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Home > Archive > 70-068 enterprise > December 2000 > Before you talk about exams, read this from MS
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Before you talk about exams, read this from MS
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| Dear Microsoft Certified Professionals and MCP candidates:
We know that maintaining the value of the Microsoft Certified Professional credential is as important to you as it is to us. A while back, we let you know the steps we have been taking to protect the investment you are making through Microsoft certification. These steps include deployment of progressive testing technologies that discourage rote memorization of exam items, regular exam item replacement, tighter security at testing centers, and the revised exam retake policy. (For more information, please see the frequently asked questions about exam security.) As part of our ongoing effort to keep Microsoft certification strong, credible and valued, we'd like to update you now on actions we've taken since our last letter to you.
More Severe Penalty for Cheating. In the past, a candidate caught cheating on an exam was prohibited from taking Microsoft Certified Professional certification exams for six months, and the candidate lost any current certifications. According to the current policy, which became effective in June 2000, a candidate caught cheating immediately loses any current certifications the candidate holds and is permanently ineligible for any Microsoft Certified Professional certification. Since November 1999, 57 candidates have been caught cheating while taking Microsoft certification exams. Those caught cheating since June 2000 have been decertified or will be decertified. All are prohibited from further testing. Since November 1999, Microsoft has closed 24 testing centers worldwide because of compromising testing practices.
Enforcement of Non-Disclosure Agreement. Since February 1998, Microsoft has required all certification candidates to accept the terms of a Non-Disclosure Agreement before taking certification exams. One way we enforce the NDA is to closely monitor Web sites suspected of publishing exam material and regularly perform searches for MCP exam content. We also follow up on leads provided by MCPs and candidates. As a result of these investigations, owners of seven Web sites were found to be in violation of the Non-Disclosure Agreement by publishing questions from certification exams. The site owners -- all certified individuals in Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Texas -- were immediately decertified and are now permanently ineligible for any Microsoft certification. In addition, as of September 2000, Microsoft has decertified a dozen individuals who had posted information in violation of the NDA on various Web sites. Microsoft can take whatever legal action is justified by the facts of a case.
MCP Practice Test Provider Program. Candidates may want to assess their skills before taking an MCP exam. We recommend that candidates use practice test products developed only by Microsoft Certified Professional Practice Test Providers. These products cover the complete set of exam objectives, meet a number of other criteria established by Microsoft, and indicate that they are approved by Microsoft by displaying the MCP Practice Test Provider logo. Practice tests can supplement, but should not be a substitute for, the training and required hands-on work experience in the skills covered by the exam objectives.
Keeping exams as secure as possible helps maintain the value of Microsoft certification and ensures that only qualified information technology professionals are identified as MCPs. You can help us protect your certification investment by discouraging fellow MCPs who may be sharing exam questions or answers. If you know of Web sites or individuals who may be disclosing Microsoft certification exam information, please write to mcp@msprograms.com or call 800-636-7544. Provide as much detail as possible so that we will be able to take appropriate actions. We will investigate all credible leads.
We commend your accomplishments as an MCP and appreciate your continued support.
Very truly yours,
The Microsoft Certified Professional program team
Last updated: 11/9/2000 10:59:59 AM
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.
Copied from the 2K forum, originally posted by Yeti-GBR1
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HaL MCP
ICQ: 97692241
If you aim at nothing you will hit nothing ... | |
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| Hal,
That newsletter to MCP's was pertaining mainly to the use of braindumps, which are not tolerated on this site anyway.
I am very strongly against the use of braindumps but I do feel that Microsoft went about this the wrong way.
I know of one site where the webmaster was decertified with no warning. He should have been given the choice to change the content of his site first before the decertification. It is also apparent that Microsoft has not thought this out very clearly because once they decertify someone that person has no motivation to change the content of his site, and nothing else to loose.
As for the testing centers - I read an article about a girl in Asia who paid the testing center $6US to have someone stand beside her during her exam, and tell her the answers. That isn't fair to the rest of us who have to study hard to pass the exams.
I also know of a testing center here in Canada (actually in Ottawa) that also is a training center. They allow the teachers to go into the testing room with the students and tell the students the answers to the questions - no wonder they brag about their 100% pass rate, and all students scoring over 95%. Again, that's not fair to the rest of us.
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Sincerely,
Paisleyskye
Best wishes and peace to all!!!
(MOUS,A+,MCPx4) | |
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| The question is:
Is the recommendation of a certain braindump enough to warrant MS the power to de-certify ?
