Just passed 70-271... here's my advice

Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
(2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
taking the exam.

I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
anything away from the exam, of course).

The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
right.

The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
know you needed to know in the first place.

I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
way, you should definitely base your study time).

Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
not to go anywhere near this garbage).

Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
be more than ready.

I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
objectives list really helps out in that department.

Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
most anyone can pass easily like I did.

Alan

"Alan" <> wrote in message
news:32106216-6244-4A3E-BAC4-...
> Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as
> the
> Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> taking the exam.
>
> I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took
> the
> test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without
> giving
> anything away from the exam, of course).
<snip>

Well done and congratulations! This post should be part of an FAQ for people
wanting advice!

Wayne McGlinn
Brisbane, Oz
MCNGP Silver

Wayne

"Wayne" <> wrote in
news::

>
> "Alan" <> wrote in message
> news:32106216-6244-4A3E-BAC4-...
>> Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS
>> course (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course
>> as well as the
>> Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class
>> and taking the exam.
>>
>> I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I
>> took the
>> test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now
>> I thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers
>> (without giving
>> anything away from the exam, of course).
> <snip>
>
> Well done and congratulations! This post should be part of an FAQ for
> people wanting advice!
>
> Wayne McGlinn
> Brisbane, Oz
> MCNGP Silver
>
>
>

Most people should just read the posts prior to this, but this
definately sums it up. Good job and grats on the pass!

--
Lasher
MCNGP 110010
MCP/MCDST/MVMCHA
(Most Valuable Microsoft Certified Head Asploder)

Lasher

very nice post Alan, great job on your test score! I too got an 899 I
didnt take the instructor lead class but I have been dabbling in the computer
field for over 27 years now. I read the book, tried the free online study
material on the MS site, alot of the book (I got the newer one with service
pak 2) was very good I felt. I would agree with you on the fact if someone
just reads this book and has little or no computer exp they probably will not
pass the test. I didnt get all the answers correct from the included
questions from the book, but it did give me areas where I could focus.

I was very surprised how well I actually did on the test, Also I will add
one little tip for people out there...

You are giving a chance to review and change your answers after you get to
the end... I would recommand, Review before you hit complete. Re-read all the
questions completely (since you basically now have answered them all and
probably have some time left) Really try not to 2nd guess yourself and change
answers unless you know for sure you see one is incorrect.

"Alan" wrote:

> Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> taking the exam.
>
> I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> anything away from the exam, of course).
>
> The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> right.
>
> The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> know you needed to know in the first place.
>
> I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> way, you should definitely base your study time).
>
> Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> not to go anywhere near this garbage).
>
> Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> be more than ready.
>
> I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> objectives list really helps out in that department.
>
> Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> most anyone can pass easily like I did.

jkozlowski

Great info, congratulations. I am purchasing my study materials today.

"Alan" wrote:

> Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> taking the exam.
>
> I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> anything away from the exam, of course).
>
> The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> right.
>
> The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> know you needed to know in the first place.
>
> I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> way, you should definitely base your study time).
>
> Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> not to go anywhere near this garbage).
>
> Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> be more than ready.
>
> I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> objectives list really helps out in that department.
>
> Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> most anyone can pass easily like I did.

mmariecrys

Hi Alan,
I just passed my A+ cert a month ago and now persuing my MCDST cert. I am a
help desk technician for a public school in NY. I don't have any formal
training, just hands on. I bought the gianormous books and bought the
on-line training kit. Like the A+ exam, I am going to do this on my own
without any classes. After reading your posting I got a bit nervous because
there is no way I can attend class. I do however have the help of the
Network Administrator who shares my office. Any other advice you can offer
would be great. Congrats on your amazing accomplishment! I remember the
feeling of seeing "you passed!" when I passed my A+ Cert.

Marie

"Alan" wrote:

> Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> taking the exam.
>
> I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> anything away from the exam, of course).
>
> The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> right.
>
> The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> know you needed to know in the first place.
>
> I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> way, you should definitely base your study time).
>
> Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> not to go anywhere near this garbage).
>
> Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> be more than ready.
>
> I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> objectives list really helps out in that department.
>
> Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> most anyone can pass easily like I did.

