Introduction

Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) tracks for Visual Studio .NET are the premier certifications for programming professionals. Covering the core technologies around which Microsoft's future will be built, these programs are powerful credentials for career advancement.

This book has been developed to give you the critical skills and knowledge you need to prepare for Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework (exam 70-310).

The Microsoft Certified Professional Program

Since the inception of its certification program, Microsoft has certified almost 1.5 million people. As the computer network industry grows in both size and complexity, this number is sure to grow-and the need for proven ability will also increase. Companies rely on certifications to verify the skills of prospective employees and contractors.

Microsoft has developed its Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program to give you credentials that verify your ability to work with Microsoft products effectively and professionally. Obtaining your MCP certification requires that you pass any one Microsoft certification exam. Several levels of certification are available based on specific suites of exams. Depending on your areas of interest or experience, you can obtain any of the following MCP credentials:

Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)  This track is designed for application developers and technical consultants who primarily use Microsoft development tools. Currently, you can take exams on Visual Basic .NET or Visual C# .NET. You must take and pass three exams to obtain your MCAD certification.

Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)  This track is designed for software engineers, developers, and technical consultants who primarily use Microsoft development tools. Currently, you can take exams on Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET. You must take and pass five exams to obtain your MCSD certification.

Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)  This track is designed for database administrators, developers, and analysts who work with Microsoft SQL Server. As of this printing, you can take exams on either SQL Server 7 or SQL Server 2000. You must take and pass four exams to achieve MCDBA status.

Note 

Both the Developing Web Applications and Developing Windows Applications exams can count as an elective for your MCDBA.

Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) The MCSA certification is the latest certification track from Microsoft. This certification targets system and network administrators with roughly 6 to 12 months of desktop and network administration experience. The MCSA can be considered the entry-level certification. You must take and pass four exams to obtain your MCSA.

Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) on Windows 2000  This certification track is designed for network and system administrators, network and system analysts, and technical consultants who work with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Server and/or Windows XP Professional. You must take and pass seven exams to obtain your MCSE.

Note 

Microsoft will soon be releasing new exams on Windows Server 2003.

Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)  The MCT track is designed for any IT professional who develops and teaches Microsoft-approved courses. To become an MCT, you must first obtain your MCSE, MCSD, or MCDBA; then you must take a class at one of the Certified Technical Training Centers. You will also be required to prove your instructional ability. You can do this in various ways: by taking a skills-building or train-the-trainer class, by achieving certification as a trainer from any of several vendors, or by becoming a Certified Technical Trainer through CompTIA. Last of all, you will need to complete an MCT application.

How Do You Become an MCAD or MCSD?

Attaining any MCP certification has always been a challenge. In the past, students have been able to acquire detailed exam information-even most of the exam questions-from online 'brain dumps' and third-party 'cram' books or software products. For the new Microsoft exams, this is simply not the case.

Microsoft has taken strong steps to protect the security and integrity of their certification tracks. Now, prospective students must complete a course of study that develops detailed knowledge about a wide range of topics. It supplies them with the true skills needed, derived from working with Visual Studio .NET and related software products.

The Visual Studio .NET MCAD and MCSD programs are heavily weighted toward hands-on skills and experience. Fortunately, if you are willing to dedicate the time and effort to learn Visual Studio and Visual Basic .NET, you can prepare yourself well for the exams by using the proper tools. By working through this book, you can successfully meet the exam requirements to pass the Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework exam.

MCAD Exam Requirements

Candidates for MCAD certification must pass three exams, including one Developing Web or Windows Applications exam, one Developing XML Web Services and Server Components exam, and one elective. You can get your certification in either Visual Basic .NET or Visual C# .NET, or both (you can mix and match languages). For details on the exam requirements, visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcad/requirements.asp.

MCSD Exam Requirements

Candidates for MCSD certification must pass five exams, including one Developing Web Applications exam, one Developing Windows Applications exam, one Developing XML Web Services and Server Components exam, one Solution Architecture exam, and one elective. As with the MCAD program, you can get your certification in either Visual Basic .NET or Visual C# .NET, or both (you can mix and match languages). For details on the exam requirements, visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcsd/requirementsdotnet.asp.

The Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework Exam

The Developing XML Web Services and Server Components exam covers concepts and skills related to developing and implementing web and Windows applications with Visual Basic .NET. It emphasizes the following:

  • Creating and managing Windows services, serviced components, .NET Remoting applications, and XML Web services

  • Consuming and manipulating data

  • Testing and debugging

  • Understanding .NET Framework security concepts

  • Deploying Windows services, serviced components, .NET Remoting applications, and XML Web services

  • Maintaining and supporting Windows services, serviced components, .NET Remoting applications, and XML Web services

  • Configuring and securing Windows services, serviced components, .NET Remoting applications, and XML Web services

    Note 

    Microsoft provides exam objectives to give you a general overview of possible areas of coverage on the Microsoft exams. Keep in mind, however, that exam objectives are subject to change at any time without prior notice and at Microsoft's sole discretion. Please visit Microsoft's Training and Certification website (www.microsoft.com/traincert) for the most current listing of exam objectives.

