"encyclopaedic" questions?

Hi all,

Can anybody tell whether "encyclopaedic" question types such as

- What is the maximum value of the *** data type?
- Which property on a controls does ***?
- Which keyboard shortcut in the IDE does ***?

can be asked on a real MCSD exam? My opinion is that it is rather
unreasonable to keep such things in memory while they can always be looked
up in MSDN, but that's only my opinion, and who knows what that of Microsoft
is?

--
Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]
X-Unity Test Studio
http://x-unity.miik.com.ua/teststudio.aspx
Bring the power of unit testing to VS .NET IDE

Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]

Those type of questions are completely pointless and does nothing to
prove whether or not a person is competent or not.

In any case the whole format of the microsoft exam questions is poor
and proves nothing.

On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 11:47:22 +0200, "Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]"
<x-> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>Can anybody tell whether "encyclopaedic" question types such as
>
>- What is the maximum value of the *** data type?
>- Which property on a controls does ***?
>- Which keyboard shortcut in the IDE does ***?
>
>can be asked on a real MCSD exam? My opinion is that it is rather
>unreasonable to keep such things in memory while they can always be looked
>up in MSDN, but that's only my opinion, and who knows what that of Microsoft
>is?


Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

The Poster Formerly Known as Kline Sphere

Knowing the maximum values of an integer is relevent, especially if it's in
the context of database modeling. However, keyboard shortcuts can vary
depending on which IDE one is using.

"Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]" <x-> wrote
in message news:...
> Hi all,
>
> Can anybody tell whether "encyclopaedic" question types such as
>
> - What is the maximum value of the *** data type?
> - Which property on a controls does ***?
> - Which keyboard shortcut in the IDE does ***?
>
> can be asked on a real MCSD exam? My opinion is that it is rather
> unreasonable to keep such things in memory while they can always be looked
> up in MSDN, but that's only my opinion, and who knows what that of
Microsoft
> is?
>
> --
> Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]
> X-Unity Test Studio
> http://x-unity.miik.com.ua/teststudio.aspx
> Bring the power of unit testing to VS .NET IDE
>

>Knowing the maximum values of an integer is relevent, especially if it's in
>the context of database modeling.

Although this would be different between implementation.

However, this type of question is below 'dummy' level, to see that
sort of question in an exam outside of the 8th grade, is it any wonder
employers take no notice of these exams!

Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

The Poster Formerly Known as Kline Sphere

Still...is there a chance to be asked such a question on the exam? In other
words, how reasonable is to memorize such information as data type limits,
property/method/event names, shortcuts (regarding the IDE: the exams fully
rely on VS .NET), or even command line arguments?

--
Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]
X-Unity Test Studio
http://x-unity.miik.com.ua/teststudio.aspx
Bring the power of unit testing to VS .NET IDE

"The Poster Formerly Known as Kline Sphere" <.> wrote in message
news:...
> Those type of questions are completely pointless and does nothing to
> prove whether or not a person is competent or not.
>
> In any case the whole format of the microsoft exam questions is poor
> and proves nothing.
>
> On Wed, 21 Jan 2004 11:47:22 +0200, "Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]"
> <x-> wrote:
>
> >Hi all,
> >
> >Can anybody tell whether "encyclopaedic" question types such as
> >
> >- What is the maximum value of the *** data type?
> >- Which property on a controls does ***?
> >- Which keyboard shortcut in the IDE does ***?
> >
> >can be asked on a real MCSD exam? My opinion is that it is rather
> >unreasonable to keep such things in memory while they can always be
looked
> >up in MSDN, but that's only my opinion, and who knows what that of
Microsoft
> >is?
>
>
> Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]

>Still...is there a chance to be asked such a question on the exam? In other
>words, how reasonable is to memorize such information as data type limits,
>property/method/event names, shortcuts (regarding the IDE: the exams fully
>rely on VS .NET), or even command line arguments?

I can't remember being asked anything so trivial as 'shortcuts' in any
microsoft exam.

I remember being asked a question way back about sizing sql server
[6.5] databases, which required knowing and understanding how the
actual space used by fields was calculated, i.e. understanding the
consequences of declaring a field to be null, the overhead of using
varchar's etc. I don't recall any question's about the sizes of
primitive types in the dot net exams; in any case this is no brainer

You will be expected to understand member names and what their
function is, although from my experience, understanding and knowing
the most appropriate class to use in a given situation is more likely
to crop up.

Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

The Poster Formerly Known as Kline Sphere

Yes, but how many people would still get the answer wrong on the exam?

"The Poster Formerly Known as Kline Sphere" <.> wrote in message
news:...
> >Knowing the maximum values of an integer is relevent, especially if it's
in
> >the context of database modeling.
>
> Although this would be different between implementation.
>
> However, this type of question is below 'dummy' level, to see that
> sort of question in an exam outside of the 8th grade, is it any wonder
> employers take no notice of these exams!
>
> Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

>Yes, but how many people would still get the answer wrong on the exam?

Too many...

Kline Sphere (Chalk) MCNGP #3

The Poster Formerly Known as Kline Sphere

Seems like I saw more of those types of questions on practice exams for VS6,
but not .NET. I never took any of the actual VS6 exams, though. None of the
prep material for .NET exams really covers it. I'd tell you about the exams,
but, then, I'd be violating the agreement. Right?




"Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]" <x-> wrote
in message news:...
> Hi all,
>
> Can anybody tell whether "encyclopaedic" question types such as
>
> - What is the maximum value of the *** data type?
> - Which property on a controls does ***?
> - Which keyboard shortcut in the IDE does ***?
>
> can be asked on a real MCSD exam? My opinion is that it is rather
> unreasonable to keep such things in memory while they can always be looked
> up in MSDN, but that's only my opinion, and who knows what that of
Microsoft
> is?
>
> --
> Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]
> X-Unity Test Studio
> http://x-unity.miik.com.ua/teststudio.aspx
> Bring the power of unit testing to VS .NET IDE
>

Brunswick Lowe

In no way I would like to encourage you to violate the agreement. But, I
hope, it is not forbidden to tell which additional books or other materials
you have used, and which topics are poorly covered in the Microsoft exam
preparation books, from your point of view?

--
Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]
X-Unity Test Studio
http://x-unity.miik.com.ua/teststudio.aspx
Bring the power of unit testing to VS .NET IDE

"Brunswick Lowe" <> wrote in message
news:e%...
> Seems like I saw more of those types of questions on practice exams for
VS6,
> but not .NET. I never took any of the actual VS6 exams, though. None of
the
> prep material for .NET exams really covers it. I'd tell you about the
exams,
> but, then, I'd be violating the agreement. Right?
>
>
>
>
> "Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]" <x-> wrote
> in message news:...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > Can anybody tell whether "encyclopaedic" question types such as
> >
> > - What is the maximum value of the *** data type?
> > - Which property on a controls does ***?
> > - Which keyboard shortcut in the IDE does ***?
> >
> > can be asked on a real MCSD exam? My opinion is that it is rather
> > unreasonable to keep such things in memory while they can always be
looked
> > up in MSDN, but that's only my opinion, and who knows what that of
> Microsoft
> > is?
> >
> > --
> > Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]
> > X-Unity Test Studio
> > http://x-unity.miik.com.ua/teststudio.aspx
> > Bring the power of unit testing to VS .NET IDE
> >
>
>

Dmitriy Lapshin [C# / .NET MVP]