Marie S

Hey Alan congratulations..... I have to agree with you on the comment you
made about those actual exams and those shady sites I was attending this
school to get my A+ and N+ and they used alot of those exams to get you
certified and dont teach you much....The bad thing is that Microsoft
recommends them

"Marie S" wrote:

> Hi Alan,
> I just passed my A+ cert a month ago and now persuing my MCDST cert. I am a
> help desk technician for a public school in NY. I don't have any formal
> training, just hands on. I bought the gianormous books and bought the
> on-line training kit. Like the A+ exam, I am going to do this on my own
> without any classes. After reading your posting I got a bit nervous because
> there is no way I can attend class. I do however have the help of the
> Network Administrator who shares my office. Any other advice you can offer
> would be great. Congrats on your amazing accomplishment! I remember the
> feeling of seeing "you passed!" when I passed my A+ Cert.
>
> Marie
>
> "Alan" wrote:
>
> > Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> > (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> > Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> > taking the exam.
> >
> > I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> > test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> > thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> > anything away from the exam, of course).
> >
> > The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> > actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> > material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> > know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> > and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> > of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> > activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> > used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> > really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> > right.
> >
> > The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> > in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> > knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> > opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> > every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> > you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> > understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> > MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> > memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> > actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> > quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> > scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> > know you needed to know in the first place.
> >
> > I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> > think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> > It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> > they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> > pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> > with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> > will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> > I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> > in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> > way, you should definitely base your study time).
> >
> > Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> > that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> > you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> > flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> > these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> > one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> > flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> > considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> > months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> > lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> > The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> > non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> > DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> > and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> > disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> > studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> > not to go anywhere near this garbage).
> >
> > Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> > position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> > everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> > just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> > just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> > permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> > the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> > remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> > it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> > actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> > remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> > understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> > exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> > with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> > that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> > this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> > be more than ready.
> >
> > I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> > also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> > only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> > and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> > those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> > objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> > extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> > those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> > to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> > I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> > objectives list really helps out in that department.
> >
> > Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> > taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> > and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> > because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> > because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> > most anyone can pass easily like I did.

AL P.

"AL P." wrote:

> Hey Alan congratulations..... I have to agree with you on the comment you
> made about those actual exams and those shady sites I was attending this
> school to get my A+ and N+ and they used alot of those exams to get you
> certified and dont teach you much....
>
> "Marie S" wrote:
>
> > Hi Alan,
> > I just passed my A+ cert a month ago and now persuing my MCDST cert. I am a
> > help desk technician for a public school in NY. I don't have any formal
> > training, just hands on. I bought the gianormous books and bought the
> > on-line training kit. Like the A+ exam, I am going to do this on my own
> > without any classes. After reading your posting I got a bit nervous because
> > there is no way I can attend class. I do however have the help of the
> > Network Administrator who shares my office. Any other advice you can offer
> > would be great. Congrats on your amazing accomplishment! I remember the
> > feeling of seeing "you passed!" when I passed my A+ Cert.
> >
> > Marie
> >
> > "Alan" wrote:
> >
> > > Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> > > (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> > > Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> > > taking the exam.
> > >
> > > I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> > > test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> > > thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> > > anything away from the exam, of course).
> > >
> > > The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> > > actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> > > material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> > > know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> > > and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> > > of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> > > activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> > > used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> > > really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> > > right.
> > >
> > > The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> > > in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> > > knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> > > opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> > > every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> > > you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> > > understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> > > MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> > > memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> > > actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> > > quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> > > scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> > > know you needed to know in the first place.
> > >
> > > I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> > > think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> > > It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> > > they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> > > pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> > > with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> > > will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> > > I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> > > in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> > > way, you should definitely base your study time).
> > >
> > > Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> > > that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> > > you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> > > flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> > > these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> > > one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> > > flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> > > considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> > > months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> > > lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> > > The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> > > non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> > > DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> > > and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> > > disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> > > studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> > > not to go anywhere near this garbage).
> > >
> > > Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> > > position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> > > everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> > > just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> > > just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> > > permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> > > the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> > > remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> > > it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> > > actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> > > remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> > > understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> > > exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> > > with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> > > that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> > > this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> > > be more than ready.
> > >
> > > I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> > > also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> > > only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> > > and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> > > those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> > > objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> > > extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> > > those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> > > to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> > > I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> > > objectives list really helps out in that department.
> > >
> > > Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> > > taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> > > and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> > > because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> > > because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> > > most anyone can pass easily like I did.

