Chapter 1. Microsoft Certification Exams

Terms you'll need to understand:

• Case study

• Multiple-choice question format

• Build-list-and-reorder question format

• Create-a-tree question format

• Drag-and-connect question format

• Select-and-place question format

• Hot area question format

• Active screen question format

• Fixed-length test

• Simulation

• Adaptive test

• Short-form test

Techniques you'll need to master:

• Assessing your exam-readiness

• Answering Microsoft's various question types

• Altering your test strategy depending on the exam format

• Practicing to make perfect

• Making the best use of the testing software

• Budgeting your time

• Guessing as a last resort

Exam taking is not something that most people look forward to, no matter how well prepared they are. In most cases, familiarity helps offset test anxiety. In plain English, that means you probably won't be as nervous when you take your fourth or fifth Microsoft certification exam as you'll be when you take your first one.

Whether it's your first exam or your tenth, understanding the details of taking the new exams (how much time to spend on questions, the environment you'll be in, and so on) and the new exam software will help you concentrate on the material rather than on the setting. Likewise, mastering a few basic exam-taking skills should help you recognize and perhaps even outfox some of the tricks and snares you're bound to find in some exam questions.

This chapter, in addition to explaining the exam environment and software, describes some proven exam-taking strategies that you should be able to use to your advantage. Taking the time to read through the information and recommendations presented in this chapter will bring you one step closer to achieving success on a Microsoft exam.