Windows 2000 track general - Microsoft Responds With...

Author

Microsoft Responds With...

Pavlov

2002-06-21, 12:22 pm

This is the response I received from MS when inquiring about the new exams and where I can find what the current pass mark is for a given exam. I can understand changing up the format, but I don't see why keeping the required passing mark is a big secret.
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This is in response to your e-mail. Please be aware that we do not have the passing scores, number of questions, or the allotted time for any given exam. The reason is because Microsoft Certified Professional exams are administered in three general formats: Short Standard, Standard, and Adaptive Exams. You may receive any of these formats at any time for any exam.

Short Standard exams contain 20 to 30 questions and last approximately one hour.

Standard exams contain between 50 and 70 questions and last approximately 90 minutes.

Adaptive exams contain 15 to 30 questions and vary in time allowed.

Candidates are expected to understand the exam content, regardless of how it is presented. Therefore, Microsoft changes the exam format and questions from time to time. In addition, Microsoft's does not identify the format of any given exam at the time of registration. Both practices help protect exam security and the value of Microsoft certification.

As of December 2001, new exam score reports indicate only pass or fail status. You will no longer receive overall scores. Microsoft has stopped providing numerical scores as part of ongoing efforts to protect exam security and program integrity. Microsoft replaces exam items regularly to minimize item exposure and to ensure that content remains current. As content is replaced, any changes in content difficulty are counterbalanced by changes in the passing score to ensure that consistent standards are used to certify candidates. As content is replaced more frequently to combat exam piracy, numerical scores become meaningless and only the pass/fail status maintains meaning.

Also, MCP exams often contain new testing technologies. Please visit the below URL to learn about these technologies and be prepared to test with them.

http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcpexams/default.asp

The only information that we will provide for exams is listed on the Preparation Guide. Exam prep guides may be found on this page:

http://www.microsoft.com/TrainCert/....asp?orderby=ID

By clicking on the exam number you are interested in, you will have access to Exam News, Credit Toward Certification, Audience Profile, Preparation Tools, and Skills Being Measured.

If there is anything else we can do for you, please let us know. Thank you for contacting Microsoft.

Julie M
MCPHelp@microsoft.com
http://www.microsoft.com/traincert

ruscorp

2002-06-21, 12:31 pm

They keep it a secret because B.G. said so. It is all apart of their master plan to take over the world.

mikop

2002-06-21, 12:50 pm

I like it. I think this is a good simple way to mix it up, confuse the paper candidates.

basically, if you know it, go in with an open mind and no matter what exam format you receive, you will be O.K.

Tech Ranger

2002-06-23, 6:50 pm

This is the best news I've seen in a long time. I only wish MS were even more agressive in its countermeasures against cheating. I am working my butt off, and I don't want to be stuck with some worthless pieces of paper. Also, I don't want to have to differentiate myself from those who care nothing about developing professional expertise and focus only on braindumping their way to glory.

KScheler

2002-06-24, 2:31 pm

Some of my exams had scores, some were PASS/FAIL. Personally, I'm glad 216 was just PASS/FAIL. I really would not have wanted to know how poorly I may have scored on the "beast".

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