Types of Exam Questions

In an effort to both refine the testing process and protect the quality of its certifications, Microsoft has focused its exams on real experience and hands-on proficiency. There is a greater emphasis on your past working environments and responsibilities, and less emphasis on how well you can memorize.

Note 

Microsoft will accomplish its goal of protecting the exams' integrity by regularly adding and removing exam questions, limiting the number of questions that any individual sees in a beta exam, limiting the number of questions delivered to an individual by using adaptive testing, and adding new exam elements.

Exam questions can be in a variety of formats. Depending on which exam you take or which certification you are looking to achieve-whether it be MCSE, MCSD, or MCDBA-you might see multiple-choice questions as well as select-and-place and prioritize-a-list questions. Simulations and case study-based formats are included as well. Let's take a look at the types of exam questions you might see so you'll be prepared for all of the possibilities.

Tip 

With the release of Windows 2000, Microsoft has stopped providing a detailed score breakdown. This is mostly because of the various and complex question formats. Previously, each question focused on one objective. The exams, however, contain questions that might be tied to one or more objectives from one or more objective sets. Therefore, grading by objective is almost impossible. Additionally, Microsoft no longer offers a score. Now you will be told only whether you pass or fail.

Note 

For more information on the various exam question types, go to www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcpexams/policies/innovations.asp.

Multiple-Choice Questions

Multiple-choice questions come in two main forms. One is a straightforward question followed by several possible answers, of which one or more is correct. The other type of multiple-choice question is more complex and based on a specific scenario. The scenario might focus on several areas or objectives. These are the majority of questions you will find on exam 70-310.

Select-and-Place Questions

Select-and-place exam questions use graphical elements that you must manipulate to successfully answer the question. For example, you might see a diagram of a computer network, taken from the select-and-place demo downloaded from Microsoft's website.

Note 

You are not likely to see this question type for Exam 70-310.

A typical diagram will show computers and other components next to boxes that contain the text 'Place here.' The labels for the boxes represent various computer roles on a network, such as a print server and a file server. Based on information given for each computer, you are asked to select each label and place it in the correct box. You need to place all of the labels correctly. No credit is given for the question if you correctly label only some of the boxes.

In another select-and-place problem, you might be asked to put a series of steps in order by dragging items from boxes on the left to boxes on the right and placing them in the correct order. One other type requires that you drag an item from the left and place it under an item in a column on the right.

Simulations

Simulations are the kinds of questions that most closely represent actual situations and test the skills you use while working with Microsoft software interfaces. These exam questions include a mock interface on which you are asked to perform certain actions according to a given scenario. The simulated interfaces look nearly identical to what you see in the actual product.

Note 

You are not likely to see this question type for Exam 70-310.

Because of the number of possible errors that can be made on simulations, be sure to consider the following recommendations from Microsoft:

  • Do not change any simulation settings that don't pertain to the solution directly.

  • When specific information has not been provided, assume that the default is used.

  • Make sure that your entries are spelled correctly.

  • Close all of the simulation application windows after completing the set of tasks in the simulation.

The best way to prepare for simulation questions is to spend time working with the graphical interface of the product on which you will be tested.

Note 

Microsoft will regularly add and remove questions from the exams. This is called item seeding. It is part of the effort to make it more difficult for individuals to merely memorize exam questions that were passed along by previous test-takers.

Tips for Taking the XML Web Services and Server Components Exam

Here are some general tips for achieving success on your certification exam:

  • Arrive early at the exam center so that you can relax and review your study materials. During this final review, you can look over tables and lists of exam-related information.

  • Read the questions carefully. Don't be tempted to jump to an early conclusion. Make sure you know exactly what the question is asking.

  • Answer all questions.

  • For questions you're not sure about, use a process of elimination to get rid of the obviously incorrect answers first. This improves your odds of selecting the correct answer when you need to make an educated guess.

Exam Registration

You can take the Microsoft exams at any of more than 1000 Authorized Prometric Testing Centers (APTCs) and VUE Testing Centers around the world. For the location of a testing center near you, call Prometric at 800-755-EXAM (755-3926), or call VUE at 888-837-8616. Outside the United States and Canada, contact your local Prometric or VUE registration center.

Find out the number of the exam you want to take, and then register with the Prometric or VUE registration center nearest to you. At this point, you will be asked for advance payment for the exam. The exams are $125 (U.S.) each, and you must take them within one year of payment. You can schedule exams up to six weeks in advance or as late as one working day prior to the date of the exam. You can cancel or reschedule your exam if you contact the center at least two working days prior to the exam. Same-day registration is available in some locations, subject to space availability. Where same-day registration is available, you must register a minimum of two hours before test time.

Tip 

You can also register for your exams online at www.prometric.com or www.vue.com.

When you schedule the exam, you will be provided with instructions regarding appointment and cancellation procedures, ID requirements, and information about the testing center location. In addition, you will receive a registration and payment confirmation letter from Prometric or VUE.

Microsoft requires certification candidates to accept the terms of a nondisclosure agreement before taking certification exams.



MCAD/MCSD(c) Visual Basic. NET XML Web Services and Server Components Study Guide
MCAD/MCSD: Visual Basic .NET XML Web Services and Server Components Study Guide
ISBN: 0782141935
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2005
Pages: 153

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