Question-Handling Strategies

For those questions that have only one correct answer, usually two or three of the answers are obviously incorrect, and two of the answers are plausible. Unless the answer leaps out at you (if it does, reread the question to look for a trick; sometimes, these are the questions you're most likely to get wrong), begin the process of answering by eliminating those answers that are most obviously wrong.

At least one answer out of the possible choices for a question can usually be eliminated immediately because it matches one of these conditions:

• The answer does not apply to the situation.

• The answer describes a nonexistent issue, an invalid option, or an imaginary state.

After you eliminate all answers that are obviously wrong, you can apply your retained knowledge to eliminate further answers. Look for items that sound correct but refer to actions, commands, or features that are not present or not available in the situation that the question describes.

If you're still faced with a blind guess among two or more potentially correct answers, reread the question. Try to picture how each of the possible remaining answers would alter the situation. Be especially sensitive to terminology; sometimes, the choice of words (remove instead of disable) can make the difference between a right answer and a wrong one.

You should guess at an answer only after you've exhausted your ability to eliminate answers and are still unclear about which of the remaining possibilities is correct. An unanswered question offers you no points, but guessing gives you at least some chance of getting a question right; just don't be too hasty when making a blind guess.

Numerous questions assume that the default behavior of a particular utility is in effect. If you know the defaults and understand what they mean, this knowledge will help you cut through many Gordian knots. Simple "final" actions might be critical as well. If a utility must be restarted before proposed changes take effect, a correct answer might require this step as well.

Ultimately, how you answer a question might depend on the type of exam being taken: adaptive or nonadaptive. The current standard is for MCP exams to be nonadaptive, although Microsoft has publicly said they might start using adaptive exams at some time in the future. In the standard nonadaptive exam, you can mark questions that you have skipped or want to look at again for review. You get a second chance to look at these questions before submitting your exam for grading. In addition, you can move backward through the exam to get back to a question you want to look at again. When you take an adaptive exam, there is no going back after you have moved on to the next question and no review screen giving you the option to look at the question again before grading the exam.