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Home > Archive > microsoft.public.cert.exam.mcsd > November 2002 > How difficult for MCSD.VC++?
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How difficult for MCSD.VC++?
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| David Wang 2002-11-16, 3:23 pm |
| Hi All MCSD fans,
I just narrowly passed 70-016 by 627. This is my first certification exam.
Although I think that I understand all the details covered by the Microsoft
MCSD training kit and James Lacey's Exam Cram,
I found the questions about COM were still hard to answer or confusing.
I didn't use any other simulation tests except that one appended in James'
book.
I am wondering whether the costly online simulation tests really helpful.
Will it be more difficult for 70-015?
Are there any good exam-preparing books and simulation tests for it?
If it is really difficult, may I take VB6 Desktop instead? Then what's my
MCSD track if I finally get a certificate?
Your comments are appreciated.
MCSD.VC++6 Desktop
David Wang
| |
| RichardJW 2002-11-16, 4:53 pm |
| Though you passed you are probably not a particularly skilled programmer. Don't take offense - what I mean is that you probably have not had many years in the field. Go do the 70-015, if the VB exams are anything to go by it will be easier than the 70-016. You cannot take the VB desktop for the MCSD track - you must take a distributed exam. | |
| David Wang 2002-11-16, 9:23 pm |
| Hi Richard,
Yes, you are right. My experiences have been in embedded c language and
firmware.
I decided to change my track to business solution developer recently.
So is there any VB distributed instead of the 70-015?
Which one is more difficult?
Which one is more useful in developing a real solution in business field?
Thanks for your advice,
David
MCSD VC++6 Desktop Developer
"RichardJW" <RichardJW.e8i0d@mail.examnotes.net> wrote in message
news:RichardJW.e8i0d@mail.examnotes.net...
>
> Though you passed you are probably not a particularly skilled
> programmer. Don't take offense - what I mean is that you probably have
> not had many years in the field. Go do the 70-015, if the VB exams are
> anything to go by it will be easier than the 70-016. You cannot take
> the VB desktop for the MCSD track - you must take a distributed exam.
>
> ---
> View this thread: http://www.examnotes.net/article80906.html
>
RichardJW-------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
> RichardJW's Profile:
http://www.examnotes.net/forums/mem...fo&userid=75238
>
| |
| Garry 2002-11-16, 11:23 pm |
| 70-015 is mostly COM/MTS and ADO. You will have definitely have trouble
with the exam if you don't have a good foundation in both of those areas,
especially COM. Also, if you don't have a pretty good grasp on Relational
DB Design, you'll have trouble with the 70-100 exam. The MCSD Training kit
for 70-015 is decent, but not very thorough. The Exam Cram for that exam
was ok, but not terribly useful either. The issue is that you cannot master
COM by reading two introductory chapters in a review book. If you really
want to learn and understand COM, you may want to supplement your studies
with Beginning ATL COM by Richard Grimes / Wrox Press. If you just read and
understand the first 3 or 4 chapters you'll have a good grasp on the basics
of COM.
IMHO, the VB exams are significantly easier in every way than the C++ exams.
Of course the passing grade is much higher too (around 200-250 points
higher) so take that under consideration. If you have experience in VB then
you will probably have an much easier time passing VB Distributed than C++
Distributed. Certainly, COM from a VB perspective is much simpler to deal
with than in C++. CoCreateInstance, IClassFactory, dual interfaces, IDL,
and all those things that make your head ache are largely transparent in VB
COM (ActiveX). Also, the Microsoft MCSD Training book for VB Dist (70-175)
is excellent for that exam and provides decent coverage of the required
material.
You must take either 70-015 or 70-175 for MCSD Credit. If you were to take
70-176, you could use that as elective credit only.
The online simulation tests are helpful to the extent that they simulate
test conditions, which sometimes yield surprising results after cramming.
More importantly, they point out where your weak areas are so that you can
attend to those areas as you get close to test time. Most people I know
prefer Transcender www.transcender.com. Self-Test Software
www.selftestsoftware.com is very good also.
Hope that helps.
"David Wang" <qiwang@mum.edu> wrote in message
news:u#s6$VbjCHA.2580@tkmsftngp12...
> Hi All MCSD fans,
>
> I just narrowly passed 70-016 by 627. This is my first certification exam.
>
> Although I think that I understand all the details covered by the
Microsoft
> MCSD training kit and James Lacey's Exam Cram,
> I found the questions about COM were still hard to answer or confusing.
>
> I didn't use any other simulation tests except that one appended in James'
> book.
> I am wondering whether the costly online simulation tests really helpful.
>
> Will it be more difficult for 70-015?
