I have heard that Microsoft (for the 2003 certs only, I believe) are going more towards a simulation oriented exam. Where you are actually graded on the steps you take to answer a question. I'm not currently certified in 2003, but what will that mean for the people who are certified now and didn't have to take the new exams? Just wondering. I'd be extremely... EXTREMELY upset if I they made me re-certify. I don't think they'd be that naive... or are they?
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New MS Testing Format 3
- Thread starter ts8586
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ts8586,
Do you have any other information about this? It's highly unlikely that any certifications you currently have would be invalidated.
I think that some of the exams, such as the design exams, are more simulation-oriented than simple multiple-choice, but all of the MCP exams I've taken use the multiple-choice format.
Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 certified
Do you have any other information about this? It's highly unlikely that any certifications you currently have would be invalidated.
I think that some of the exams, such as the design exams, are more simulation-oriented than simple multiple-choice, but all of the MCP exams I've taken use the multiple-choice format.
Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 certified
Here is a quote from
Exam Basics
Microsoft Office certification exams are not traditional question-and-answer tests with multiple choice answers. Instead, you’re presented with an actual program interface with a document already started (for most questions). Steps appear in a pane below the application window, and your task is to complete the steps exactly as directed. Then you are scored on how closely your result matches the computer’s version of what’s “correct.”
Exam Basics
Microsoft Office certification exams are not traditional question-and-answer tests with multiple choice answers. Instead, you’re presented with an actual program interface with a document already started (for most questions). Steps appear in a pane below the application window, and your task is to complete the steps exactly as directed. Then you are scored on how closely your result matches the computer’s version of what’s “correct.”
ts8586:
I am assuming you are talking about Microsoft Office Specialist certification, since that is the current forum. No..once you are certified in a particular application and version, you are ALWAYS certified in that application and version. Some employers may want you to upgrade to a newer version, but that would be rare.
You may have heard a rumor based on the fact that initially all 2003 versions were to be 'simulation' rather than 'live'. However, here is one final quote from
The Office Specialist exams have always tested candidates' hands-on skills using a live application environment -- until late last year. That's when Certiport released the Word 2003 exam, which takes place entirely within a simulation of the application, instead of using Word itself.
While the original plan called for most of the 2003 exams to also be simulation, Goodwin told CertCities.com recently that so far, the only exam to have a simulated environment is the Word 2003 Core
I am assuming you are talking about Microsoft Office Specialist certification, since that is the current forum. No..once you are certified in a particular application and version, you are ALWAYS certified in that application and version. Some employers may want you to upgrade to a newer version, but that would be rare.
You may have heard a rumor based on the fact that initially all 2003 versions were to be 'simulation' rather than 'live'. However, here is one final quote from
The Office Specialist exams have always tested candidates' hands-on skills using a live application environment -- until late last year. That's when Certiport released the Word 2003 exam, which takes place entirely within a simulation of the application, instead of using Word itself.
While the original plan called for most of the 2003 exams to also be simulation, Goodwin told CertCities.com recently that so far, the only exam to have a simulated environment is the Word 2003 Core
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- Thread starter
- #5
First of all, thank you for the responses. Here is the article I read a few days ago, from CertCities.com:
2/1/2005 -- Today the Microsoft Learning Group announced what it calls a "dramatic change in the testing protocol," with the incorporation of newly developed performance-based question types to its exams. The new question types will begin to appear in exams in late March.
The Learning Group previewed performance-based questions, also called "simulations," to Microsoft Certified Trainers and Certified Partners for Learning Solutions members at a special non-disclosure session at Microsoft's World Wide Sales partner conference in Toronto last summer.
Performance-based questions, which test candidates' hands-on skills, will slowly be substituted for some of the questions on exams already available, first with exams 70-290, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment, and 70-291, Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. The last day that candidates can take these two exams sans performance-based questions is March 31, 2005.
According to a Microsoft Q&A posted on its press release site, candidates will see those questions begin to appear on other exams throughout the year; the company plans to release in late March a schedule showing when exams will go live with simulation questions.
The exams will continue to be delivered through Prometric and Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide.
Candidates who have already achieved certification or passed exams that have or will incorporate simulations do not need to retake exams. Microsoft does allow candidates to retest on exams that have been updated with simulations to "help an MCP refresh his skills and perhaps make him a bit more marketable," states Al Valvano, Lead Product Manager with Microsoft Learning.
We are working on obtaining more details on this story and will update this story as they become available. - Mike Domingo, courtesy of MCPmag.com
2/1/2005 -- Today the Microsoft Learning Group announced what it calls a "dramatic change in the testing protocol," with the incorporation of newly developed performance-based question types to its exams. The new question types will begin to appear in exams in late March.
The Learning Group previewed performance-based questions, also called "simulations," to Microsoft Certified Trainers and Certified Partners for Learning Solutions members at a special non-disclosure session at Microsoft's World Wide Sales partner conference in Toronto last summer.
Performance-based questions, which test candidates' hands-on skills, will slowly be substituted for some of the questions on exams already available, first with exams 70-290, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment, and 70-291, Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. The last day that candidates can take these two exams sans performance-based questions is March 31, 2005.
According to a Microsoft Q&A posted on its press release site, candidates will see those questions begin to appear on other exams throughout the year; the company plans to release in late March a schedule showing when exams will go live with simulation questions.
The exams will continue to be delivered through Prometric and Pearson Vue testing centers worldwide.
Candidates who have already achieved certification or passed exams that have or will incorporate simulations do not need to retake exams. Microsoft does allow candidates to retest on exams that have been updated with simulations to "help an MCP refresh his skills and perhaps make him a bit more marketable," states Al Valvano, Lead Product Manager with Microsoft Learning.
We are working on obtaining more details on this story and will update this story as they become available. - Mike Domingo, courtesy of MCPmag.com
NickFerrar
MIS
Sounds like a much-needed change to me although they better make the questions less ambiguous than some of the current ones if you're required to complete detailed configurations etc.
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![[yinyang]](/data/assets/smilies/yinyang.gif "[yinyang] [yinyang]")
Since this is posted at microsoft.com, I figured I'd post another link.
Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 certified
Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 certified
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