Last Ditch Attempt - 70-290

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Yeah I was originally doing the 70-284 (Exchange 2003) as my elective but i've been told its harder than the 70-291 (core exam), which is why I want to take the MCSDT route as I work in desktop support anyway. Its a shame though as i've done the training course for the 70-284, (Biggest training manual ever!!). Maybe i'll go back to that if I ever finish the MCSA!.

 

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Sheesh, you guys know I'm struggling with the 291 and know I'm thinking of doing the 284 and you just keep winding me up... it's a conspiracy

Loopy, there's nothing to stop you using the MCDST as an elective for the MCSA first and then going for the 284 to get the MCSA: Messaging afterwards. It would be a shame to waste the training!

 

It seems strange to be going for the MCDST AFTER the MCSA, since it is really a lower rung on the ladder to MCSE. MCDST can be used as an elective to get the MCSA in fact. But if it might help in your work, and you support all XP machines, go for it!

Good luck on the retake, and I do hope you are using discount vouchers. I like the Sybex books as study material. The ExamCrams are rather boring reading, but they do cover most of the essentials.

Now go out and Win!!!

 

Sorry Keith i'll stop rubbing it in! Yeah the reason i'm going for the MCSA followed by the MCDST is I didn't actually know about the MCDST courses until recently, so i'd already done the training for the MCSA. I've got 2 exam cram books for the MCDST which i'm hoping will give me enough to take the exams, i've already done the XP client exams so fingers crossed I should get through these ok.
The sybex books are the only ones I haven't tried for the 70-290 yet, hmm maybe worth a try.

 

Got to say in most cases you can't go wrong with Sybex books. I usually look at user reviews for IT books on Amazon's website both the UK and US ones. It usually gives you a good indication of what the book is like.

Another point I've done my MCDST and thought it was really good. Be prepared though as the 70-272 exam has a lot of questions about Exchange in it.

 

Thanks for that tip, Slypie. I'm also going for the MCDST next - already got my study material but not looked through the 272 one yet.

Can you comment on the difficulty of the two exams in comparison with the 270 (as you've done them all)?

 

I haven't done 70-270 yet I'm about to sit it in the next month. I have heard that if you have passed 70-270 then you shouldn't have any problems with 70-271. I passed 70-271 first time with ease but 70-272 was much harder for me due to it having a lot of questions on Exchange on the exam and we don't use Exchange so I found it pretty tough going.

 

Slypie, i'd heard that too that the revision for 70-270 was a big chunk of the revision for 271, which was why I was hoping to do this next. Hopefully I should be ok on the exchange stuff, we use exchange 5.5 but i've done the training on 2003, and I create mailboxes and maintain for users so should be ok. I'll keep you posted when I get round to having a go at it.

 

Oops, sorry - I miss read your profile (all these numbers just whizz around and merge together sometimes ) Maybe you can give us a better insight next month (although, hopefully, I'll be on the way to finding out for myself!)

 

lol Keith I wish I did have them all.

 

Good luck loopy with this exam re-take next week I guess, Loopy.

I passed 290 yesterday, after failing it 8 days earlier.

Found some very good "sticky tech notes" written by Johan Hiemstra on http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4445

I've used Transcender and Measure Up tests and found Transcender better - the explanations were brilliant.

Adoption of a different exam strategy helped.

Went through exam and left simulators and any questions I didn't understand at all, until the end.

Finished with 6 questions left, 4 sims and 2 others.
On the 2 others, one I had no idea about and guessed, the other the answers just popped out after another minute or so.

Planned the simulators out on paper before I started.
Went in and did them. If I made a small mistake I noted it, got to the end, reset the thing, and did the thing all over again with no unnecessary keystrokes, than saved.

Used all the time. 3 hours 5 minutes is a long time.
I found a lot of questions about 9 or 10, where my instant response after reading the question, was I knew the answer, and it was xxxxx. Then when I read the question again and again picking over every word, I realised my first answer was wrong and it was yyyyyy and I was certain why. I fell for the little "tricks" they put in.

you sound like you have done loads of work, and I know you'll pass next time.

 

w00t! Congrats on the pass! Sounds like the strategy you used worked well for you. These long tests are very difficult, and much of the time you really do need the full time just to finish.

Very good advice about reading over the questions several times, since often there is a single word that makes what would be a correct answer an incorrect one, and they try to trip you up that way.

 

Yeah I noticed this. Funny having done the transcenders for 70-290 its very easy to see how they try and catch you out with these answers, for example applying a GPO to a domain which you can't do. And occasionally slipping in the functional levels and mentioning universal groups. They are very sneaky, in fact i've been reading the Microsoft Press book to revise this time and have taken plenty of notes on the "Exam tips" that pop up through out the book. Exam cram over the weekend and then any tips I can find on the internet to help me before wednesday, cor i've got to pass it this time or i'm afraid I may have to give up!
I'm feeling much better about the subject this time anyway, i've taken plenty of attention on things I know caught me out last time, I just hope its enough.
A good point about the exam time, i've been finding as well that I use more and more time each time I do this exam, I also find I lose enthusiasm once i'm about 2/3 of the way through, major problem though as thats probably when I make the mistakes, grrr frustration. Anyway I'm determined to pass this this time!! I'll keep you posted!

 

Good luck, Loopy. Remember: "Kick butt! Take names!"

 

Well done mate.
How many questions were there, and what percentage were simulated? Dunno if I want to have a go or not...

 

I do not know if it is too late for you to take advantage of the Free retake offer, but here it is! Free Retake Offer from Microsoft

 

Yeah the free retake offer is on until the 31st of august, so still some time to get these in. I'm hoping to do my MCDST before this offer expires, you get until the 30th of sept to take your free retake as well. My exam on weds in a free retake, can't afford another £88!

Stressing a bit today, feel like i'm ready but I was ready last time I failed, grrr frustrating!

Roll on wednesday!

 

Try not to let your nerves get to you! I know that in theory you are not supposed to take food or drink into the test with you, although water is usually allowed. See if you can take some candy though. I read that a doctor had posted that your blood sugar drops during a long test like this, and it hurts your concentration. I believe that it is true, since I have taken candy into tests with me and found that it helps keep my mental energy up, and sugar is indeed the only form of energy your brain can use. Of course, if you are diabetic you would need to take care of your blood sugar as you normally would.

Do not let the past failures get you too stressed out! You can do this. Try to relax and keep your energy up during the test. Good luck!

 

Stay calm and steady loopy. Take deep breaths. You can do this. Some say not to study any more after 7 or 8 at the night before the test. They say it gives your brain a break. I'll let you decide that. Good luck loopy. Again, you can do this.

 

44 questions, had 3 hours 5 minutes
4 simulators, simple but had to take care.
if you can do well in the practice tests, and you can do the MSPress book questions at the end of that book, then have a go.

good luck on Wednesday, Loopy