, 228, 229, 232, 297, 299, 284

I have database design + SQL experience (although not with MS SQL) so i'm hoping 228/229 wouldn't be too bad.. what do you think?

229 sounds more interesting to me but i'd probly end up on 228.

 

sorry cant help you out there... all those i dont have much knowledge of but i think 228 is *easier to learn* than 229 because 229 involves alot of SQL programming whereas 228 is more how to install SQL Server and its interaction within a domain/network. Im actually looking at 282 - not as an elective for MCSE but as an MCP, which is Small Business Server

 

zimbo, for 282...there seems to be no MS Press book which surprised me actually? how will a person prepare if they want to go for 282?

 

yep, that's how it seemed to me. Since i'm happy with SQL 229 seems like the better option to me ..but the courses are longer and i'm on a prepaid mcse so they might not be happy about me switching to a longer course

looks interesting, at least the scenarios won't all be "You are a network administrator for a network of 11ty billion computers"

 

you right and i dont know how MS want people to take exams when they dont offer books... maybe another way to MAKE SURE people go on MOC courses...but these are my options i will look at:

Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 Administrator's Companion
Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Unleashed
How to Cheat at Managing Windows Small Business Server 2003

ill more likely settle on the first two... not sure yet!

 

Just a heads up. The two SQL exams are bloody hard. Having some DB experience will NOT prepare you for them - you need to have worked with SQL Server itself for about a year to eighteen months to have a reasonable chance of passing them.

There are a lot of reasons for this.

Firstly, although you may have a grounding in SQL, MS uses T-SQL which, although not that different from the ANSI standard still has enough little odd things here and there to throw you off track if you're not familiar with it. Also, the design exam is VERY tough. If you only need one elective and you;re considering taking one of 228 or 229 to fulfil your requirements, take 228.

That said, there are problems with 228 as well - its certainly not one of those certs you can pass if you have anything more than a thorough understanding of the product. IMHO, it isn't an exam you can pass by taking a class and studying at home - you DEFINITELY need real-world experience for it.

Not trying to chuck a downer on you, but I'd seriously look at Exchange. Unless you're looking to move into a DBA role at some point in the future, Exchange will stand you in better stead career-wise - as you're much more likely to come into contact with Exchange in a Sys Admin/3rd line role than you are SQL Server.

You make a valid point about Exchange not being relevant to you at the minute 'cos you don't use/support it, but I'd consider the future - at some point you WILL encounter it!

One final point to consider is that having a SQL cert can actually be a millstone round your neck. I remember when I passed my two SQL exams and got the MCDBA - recruiters were all over me like a fly on shite because of it - despite me never really wanting to be a DBA. I ended up bored out of my skull in a DBA role for eighteen months as a result...

 

not at all, good to hear from someone who has taken the exams.

the company i work for is about to replace it's legacy database with MS SQL so i was thinking it might save me some head scratching down the line..

but thanks for the warning, i can see i'll need to look through the courses quite carefully before i commit!

 

That could be a great thing for you then - you may well be able to convince them to pay for your cert/materials/training as it will be of definite benefit for them.

Of course, you'll have to make sure you know what version of SQL Server they're bringing in - it'd be daft going out and doing 228/229 if they've taken the plunge and decided on implementing 2005!