> Are there any good exam-preparing books and simulation tests for it?
>
> If it is really difficult, may I take VB6 Desktop instead? Then what's my
> MCSD track if I finally get a certificate?
>
> Your comments are appreciated.
>
>
>
> MCSD.VC++6 Desktop
> David Wang
>
>
>
| |
| Alan Davis 2002-11-17, 7:23 am |
| >Though you passed you are probably not a particularly skilled
>programmer.
> Don't take offense - what I mean is that you probably have
>not had many years in the field.
Why?
Given the exams are fairly easy, I would agree the person in question
does not have 'many years in the field' with VC++, but does not mean
he is not skilled [C++] programmer.
Both the C+ exams cover only the microsoft technologies such as mfc,
atl, ado, oledb etc etc. Very little on C++ itself.
Outside of Microsoft the VC++ devolvement system gets quite a bum rap,
especially the mfc.
> You cannot take
> the VB desktop for the MCSD track - you must take a distributed exam.
In his case, VB desktop exam would count as an elective though.
| |
| Alan Davis 2002-11-17, 7:23 am |
| >Yes, you are right. My experiences have been in embedded c language and
>firmware.
Ah.. Real programming - Not much use for fuddy old mfc there!
>I decided to change my track to business solution developer recently.
>
>So is there any VB distributed instead of the 70-015?
Yes.
>Which one is more difficult?
Depends on the individual taking the exam(s). Both cover the same
topics, but as you would expec,t are employed using different
syntax/convention.
I personally found the VC++ a little easier than the VB.
>Which one is more useful in developing a real solution in business field?
Neither. Passing/Failing any MS exam does note prove you are a good or
bad developer.
My opinion is that VC++ 6 is better than VB6 as is offers richer
features. Also C++ allows for OOP practices to be fully employed,
allowing the taking of real world models and depicting them in code
easier and more accurate than in VB.
| |
| David Wang 2002-11-17, 9:23 pm |
| Thank you, Garry. Your detailed advices look very helpful.
| |
| David Wang 2002-11-17, 10:23 pm |
| Alan, thanks for your trying to give me a help.
"Alan Davis" <.> wrote in message
news:9t4ftu8ooq0754guqt08t854s
ktrms0sp7@4ax.com...
> >Yes, you are right. My experiences have been in embedded c language and
> >firmware.
>
> Ah.. Real programming - Not much use for fuddy old mfc there!
>
> >I decided to change my track to business solution developer recently.
> >
> >So is there any VB distributed instead of the 70-015?
>
> Yes.
>
> >Which one is more difficult?
>
> Depends on the individual taking the exam(s). Both cover the same
> topics, but as you would expec,t are employed using different
> syntax/convention.
>
> I personally found the VC++ a little easier than the VB.
>
> >Which one is more useful in developing a real solution in business field?
>
> Neither. Passing/Failing any MS exam does note prove you are a good or
> bad developer.
>
> My opinion is that VC++ 6 is better than VB6 as is offers richer
> features. Also C++ allows for OOP practices to be fully employed,
> allowing the taking of real world models and depicting them in code
> easier and more accurate than in VB.
| |
| Daniel Joskovski 2002-11-18, 4:23 pm |
| For me, 70-015 was most beautiful exam ( if the exam can be beautiful  ),
when I get out off testing center I was happy about what kind of things I
can do. 70-175 was very time consuming for me ( I take 70-175 for elective,
I don't want to be step closer to MCDBA )
But in light off new .NET certification, learning OO language will set you
for forthcoming challenges.. So I vote 70-015, GOOD LUCK
Regards,
Daniel
"David Wang" <qiwang@mum.edu> wrote in message
news:u#s6$VbjCHA.2580@tkmsftngp12...
> Hi All MCSD fans,
>
> I just narrowly passed 70-016 by 627. This is my first certification exam.
>
> Although I think that I understand all the details covered by the
Microsoft
> MCSD training kit and James Lacey's Exam Cram,
> I found the questions about COM were still hard to answer or confusing.
>
> I didn't use any other simulation tests except that one appended in James'
> book.
> I am wondering whether the costly online simulation tests really helpful.
>
> Will it be more difficult for 70-015?
> Are there any good exam-preparing books and simulation tests for it?
>
> If it is really difficult, may I take VB6 Desktop instead? Then what's my
> MCSD track if I finally get a certificate?
>
> Your comments are appreciated.
>
>
>
> MCSD.VC++6 Desktop
> David Wang
>
>
>
| |
| RichardJW 2002-11-21, 6:07 pm |
| If you pass a VB exam and a VC++ exam you have demonstrated at least to some degree proficiency in both. I did. |
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