| znakomi 2003-07-31, 10:23 am |
| I read also the same thing from several different people
who had passed all kinds of exams before, and hit the wall
on 216.
Here's my thoughts on 216.
I think difficulties on this exam stem from the fact that
it's sort of esoteric, and requires deductive reasoning
possibly moreso than other exams. I flunked this exam
twice in 2001 and 2002, and passed it on my third attempt.
I had passed a total of 9 microsoft exams before I took
216, and had failed only twice on different exams before.
I used the same preparation habits for 216, and found that
they weren't quite good enough, first attempt on 216 I
missed by 140, second missed by 100... I don't know how
much I cleared it by on my third attempt (pass), but it
felt like i had a decent margine).
The first time I sat down to 216 in Nov 2001, I thought
they had loaded the wrong exam...it was that bad. i had
used the sybex book. The second time, a few weeks later
I'd used the sybex etrainer(virtually same info as the
sybex book), and the exam felt just as bad.
At that point. I got away from it for a bit as work was
demanding, and they wanted me to get my CDIA and some
other minor certs. After that and Network plus(at my
company's request), I took the relatively easy 218 and got
my MCSA by using my A+ and Network + in place of 216. I
knew i would return to 216 soon....which I did.
I THINK the key to 216 is to use multiple sources for
study material. Although in previous exams, one source
study can cover 7/8's of the questions, for 216 i think
any one source can cover only 2/3rds. Another words, even
two sources may not get you there. I am absolutly not
faulting good ole Sybex in the above, due to the wide
range in 216, Sybex did a good job covering 2/3's of 216,
just like New Riders did, Microsoft Press did and Passport
did.
I had used Sybex the year before and this year added
Microsoft Press, New Riders and Passport...4 sources in
all.
When I sat down to 216 this time, it didn't seem like the
wrong exam, actually all of the questions save one, had
been covered in my 4 sources. As i was taking the exam the
thought crossed my mind "This is a fair exam, If I fail it
this time, I deserve it". I cant remember back to 2001 to
know if the questions had changed, but reading through the
new sources i was learning many new things.
Therefore, I personally believe the the easiest way to
traverse 216 is use multiple sources, and unless your day
job is a rocket scientist, or a millionaire, don't attempt
216 without multiple sources. if you use multiple sources,
calm yourself before you sit down, it will feel just as
any other MS exam(:
BTW. I found I liked different sources for different
reasons. MS Press was it's usual dry self, but I used if
as the difinative answer in resolving "conflicts" from
other sources. passport was it's usual wonderful self in
hands on real world stuff, and was the core of my study,
(i learned passport real well, and filled in with MS Press
and New Riders. New Riders was between MS Press and
Passport, and had answers which were not in the others.
I may have over prepared a bit, but when I had 40 minuets
left at the end of the exam to go over my answers, I
pretty much new I was going to make it. I think that
multisourcing made all of the difference.
Passoprt was the core of my study, i examined it very
carefully...then folleows up with a light reading of New
Riders and MS Press, making ones of all new info that
wasn't covered in Passport.
Judging from my experience of two fails then a pass, i's
day anyone who multisources will make it aok(:
Good Luck!
So in a nutshell, multisource
>-----Original Message-----
>I've read over and over how hard the 70-216 exam is. I'm
curious if this is
>simply being repeated from those who have read it other
places, or if each
>post represents a true opinion from someone who has taken
the exam. I have
>reviewed the topics for the exam, and quite frankly, it
just doesn't look
>all that difficult. I would like to get some opinions
from those that have
>taken the exam, and if you consider it to be very
difficult, please give a
>few reasons why.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Clint Kennedy
>BSCS, MCP
>
>
>.
>
|