|
Home > Archive > SQL server exams > October 2000 > SQL 70-019 hints
You are viewing an archived Text-only version of the thread.
To view this thread in it's original format and/or if you want to reply to
this thread please [click here]
|
|
|
| For the three or four of you actually interested in taking 70-019 (does anyone not seeking a MCDBA actually take this one?), I passed this test today
scoring 860 (620 to pass). I used the official Micorsoft training material to study (fair to learn the subject, fair for test preparation) as well as the Transcender tests (poor for learning the subject, good for test preparation). Transcender probably got me halfway to the finish line while the rest was a combination of knowledge from 70-028, 70-029 and many educated guesses.
Here are the two primary areas that I wasn't expecting (neither Transcender nor the Microsoft material covered these well). First, managing (backup, restore, and performance tuning) of VLDB. It was only 2 or 3 questions on this, but you should know how to utilize additional disks and file groups as well as the quickest way to restore the database given a particular backup plan. If you've done 70-028 you can probably handle these ok.
Second, the first 5 questions I had were pure SQL statements. Specifically, which query do I use to generate a particular report using an MDX question? Which query do I use to populate a particular data warehouse? And 3 others like this. It is very easy to waste a huge amount of time figuring out exactly what each of the four answers does. Don't get caught in this trap! I spent 13 minutes (out of 135) on the first question. Very bad of me. What you really want to look at is the special clauses that will allow you to quickly eliminate the wrong choices. For example, to populate a data warehouse you wouldn't use a "Group By ... With Rollup" or "Group By ... With Cube" clause at all. There goes two wrong answers. If the report wants data from 1997, look for answers that don't mention 1997 at all. If the question wants employees with total sales over $10,000 you can probably expect a SUM() in the Select clause, a Group By clause, as well as a Having Sum() > 10000 clause. If only one answer has these 3 items, it's probably the correct one. Get a feel for the characteristics of the requirement, but don't get too caught up in the details of the answers.
Hope this helps some. Given that the passing score for this one is 620, this test is very passable despite the wordy questions.
| |
|
| Congratulations! how many more exams before you have the MCDBA? | |
|
| Took 70-215 last on 8/26 and passed, so I'm all done. I'm so glad to be done. Now I can read some fiction for a while. | |
|
| Amen to that!
Bad thing about studying is ya have to study, cant read the GOOD books! |
|
|
|
|