Lets say you took 70-xxx. Then posted a message saying that 80% of the content was in a certain dump. Does that constitute contravention of the NDA with MS ?
You say that braindumps are not tolerated on this site. Do you mean actual copies of dumps, or references to the dump for study purpose ??
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HaL MCP
ICQ: 97692241
If you aim at nothing you will hit nothing ... | |
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| Hi Paisleyskye,
I just came from IT Asian countries but never heard about $6US exams. From where do you get this article ?
Where on earth Asia anyway ? Singapore-Malaysia-Indonesia-HK-China-Thailand-Philiphina-Vienam-burma-Japan-Korea-Taiwan-India ...? As far as I know the test center are very-very strict/cameras inside. Lots of rules involving Microsoft local people, so they now more about the custom there, cause the result are recognise in International of course not so easy.
Cheers
MCPX4
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| The article was given to me by a friend of mine, he got it off of a website, I will ask him which one it was, because it doesn't say on my printout.
It could be anyone of those country's - all it specifies is Asia. In reply to your post, I'd like to say that I believe the article is true, and Microsoft does say it has closed 24 testing centers worldwide.
I fully expected someone to jump on me when I posted what I had read in the article, and that is why right underneath that reference I told what was happening in a testing center in my own country that is only 45 minutes away from my house.
Hal - I don't know if just references to braindumps as long as the site doesn't contain the actual dump is enough to decertify or not. Microsoft has not been to clear on this. I know that on Certify Express you are not even allowed to put a link to a braindump in your post. I moderate 4 forums on that site.
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| How do you become a moderator ? | |
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| teh $6 an exam deal was in China -- or more precisely in the People's Republic of China...
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Freak, MA, M.Ed., Net+,I-Net+, MCP+I, MCP2000, MCSE, MCT
ICQ: 100744839
http://www.mcsefreak.com
Industry News - Free Prep Tests - Study Guides - Exam Drill - Choices - Forum
http://www.WebMaineacs.com
Web Hosting - web design - Web Strategies - Networking - hosting from only $8 a month! | |
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| Thank you freak! You must know the article I was speaking of!! I really appreciating you helping me out because Alan could not remember what site he got the article from originally.
Again though, because people are going to stomp all over this - it doesn't just happen over the water folks, because the same thing is happening at at testing center that is only 45 minutes from my house-only the people who go there don't have to pay to be given the answers.
Does it make me mad?? You bet it does, I struggle, and study and pull my hair out by the roots to pass exams, and other people so close to geographical area are being handed their green bar on a silver platter.
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Sincerely,
Paisleyskye
Best wishes and peace to all!!!
(MOUS,A+,MCPx4) | |
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| quote:
Originally posted by Paisleyskye:
Does it make me mad?? You bet it does, I struggle, and study and pull my hair out by the roots to pass exams, and other people so close to geographical area are being handed their green bar on a silver platter.
I thought about it, and it does not make me mad. I know the efforts I put into my certs. I know what experience I have. I know that these people will never be called for interview. I sure hope they ARE called, and that I get to be the next one right after them, so that the compare and contrast guarantees that they will never see a job in this industry again 
I will never be out of a job anyway. This was not my original industry, but adapting is what keeps the species alive, right?
people like that simply don;t matter... msut **** to live and be a non-issue
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Freak, MA, M.Ed., Net+,I-Net+, MCP+I, MCP2000, MCSE, MCT
ICQ: 100744839
http://www.mcsefreak.com
Industry News - Free Prep Tests - Study Guides - Exam Drill - Choices - Forum
http://www.WebMaineacs.com
Web Hosting - web design - Web Strategies - Networking - hosting from only $8 a month! | |
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| how, I must have been mad after all: in over 1100 posts, it is the first time I have ever gotten censored
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Freak, MA, M.Ed., Net+,I-Net+, MCP+I, MCP2000, MCSE, MCT
ICQ: 100744839
http://www.mcsefreak.com
Industry News - Free Prep Tests - Study Guides - Exam Drill - Choices - Forum
http://www.WebMaineacs.com
Web Hosting - web design - Web Strategies - Networking - hosting from only $8 a month! | |
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| You got censored Freak!! You must not have been to happy!
Anyway, I do agree with you, I know my abilities, and I know my skill levels, but while I am struggling other people are getting a free ride, and it frustrates me.
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| Hey, All:
I agree - braindumps weaken the value of the
certs overall, perhaps, but a sharp techie
is a sharp techie. Anyone who strictly uses
a dump for his or her knowlege base eventually gets what they deserve anyway.
