| Author |
First Practice Exam Thrashing!
|
|
| MyoTechie 2002-06-09, 8:27 pm |
| Hey All,
I just finished studying for the core four via the sybex books. I was feeling pretty tall and thought that it was time my rubber met with the road, so I took a transcender's pratice exam (70-217).
I got killed (420)!
Is this normal for a first practice exam?
The transcender's exam had a lot of questions regarding NT4 issues and some things that Sybex did not cover (offline defrag of DCs). Do study materials often differ that much?
Oh well, it's back to hitting the books and looking over the correct solutions for the exam! | |
|
| 2 things:
1. Yup, I always get creamed when I take my first Transcenders. Heck, that's why I use them. That way, it is easy to go through all the questions at the end and see what areas killed me, and to target those when I review.
2. Try and read two books for each test, hopefully from two different authors. It gives you a better overall view of the test.
Oh, and don't forget to go to sybex.com and download the errata if you haven't already 
Let me know if I can be of help! | |
| MyoTechie 2002-06-09, 10:28 pm |
| Thanks Freak!
I definitely agree about learning from multiple authors. What are your thoughts on MS Press/Syngress/Others? I will probably order some new materials tongiht (for 217 & 216).
After I review the exam what do you believe the best course of action to be: another practice exam? read new materials? review old materials? | |
| freak 2002-06-09, 10:40 pm |
| You're welcome.
MS Press is my fave series.
Use the Transcenders you already have and decide where your weaknesses are. Use your current books and others you may buy to study on those areas, then take another Transcender test and verify that those areas are not a problem anymore.
That's my way of studying and it works for me. Adapt it to your own method | |
| DivxGuy 2002-06-10, 5:37 pm |
| quote:
Is this normal for a first practice exam?
It happened to me with 70-217, and my scores were so low that I was almost ready to postpone the attempt at the real thing. Fortunately, the scores picked up quickly over the next few days, and I went on to pass the real exam on schedule.
RD | |
| MyoTechie 2002-06-10, 8:04 pm |
| Yeah, I felt that way after the exam.
I took freak's advice and purchased the MS press 216 & 217 to get a different perspective on the material. Hopefully this will help.
I am going to run another practice tongiht. If I improve even a bit I will be very happy. I won't stop until I have this thing licked!
>> Divx Guy
Did you just keep running exams and rereading materials to get over the hump? | |
|
| Focus on those areas that torment you in the test. Make sure you are able to say ALOUD why the answers are right or wrong. If you can say it aloud, then you really mastered it. In my head, I am always right But when the time comes to actually say it, if I am not ab;e to do that eloquently, then I don't have it yet | |
| MyoTechie 2002-06-10, 9:23 pm |
| Very true. It is so easy to read the material and say "this makes sense!", it is quite another to have to explain it yourself unaided.
It's great when topics come up at work and I have to explain things. It's might be kind of pathetic, but I got excited recently when I had to explain how DNS worked to a bunch of coworkers! It really does help to verbalize the information. | |
| DivxGuy 2002-06-10, 9:34 pm |
| quote:
Did you just keep running exams and rereading materials to get over the hump?
I would go over each question and analyze the principles behind the correct answer (I spent a lot of time consulting the online documentation).
The scores improved rapidly, and I took the real test on the date I'd originally scheduled. It was almost as hard as 70-217, much harder than 70-210 and 70-215.
Freak's suggestion to use the official MS study guides is a good call. A single failed attempt at the real exam covers the cost of several books!
RD | |
| MyoTechie 2002-06-10, 9:49 pm |
| Thanks DivxGuy!
>> A single failed attempt at the real exam covers the cost of several books!
Hehe... Yeah, that thought went through my head.
Picking up some books through an Amazon merchant (about $80 for the MS Press Preimuim Editions 216 & 217) was definitely worth it. They will not only help with the exams, but serve as great refernce material.
>> I would go over each question and analyze the principles behind the correct answer (I spent a lot of time consulting the online documentation).
Exactly what I am doing right now. Did you use MS whitepapers a lot? I have looked through some and they have been quite good. | |
| DivxGuy 2002-06-10, 9:57 pm |
| No, I don't think I read through any MS white papers, come to think of it. Just the books online and the resource kit, mainly (comes with MSDN).
RD | |
|
| I think W2k Resourcekit is a great source! Very informative and helpful as Transcender always refer to!You should read the exam outline to check the area to study!
One question to ones who took the exam: IS real exam as hard as transcender? | |
|
| For me the Transcender was harder than the real thing. THis being said, I have taken so many MS exams that I have a good "feel" for them, now. | |
|
| Thanks freak, you make me confident! hey can I ask you one more question?
Selftest say they are the authorized partner of MS so they have inside question that best match the real question, is this true?? and which one is better, selftest or Transcender??? | |
| freak 2002-06-11, 11:00 pm |
| I am not a fan of self test software myself. I much prefer Transcenders. Then again, this is a very suggestive, personal opinion. THe UI was not as reliable, nor user friendly. And the fact that there were a couple of mistakes did not make me feel good either.
I have not used their product ever since, and it was quite a while ago, so this review may not be accurate anymore... |
|
|
|