MS: Pilot Simulation Exams, End-game voucher and I love Trika!

That sure is a lot to cover in this header, but it is true.

If you happen to read Trika’s Blog as I do you will find this little gem about the Performance based testing pilot!

What this talks about is a Performanced based pilot! Going through a new simulation type which MS and Prometric are working on offering and delivering. Quite different than the past “instance” based simulations, where you’re limited in what you’re able to do. This actually gives you the real environment where it judges you on not how you got to your answer, just on your final answer.

I think it sounds and seems pretty sweet, as us command line folks would rather type a command than click a million windows to end up at the same point.

Disclaimer: Participation in this pilot exam will not earn you credit for the MCTS Server 2008 AD. It will however earn you a free exam voucher to be used for any MS exam.

Register for New Performance Based Testing Pilot Exam 70-113: TS: Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring

Microsoft Learning is testing a new Performance Based testing system that will be integrated into the existing certification programs in order to better evaluate and validate candidates’ skills using Microsoft products and technologies.

The Performance Based testing method we are piloting is an exam which emulates a Windows Server 2008 infrastructure. In this infrastructure you will be tasked with completing a series of tasks. Once complete, the system will evaluate each tasks end-state to determine if the tasks have been completed and correctly implemented. This process is different from simulations because you will have every tool and path available that you would normally have in a real world scenario. Simulations restrict you to a small number of expected paths, whereas emulations allow for any path, as long as the end result is correct.

This pilot exam will not provide you with a score as with normal beta exams. This pilot is a test of the exam experience, delivery system and infrastructure, so only a portion of the final exam will be presented to you during this pilot. This pilot exam will not be added to your transcript and you will need to take the exam in its released form in order to be awarded the credential.

By participating in this pilot exam, you have the unique opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about your exam experience, and exam content, which is vital to the future development of Performance Based exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals as we continually improve and expand our certification program and testing technologies to grow the value of Microsoft certifications.

Upon completion of this pilot exam, the first 3000 candidates will receive a free exam voucher that can be used to register for any Microsoft Certification exam delivered at a Prometric testing center. The voucher will be distributed electronically 4 weeks after the end of the Pilot. If you have not received your voucher within this timeframe, then unfortunately, you were not part of the first 3000 candidates.

Availability

* Registration begins: July 29, 2008
* Pilot exam period runs: July 31, 2008– September 12, 2008
* In order to facilitate exam availability in as many testing centers as possible for this pilot, registrations must be made 7 days in advance.
* Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in this pilot; we recommend that you register immediately. This pilot will have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all pilot slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.
* Testing is held at Prometric testing centers.

Registration Information

* You must register at least 7 days prior to taking the exam.
* Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: H640
* Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the pilot; we recommend that you register immediately.
* To register for this pilot: Go to the Prometric Website: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp
* Find Microsoft exam 70-113: TS: Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
* Use Promo Code H640
* if you have any issues registering or taking this pilot exam please email Performance Based Exams (pbexam@microsoft.com).

Test Information and Support

* You are invited to take this pilot exam at no charge.
* You will be given four hours to complete the pilot exam. Please plan accordingly.
* Though not all of the exam will be presented to the pilot candidates, we would appreciate it if you were familiar with the exams objectives. This will help us better evaluate the data from this pilot.
* Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-640.aspx

So, as it stands, getting to get your hands on and provide feedback for the future of simulations, ensure any ‘issues’ are known and notified by you back to the mothership regarding future testing.

Oh, and I think it goes without saying, that we all love Trika! I know I do! :)

NS1-050 Post Mortem: NetApp Installation Accredited Professional

What is there to say about NS1-050…

Avoid taking it if you don’t have a good understanding of FAS equipment and Data ONTAP

It doesn’t require an advanced understanding, but a good solid foundation, having worked with equipment for some time, as well as some basic diagnostic and configuration work.

Still nothing published about this on the NetApp Certification site, but betas are as betas will be!

Good luck taking it!

New NetApp beta exam! (NS1-050) Installation Accredited Professional

As you can tell from past postings – I keep an eye out for Certification exams.
I usually check specifically for Microsoft ones, and I also keep my eyes out for NetApp exams.

So, with that – NS1-050 is available in Beta until August 15th

It clocks in as a 3:15 minute exam, so normal par for the course of a NetApp Beta Exam
These type of exams are simply $0.00 cost, no associated Promotion code nor Voucher needed.

I imagine we’re looking at a fairly straight forward “What is involved in Installation

Where the exam will play out in the big picture – hard to tell, I cannot find any details on this!

