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Home > Archive > 70-216 > January 2003 > Angry at Microsoft!
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Angry at Microsoft!
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| winterwolf 2003-01-03, 8:04 am |
| Forgive me everyone, I need to vent a bit. I have 216 left to become MCSE, it seems that Micro has changed the test and now it can only be administered by a UTD certified testing center, whatever that means. Well, the place I write my exams in town is not UTD certified, as a result I am going to have to go over 500 Km. away to write the figgin thing!
That means a huge expense on my part, taking 2-3 days off work to do it, IF my boss will let me, having to stay in a hotel and spend 6 hrs driving to get there! *ARGH!!!*
Ok, *sigh* kinda feel better now, still stupid though. | |
| jeff_j_black 2003-01-03, 9:10 am |
| You mean VUE and Prometric no longer are exam vendors? | |
| winterwolf 2003-01-03, 9:35 am |
| Hi Jeff, the lady I talked to on the phone told me that this particular test has been changed, the other tests seem to be ok. I checked some of the ones I have taken already and they are still available at my regular testing center. I think all the center has to do is upgrade their server so it can accept the new format for the test delivery but who knows.
Does that make sense? | |
| jeff_j_black 2003-01-03, 9:56 am |
| That does not make sense. Are there any other VUE or Prometric vendors in your area to verify this info with?
I have not heard of MS changing test vendors, or certain tests not being available at certain sites before, very strange. | |
| winterwolf 2003-01-03, 10:38 am |
| We have a prometric vendor locally, I called them and was told that they got a fax from Microsoft telling them they would have to do some upgrades to their server to allow this test to be taken at their center.
I am with you, totally don't understand it but what can I do? | |
| jocampo 2003-01-03, 2:55 pm |
| That's very new for me! I will check with my testing center (here at Puerto Rico) tomorrow.  | |
| me? I dunno... 2003-01-03, 3:02 pm |
| I have to drive 120km each way for all my tests, no fun in the summer, downright scary in the winter. Things could be worse though, they shut down the testing center I was using and it looked like I was going to be in for a 4 hour drive each way to test, and still 5 tests to go! Fortunately there was another testing center in Prince George that I didnt know about so now I'm back to the hour and a half drive. I will definitely check on the 216 thing though. | |
| luisjo 2003-01-03, 11:04 pm |
| I have to check out in my test center too, if they dont let me take the 70-216 i have to travel to the states to take it, or to mexico, which aint funny at all. | |
| luisjo 2003-01-03, 11:09 pm |
| i just check on the www.2test.com i can take the 70-216 exam here in Guatemala.
winterwolf have you try registering at www.2test.com, its cheaper.
good luck on your exam. | |
| me? I dunno... 2003-01-04, 2:05 am |
| I was wondering, I have an extra Vue 15% off coupon from the back of the MOC book. I forgot to take one with me last time, does anybody know if I can take an extra one this time and use 2 of them for the same test? | |
| ruscorp 2003-01-04, 2:11 am |
| I'll have to check on Monday about this one. They never sent out an MCP New Flash or anything. | |
| mrfixit 2003-01-05, 3:03 pm |
| All I can say is, leave it to Micro$oft to screw things around. IF IT MAKES SENSE.....
'nuff said | |
| jadgate 2003-01-05, 3:48 pm |
| I have had good and bad experiences with both Prometric and Vue, but Vue takes the cake for the worst customer service. If you have any problems with the test, then Vue will basically say, screw you, fork over $125 more for a retake.
Here's my experience with 219 through VUE (A FIVE HOUR TEST, no less): the test starts wigging out halfway through and I get weird displays; e.g. you are now at question 20 of 10 questions. Then it won't let me go back at the end of the section (there are 5 in the test) and review any of the questions again, which it should of, since you can't go back once you finish one case study and have to go to the next one. Finally, near the end of the test when I have 4-5 questions left to do, a comment box pops up and the test locks up. I didn't pass, but will never know if it was my fault or Vue's. Same thing happened to another guy taking the test with me, but he had 6 unanswered questions and he still passed.
Needless to say, I was on the phone with Vue demanding a retake on them. Basically they told me to F#@$K off. So I would avoid them if you have the option, and pass the word along; as far as I am concerned, if I can prevent someone else from having a bad experience with VUE by suggesting you go to someone else, then what I went through would be worth it.
Don't get me wrong: Sylvan Prometric also has it's problems; I went to a large Prometric Center in downtown Chicago (probably 20-30 people taking exams at one time). They treated me like a criminal, and I had to remind the test administrators to give me a copy of my pass WITH the raised stamp, otherwise it's useless. But most of the other Prometric testing centers I have been too have been fine; since I live in Chicago and have many options, I usually pick the one closest to me.
Jim | |
| winterwolf 2003-01-06, 8:00 am |
| Sorry for the delay in replies folks, didn't check here on the weekend...
Luisjo, I do use 2test.com, much faster but not to sure about cheaper. Anyway, I will find out this week from my testing center when they will be able to give the test again. They told me on Friday that they had just heard about the change themselves. *sigh*
I have been debating working it into a holiday I have planned to CA, if I'm gunna have to travel somewhere might as well only pay the travel once right? I dunno though. | |
| winterwolf 2003-01-06, 9:39 am |
| Just found out, my testing center will be upgraded by the end of the month  Thank goodness!!!
Thanks for listening to me vent guys. | |
| luisjo 2003-01-06, 9:59 am |
| That saves you a lot of money, and driving miles. | |
| winterwolf 2003-01-06, 11:30 am |
| I know, thank god! I can't afford that extra cost right now so, needless to say I am one happy camper  | |
| jeff_j_black 2003-01-06, 1:40 pm |
| Good news. Yes to be an approved test center, the facility needs to maintain minimum hardware requirements to meet the vendors requirements. The CCNA test was giving both test facilities and test takers fits when they introduced the simulated questions to the exam. Computer lockups, etc. I had heard on exam taker had the exam crash right off the bat, but the test engine spit out a test report saying he had passed! |
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