The format of Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2000 MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) and MCSE series of exams is different from that of its previous exams covering Windows NT 4.0. For the design exams, each exam consists entirely of a series of case studies, and the questions can be any of six types (see the sections entitled Traditional Exam Question Formats and New Exam Question Formats). Some of the MCSE design exams include the following:
For design exams, each case study or testlet presents a detailed problem that you must read and analyze. Figure 1.1 shows an example of what a case study looks like. You must select the different tabs in the case study to view the entire case. Figure 1.1. The format for case study questionsFollowing each case study is a set of questions related to the case study; these questions can be one of six types (which are discussed in the following sections). Careful attention to details provided in the case study is the key to success. You should be prepared to frequently toggle between the case study and the questions as you work. Some of the case studies include diagrams, which are called exhibits, which you'll need to examine closely to understand how to answer the questions. After you complete a case study, you can review all the questions and your answers. However, after you move on to the next case study, you might not be able to return to the previous case study to make any changes. For the MCSA and MCSE core exams and the upgrade exams, the same six types of questions might appear, but you are not likely to encounter complex multi-question case studies. The MCSA/MCSE core exams and upgrade exams for the Windows 2000 track and the Windows Server 2003 track include the following:
Traditional Exam Question FormatsHistorically, six types of question formats have appeared on Microsoft certification exams. These types of questions continue to appear on current Microsoft tests, and they are discussed in the following sections:
Exam Alert You can expect to encounter all the question formats listed previously on the 70-291 exam. The Single-Answer and Multiple-Answer Multiple-Choice Question FormatsSome exam questions require you to select a single answer, whereas others ask you to select multiple correct answers. The following multiple-choice question requires you to select a single correct answer. Following the question is a brief summary of each potential answer and why it is either right or wrong.
The Build-List-and-Reorder Question FormatQuestions in the build-list-and-reorder format present two lists of itemsone on the left and one on the right. To answer the question, you must move items from the list on the right to the list on the left. The final list must then be reordered into a specific order. These questions generally sound like this: "From the following list of choices, pick the choices that answer the question. Arrange the list in a certain order." To give you practice with this type of question, some questions of this type are included in this book. Question 3 shows an example of how they appear in this book; for an example of how they appear on the test, see Figure 1.2. Figure 1.2. The format for buildlist-and-reorder questions
The Create-a-Tree Question FormatQuestions in the create-a-tree format also present two listsone on the left side of the screen and one on the right side of the screen. The list on the right consists of individual items, and the list on the left consists of nodes in a tree. To answer the question, you must move items from the list on the right to the appropriate node in the tree. These questions can best be characterized as simply a matching exercise. Items from the list on the right are placed under the appropriate category in the list on the left. Question 4 shows an example of how they appear in this book; for a sample of how they appear on the test, see Figure 1.3. Figure 1.3. The create-a-tree question format
The Drag-and-Connect Question FormatQuestions in the drag-and-connect format present a group of objects and a list of connections. To answer the question, you must move the appropriate connections between the objects. This type of question is best described using graphics. Question 5 shows an example.
The Select-and-Place Question FormatQuestions in the select-and-place (drag-and-drop) format present a diagram with blank boxes and a list of labels that need to be dragged to correctly fill in the blank boxes. To answer such a question, you must move the labels to their appropriate positions on the diagram. This type of question is best described using graphics. Question 6 shows an example.
New Exam Question FormatsMicrosoft is introducing several new question types in addition to the more traditional types of questions that are still widely used on all Microsoft exams. These new, innovative question types were highly researched and tested by Microsoft before they were chosen to be included in many of the newer exams for the MCSA/MCSE on Windows 2000 track and the MCSA/MCSE on Windows Server 2003 track. These new question types are as follows:
Hot Area Question TypesHot area questions ask you to indicate the correct answer by selecting one or more elements within a graphic. For example, you might be asked to select multiple objects within a list, as shown in Figure 1.5. Figure 1.5. Selecting objects within a list box to answer a hot area questionActive Screen Question TypesActive screen questions ask you to configure a dialog box by modifying one or more elements. These types of questions offer a realistic interface in which you must properly configure various settings, just as you would within the actual software product. For example, you might be asked to select the proper option within a drop-down list box, as shown in Figure 1.6. Figure 1.6. Configuring an option from a dialog box's drop-down list box to answer an active screen questionNew Drag-and-Drop Question TypesNew drag-and-drop questions ask you to drag source elements to their appropriate corresponding targets within a work area. These types of questions test your knowledge of specific concepts and their definitions or descriptions. For example, you might be asked to match a description of a computer program to the actual software application, as shown in Figure 1.7. Figure 1.7. Using drag-and-drop to match the correct application description to each software program listedSimulation Question TypesSimulation questions ask you to indicate the correct answer by performing specific tasks, such as configuring and installing network adapters or drivers, configuring and controlling access to files, or troubleshooting hardware devices. Many of the tasks that systems administrators and systems engineers perform can be presented more accurately in simulations than in most traditional exam question types (see Figure 1.8). Figure 1.8. Answering a simulation question about how to troubleshoot a network printing problemTip When in doubt, don't change your first instinct! If you're not sure of the possible answers, always go with your first instinct. |