But lets not forget that Microsoft encouraged
mass certification mania and continues to do
so. The merchandizing from approved MS training materials and facilities is a huge
cottage industry for them. I resent their
holier than thou posturing when they are as
much to blame as any site posting brain dumps.
How many of us went nuts when MS decreed that
NT 4.0 was obsolete and its certification sullied by rote memorization and the only solution for the whole freaking planet was a
mass conversion to Win2k?
Am I wrong?
-z
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| The thing is that everyone here is right !!
At the end of the day its all about doing a job.
If you cant do the job then someone else will - thats it.
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HaL MCP
ICQ: 97692241
If you aim at nothing you will hit nothing ... | |
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| Yeah I did read an article about people having MCT standing behind exam takers and giving hints as to what are the correct answers.
But at the end of the day all these certifications have to be taken in perspective. Oh ok you do have a certificate saying you are a professional in the subject you hold the certification in, but when it comes to getting jobs you are still put through the "Spanish Inquisition" for want of another word, by other techies just to test your knowledge out...and based on this your chances of success.
Oh sure I would be mad after spending so much time and studying, to see people cheating and getting results like that. But at the end of the day if you do this certification lark properly then you can trust yourself to know the stuff to make use of when you are required to do so without hesitation.....
Anyways its best not to put links to braindumps. If people want to use braindumps then they can make use of the search engine facilities which are available to all of us. At the end of the day, nothing beats knowing the stuff and using that knowledge to answer the question
Just my 2cents
Regards
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Shard MCP(4) | |
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| Everyone as got a point in this argument, up until a 6 months ago I was in engineering I spent many years in training taking exams in different are's of engineering.What I learned very early on was in fact just teaching me the basic's because half of that knowledge was either redundant or technology was to specialised for my training to be of much use to me, but it did not stop me getting employment and advancing my career opportunities.
There was alot that I learned that I would only really understand once I had some PRACTICAL experience, and this is where I would like to add my bit.
Every time you learn something you will forget some of it, you will even have trouble trying to recall it even when prompted, but once you start to get some real practical experience things will start flooding back, and the reason is you understood the Basics.
Now when you get exams you will not be asked questions on the Basic's but on real indepth
situations which you could only possibly understand if you have had some practical experience.
To my second point if you use good brain dumps correctly by that I mean not just to remember answers but to understand the reasoning they give to those answers and because it's short sharp and to the point you will remember the Basic's. Only time served practical experience will eventually make you skilled.
If every person on this forum recalls back to there first day, week or in some cases months in employment did they not need someone to show them the ropes why would you expect that if you knew everthing.
For any present or future employers don't ask the indepth question OF NEW CERTIFICATED PEOPLE that you yourself only understood from years of practical hands on experience you could end up turning down excellent future prospect.
But in all said I to believe that anyone cheating would find fruitless rewards out there because you would not get passed the interview stage
[This message has been edited by ANDY A (edited 12-20-2000).] | |
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| There is nothing like "Hands-On". I have been offered jobs paying decent and that's before certification because of previous experience. Memorizing test questions aren't going to help anyone when it comes to real experience or trying to get a job. Studying and learning the logic behind the questions are the key to passing not only the exam your studying for, but the next exam also. I agree the tests are hard, but the majority of the test don't apply in real world. For example disk stripping w/parity minimum requirements are 1 controller and 3 Disk. Many administrators frown on this because a true parity should have 2 controllers and 4 disks (from my experience anyway). Not only that, who uses LMHOSTS when there is a WINS & DNS server? I also know of individuals that have certifications, but wouldn't know how to use NT to save their lives. I also know of a company that purchased 200 W2K machines here in Houston, and had to format and install 98 because the techs there didn't know jack about W2K. One of my best friends started his career about the same time I did and he still doesn't have a certification and he makes good money because of his experience. His boss is in her mid 50's with a degree from Rice University and an MCSE certification, but still thinks that her email is delivered from an administrator in the mail room and there is an on/off button for the internet in their building. I left my previous job for a better opportunity (and more $$ of course) the guy that came after me had certifications, but they have to contract me to troubleshoot a network that I built on NT technology and he's clueless. You guys will be surprised at the number of people that have Degrees, and certifications and don't know JACK!!! I'm not mad at them for being hired by companies that don't look at experience because it will hurt the company in the long run and while it may take longer for us to get certified, it makes our job security that much longer.
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