| The following series of questions and observations is designed to help you figure out how much work you must do to pursue Microsoft certification and what kinds of resources you may consult on your quest. Be absolutely honest in your answers, or you'll end up wasting money on exams you're not yet ready to take. There are no right or wrong answers, only steps along the path to certification. Only you can decide where you really belong in the broad spectrum of aspiring candidates. Two things should be clear from the outset, however: Educational Background -
Have you ever taken any computer- related classes? [Yes or No] If Yes, proceed to question 2; if No, proceed to question 4. -
Have you taken any classes on computer operating systems? [Yes or No] If Yes, you will probably be able to handle Microsoft's architecture and system component discussions. If you're rusty, brush up on basic operating system concepts, especially virtual memory, multitasking regimes, user mode versus kernel mode operation, and general computer security topics. If No, consider some basic reading in this area. We strongly recommend a good general operating systems book, such as Operating System Concepts, 5th Edition , by Abraham Silberschatz and Peter Baer Galvin (John Wiley & Sons, 1998, ISBN 0-471-36414-2). If this title doesn't appeal to you, check out reviews for other, similar titles at your favorite online bookstore. -
Have you taken any networking concepts or technologies classes? [Yes or No] If Yes, you will probably be able to handle Microsoft's networking terminology, concepts, and technologies ( brace yourself for frequent departures from normal usage). If you're rusty, brush up on basic networking concepts and terminology, especially networking media, transmission types, the OSI Reference Model, and networking technologies such as Ethernet, token ring, FDDI, and WAN links. If No, you might want to read one or two books in this topic area. The two best books that we know of are Computer Networks, 3rd Edition , by Andrew S. Tanenbaum (Prentice-Hall, 1996, ISBN 0-13-349945-6) and Computer Networks and Internets, 2nd Edition , by Douglas E. Comer (Prentice-Hall, 1998, ISBN 0-130-83617-6). Skip to the next section, "Hands-On Experience." -
Have you done any reading on operating systems or networks? [Yes or No] If Yes, review the requirements stated in the first paragraphs after questions 2 and 3. If you meet those requirements, move on to the next section. If No, consult the recommended reading for both topics. A strong background will help you prepare for the Microsoft exams better than just about anything else. Hands-On Experience The most important key to success on all of the Microsoft tests is hands-on experience, especially with Windows 2000 Server and Professional, plus the many add-on services and BackOffice components around which so many of the Microsoft certification exams revolve. If we leave you with only one realization after taking this Self-Assessment, it should be that there's no substitute for time spent installing, configuring, and using the various Microsoft products upon which you'll be tested repeatedly and in depth. -
Have you installed, configured, and worked with: -
Windows 2000 Server? [Yes or No] If Yes, make sure you understand basic concepts as covered in Exam 70-215. You should also study the TCP/IP interfaces, utilities, and services for Exam 70-216, plus implementing security features for Exam 70-220.  | You can download objectives, practice exams, and other data about Microsoft exams from the Training and Certification page at www.microsoft.com/traincert/. Use the "Find an Exam" link to obtain specific exam info . |
If you haven't worked with Windows 2000 Server, TCP/IP, and IIS (or whatever product you choose for your final elective ), you must obtain one or two machines and a copy of Windows 2000 Server. Then, learn the operating system, and do the same for TCP/IP and whatever other software components on which you'll also be tested. In fact, we recommend that you obtain two computers, each with a network interface, and set up a two-node network on which to practice. With decent Windows 2000-capable computers selling for about $500 to $600 apiece these days, this shouldn't be too much of a financial hardship. You may have to scrounge to come up with the necessary software, but if you scour the Microsoft Web site you can usually find low-cost options to obtain evaluation copies of most of the software that you'll need. -
Windows 2000 Professional? [Yes or No] If Yes, make sure you understand the concepts covered in Exam 70-210. If No, you will want to obtain a copy of Windows 2000 Professional and learn how to install, configure, and maintain it. You can use MCSE Windows 2000 Professional Exam Cram 2 to guide your activities and studies, or work straight from Microsoft's test objectives if you prefer. | | For any and all of these Microsoft exams, the Resource Kits for the topics involved are a good study resource. You can purchase softcover Resource Kits from Microsoft Press (search for them at mspress.microsoft.com/), but they also appear on the TechNet CDs (www.microsoft.com/technet). We believe that Resource Kits are among the best preparation tools available, along with the Exam Crams and Exam Preps , that you can use to get ready for Microsoft exams. |
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Have you installed, configured, used, and upgraded any specific Microsoft product that is not itself an operating system (for example, FrontPage 2000, SQL Server, and so on)? [Yes or No] If the answer is Yes, skip to the next section. If it's No, you must get some experience. Read on for suggestions on how to do this. Experience is a must with any Microsoft product exam, be it something as simple as FrontPage 2000 or as challenging as Exchange Server 5.5 or SQL Server 7.0. For trial copies of other software, search Microsoft's Web site using the name of the product as your search term . Also, search for bundles like "BackOffice" or "Small Business Server." | | If you have the funds, or your employer will pay your way, consider taking a class at a Certified Training and Education Center (CTEC) or at an Authorized Academic Training Partner (AATP). In addition to classroom exposure to the topic of your choice, you get a copy of the software that is the focus of your course, along with a trial version of whatever operating system it needs (usually, NT Server), with the training materials for that class. |
Before you even think about taking any Microsoft exam, make sure you've spent enough time with the related software to understand how it may be installed and configured, how to maintain such an installation, and how to troubleshoot that software when things go wrong. This will help you in the exam, and in real life! Testing Your Exam-Readiness Whether you attend a formal class on a specific topic to get ready for an exam or use written materials to study on your own, some preparation for the Microsoft certification exams is essential. At $100 a try, pass or fail, you want to do everything you can to pass on your first try. That's where studying comes in. We have included two practice exams in this book, so if you don't score that well on the first test, you can study more and then tackle the second test. If you still don't hit a score of at least 70 percent after these tests, you'll want to investigate the other practice test resources we mention in this section. For any given subject, consider taking a class if you've tackled self-study materials, taken the test, and failed anyway. The opportunity to interact with an instructor and fellow students can make all the difference in the world, if you can afford that privilege. For information about Microsoft classes, visit the Training and Certification page at www.microsoft.com/train_cert/ (use the "Find a Course" link). If you can't afford to take a class, visit the Training and Certification page anyway, because it also includes pointers to free practice exams and to Microsoft Certified Professional Approved Study Guides and other self-study tools. And even if you can't afford to spend much at all, you should still invest in some low-cost practice exams from commercial vendors . -
Have you taken a practice exam on your chosen test subject? [Yes or No] If Yes, and you scored 70 percent or better, you're probably ready to tackle the real thing. If your score isn't above that threshold, keep at it until you break that barrier . If No, obtain all the free and low-budget practice tests you can find (see the list above) and get to work. Keep at it until you can break the passing threshold comfortably. | | When it comes to assessing your test readiness, there is no better way than to take a good-quality practice exam and pass with a score of 70 percent or better. When we're preparing ourselves , we shoot for 80-plus percent, just to leave room for the "weirdness factor" that sometimes shows up on Microsoft exams. |
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