But nonetheless – you Storage guys out there, interested in taking it, knock it out!
If I find any details posted about this, I’ll be sure to let you know!

Two more beta exams! (71-654) Windows Essentials EBS, (71-660) Windows Internals

I love Trika! She’s such a wealth of knowledge, information, lolcatz and a number of other sillie things!

In this episode, we cover two (more) beta exams.

71-654 – TS: Windows Essential Business Server 2008, Configuring
The promo code is “EBS08
The beta is initially scheduled from 7/22 to 8/12.

About EBS: “Windows Essential Business Server 2008 combines software for management, messaging, and security features into one integrated server solution that will help customers increase the manageability and reliability of their IT systems, and boost businesses productivity and growth.”

This credential is designed for information technology (IT) professionals working in or consulting with medium sized businesses that use Windows Essentials Server 2008. A candidate for this exam should have at least one year of experience deploying, configuring, and managing network solutions in an environment with the following characteristics:

* 75+ company network connections
* Company networks with Internet connectivity
* Individual users or user groups that connect to the company network from remote locations
* Messaging (Internet, and Exchange)
* Anti-spam

And the second (and cooooolest one)

71-660: TS: Windows® Internals
The promo code is “WINT
Beta exam period runs: July 21, 2008– August 5, 2008

About this Exam

This exam validates deep technical skills in the area of Windows Internals. Including troubleshooting operating systems that are not performing as expected or applications that are not working correctly, identifying code defects, and developing and debugging applications that run unmanaged code or that are tightly integrated with the operating system, such as Microsoft SQL Server, third party applications, antivirus software, and device drivers.

Audience Profile

Candidates for this exam are engineers, developers, or IT staff who work with Windows at a level that requires Windows Internals knowledge. Candidates for this exam are typically in the upper echelon of the technical staff at their companies. These individuals typically hold such positions as escalation engineer, technical lead, and software design engineer. Their level of knowledge spans products both inside and outside the Microsoft Corporation. These individuals are involved in resolving problems that require deep understanding of Windows Internals rather than problems about planning and infrastructure development or how to use or configure a product that runs on Windows.

Cisco and VUE get SERIOUS about Certification testing!

I received this email today… see below! It’s amazing!

Cisco and Pearson VUE Launch Global Test Delivery Exam Security Enhancements

Cisco and its global testing provider, Pearson VUE, a business of Pearson Inc. are pleased to announce a series of security enhancements that will reinforce the integrity and value of its Career certification program.

The advanced security enhancements include the use of digital photographs for candidate-identity verification and forensic analysis of testing data. The new measures, to be implemented beginning on Aug. 1, will include:

* Photo on Score Report and Web – On completion of a certification exam at the test center, candidates will receive preliminary score reports imprinted with their photos and unique authentication codes. The authentication code can be used to access a candidate’s official score online at Pearson VUE’s website usually within 72 hours of the examination. The online score report will also display the candidate’s photo. Candidates may share access to their online records with employers or other third parties.

* Forensic Analysis – Exam results and other testing data will be continuously analyzed by forensic software to detect aberrant testing behavior and to flag suspect exams for further investigation.

* Preliminary Score Report – All paper score reports will be preliminary, pending the results of forensic analysis, until official exam scores are posted to the Web usually within 72 hours of exam completion. Once the exam scores are official, candidates may use the authentication codes on their score reports to access the Pearson VUE website for score and photo verification.

These new exam security measures are part of Cisco’s overall strategy to protect the value and integrity of its certifications. Other measures include simulation-based testing, dynamically generated questions and emulations to help ensure that Cisco certified networking professionals continue to have the knowledge, skills, and credentials to perform well on the job.

So, you might be thinking “What does this mean to me?”

This means a new era is upon us! A new way of testing! A whole new paradigm shift…
Well, not exactly.

  • The picture – Okay idea, sounds kind of interesting and making content available online at your choosing great!
  • The forensic analysis – that’ll be interesting. Hopefully a lot of very skilled people, or learning folks do not get completely burned by this. Oh wait, I must forget who I’m talking about.
  • Am I confusing Cisco – the company who guarantees your certification will expire in 2 years (sometimes 3!) with another company? I must be confused.

    No, alot of people WILL get burned, that’s a fact. This is the positive out look on it.
    Walk in, expecting this to be painful, and I think we’ll be fine.

    I expect and imagine a lot of very good things from this, hopefully inclusive with this is a reform of the entire Cisco Certification track to make it more applicable, viable and useful – Too much memorization involved.

    Good Luck!