AL P.

this is a correction on my reply..... please disregard my last line in my
reply relating to Microsoft...................... thanks



"AL P." wrote:

> Hey Alan congratulations..... I have to agree with you on the comment you
> made about those actual exams and those shady sites I was attending this
> school to get my A+ and N+ and they used alot of those exams to get you
> certified and dont teach you much....The bad thing is that Microsoft
> recommends them
>
> "Marie S" wrote:
>
> > Hi Alan,
> > I just passed my A+ cert a month ago and now persuing my MCDST cert. I am a
> > help desk technician for a public school in NY. I don't have any formal
> > training, just hands on. I bought the gianormous books and bought the
> > on-line training kit. Like the A+ exam, I am going to do this on my own
> > without any classes. After reading your posting I got a bit nervous because
> > there is no way I can attend class. I do however have the help of the
> > Network Administrator who shares my office. Any other advice you can offer
> > would be great. Congrats on your amazing accomplishment! I remember the
> > feeling of seeing "you passed!" when I passed my A+ Cert.
> >
> > Marie
> >
> > "Alan" wrote:
> >
> > > Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> > > (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> > > Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> > > taking the exam.
> > >
> > > I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> > > test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> > > thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> > > anything away from the exam, of course).
> > >
> > > The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> > > actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> > > material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> > > know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> > > and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> > > of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> > > activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> > > used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> > > really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> > > right.
> > >
> > > The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> > > in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> > > knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> > > opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> > > every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> > > you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> > > understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> > > MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> > > memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> > > actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> > > quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> > > scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> > > know you needed to know in the first place.
> > >
> > > I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> > > think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> > > It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> > > they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> > > pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> > > with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> > > will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> > > I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> > > in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> > > way, you should definitely base your study time).
> > >
> > > Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> > > that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> > > you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> > > flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> > > these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> > > one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> > > flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> > > considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> > > months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> > > lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> > > The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> > > non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> > > DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> > > and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> > > disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> > > studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> > > not to go anywhere near this garbage).
> > >
> > > Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> > > position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> > > everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> > > just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> > > just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> > > permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> > > the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> > > remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> > > it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> > > actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> > > remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> > > understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> > > exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> > > with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> > > that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> > > this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> > > be more than ready.
> > >
> > > I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> > > also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> > > only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> > > and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> > > those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> > > objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> > > extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> > > those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> > > to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> > > I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> > > objectives list really helps out in that department.
> > >
> > > Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> > > taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> > > and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> > > because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> > > because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> > > most anyone can pass easily like I did.

AL P.

Hey Al P.
I didn't attend any type of formal schooling and was able to pass my A+
exam. I studied using Mike Meyers Passport book. I plan on doing the same
to pass my MCDST. I bought the Microsoft training kit books for both exams.


"AL P." wrote:

> Hey Alan congratulations..... I have to agree with you on the comment you
> made about those actual exams and those shady sites I was attending this
> school to get my A+ and N+ and they used alot of those exams to get you
> certified and dont teach you much....The bad thing is that Microsoft
> recommends them
>
> "Marie S" wrote:
>
> > Hi Alan,
> > I just passed my A+ cert a month ago and now persuing my MCDST cert. I am a
> > help desk technician for a public school in NY. I don't have any formal
> > training, just hands on. I bought the gianormous books and bought the
> > on-line training kit. Like the A+ exam, I am going to do this on my own
> > without any classes. After reading your posting I got a bit nervous because
> > there is no way I can attend class. I do however have the help of the
> > Network Administrator who shares my office. Any other advice you can offer
> > would be great. Congrats on your amazing accomplishment! I remember the
> > feeling of seeing "you passed!" when I passed my A+ Cert.
> >
> > Marie
> >
> > "Alan" wrote:
> >
> > > Passed 70-271 today with a score of 899. I took the official MS course
> > > (2261b, 3 days) and studied with the textbook from that course as well as the
> > > Measure-Up practice test. I took two weeks to study between the class and
> > > taking the exam.
> > >
> > > I looked through this discussion group for general advice before I took the
> > > test (which was very helpful, thanks to all who posted here), so now I
> > > thought I'd add some advice of my own for future test-takers (without giving
> > > anything away from the exam, of course).
> > >
> > > The 2261b course was helpful, but more because of the instructor than the
> > > actual book. The book is one of the most vague pieces of instructional
> > > material I've ever read. If you just read it straight through, you'll only
> > > know half of what you probably should know. You'll learn a lot of concepts
> > > and become familiar with terminology, but you may not have the slightest idea
> > > of how to execute a specific task. Participating in all of the practice
> > > activities helps out a lot. However, I feel I would have failed if I had just
> > > used the course and textbook as my sole study materials. The instructor
> > > really hit hard the areas he felt were important for the exam, and he was
> > > right.
> > >
> > > The Measure-Up practice tests really are more difficult than the actual exam
> > > in this particular instance. I used the Measure-Up tests not to gauge what I
> > > knew, but to study. Every question you get wrong in practice is an
> > > opportunity to learn, and you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read
> > > every explanation and follow up on missed questions until you understand why
> > > you missed them. If you come across a question and answer that you don't
> > > understand, google the topic. Often the search results will link you to the
> > > MS KB where you'll find more than enough info. It's true that you can
> > > memorize most Measure-Up questions within four or five tests, but if you
> > > actually know WHY the answer is what it is, you're in good shape. I learned
> > > quite a bit just from taking the practice tests; they will introduce you to
> > > scenarios that typical book study won't... you'll learn things you didn't
> > > know you needed to know in the first place.
> > >
> > > I got both my A+ and Network+ certifications before I took 70-271, and I
> > > think the Network+ certification in particular is a great help for this exam.
> > > It really shouldn't be any surprise that you need to know TCP/IP networks...
> > > they comprise every MS network and the internet, so understanding them is
> > > pretty much vital to taking exams like this. If you're not 100% comfortable
> > > with DNS, DHCP, ICMP utilities, and the general structure of domains, you
> > > will have problems, not just on this exam, but probably on most exams. Again,
> > > I don't think that should come as a shock to anyone. This is even mentioned
> > > in the list of objectives for the MCDST certification (around which, by the
> > > way, you should definitely base your study time).
> > >
> > > Do NOT EVER even THINK about using "study materials" from those shady sites
> > > that supposedly use actual exam questions. Aside from the obvious reason that
> > > you're cheating yourself out of learning the material and that you'll be a
> > > flop in whatever job you get from cheating your way through certification,
> > > these sites are just plain junk. I know because I was actually introduced to
> > > one by an *instructor* from a previous MS class (not 2261b) last summer, who
> > > flat out gave me .pdf files for several exams. At the time I had no idea MS
> > > considered them to be "cheating" and I browsed a couple of them (this was
> > > months before I even took my first CompTIA exam). Not only do these question
> > > lists not provide explanations, but some of the answers are just plain WRONG.
> > > The wording is poor, the grammar is poor, and the educational value is
> > > non-existant. If you're thinking about spending money on sites like this,
> > > DON'T. Use that money to get practice exams from a real site like MeasureUp
> > > and you'll actually learn something. (For my own good, I'm adding the
> > > disclaimer that I did not use the information from these sites in my own
> > > studying for this exam, or any other exam. I simply want to warn other people
> > > not to go anywhere near this garbage).
> > >
> > > Anyway... I'd strongly reccommend that anyone who hasn't worked in a DST
> > > position on XP Pro daily to just jump into the OS and start clicking on
> > > everything you see. Seriously. If you have a spare PC, install XP Pro and
> > > just go crazy with it. Open as many applets and options as you can find and
> > > just get familiar with what's there. Play around with folder options,
> > > permissions, synchronization options, accessibility options, everything in
> > > the control panel, IE settings, etc. The more you see, the more you will
> > > remember. It's one thing to read about how to do something in a book, but
> > > it's much better to actually carry out those instructions yourself so you
> > > actually know what you're doing. Instead of remembering steps, you'll
> > > remember what the menus and applets actually look like, and have a better
> > > understanding of how to accomplish tasks. I won't say either way about the
> > > exam, but I got several MeasureUp questions correct just by playing around
> > > with the Control Panel for awhile and remembering what I saw. I'd reccommend
> > > that people like me (just out of college but haven't worked in the field) do
> > > this daily. Know where every menu goes and what every button does, and you'll
> > > be more than ready.
> > >
> > > I was incredibly nervous about taking this exam. For Network+ and A+, I had
> > > also used PrepLogic practice tests, which are not available for 70-271, and
> > > only after using those as well as MeasureUp did I feel I was ready for the A+
> > > and Network+ exams. Yet I passed 70-271 by a much bigger margin than I did
> > > those other exams. I wouldn't call 70-271 easy, but I think the list of
> > > objectives is small enough and precise enough that preparation isn't
> > > extremely difficult. Honestly, the easiest way to pass this exam is to know
> > > those objectives. MS is handing them to you on a silver platter; all you need
> > > to do is study what they tell you to study. Personally, I was worried because
> > > I wasn't sure what I needed to know, and how much of it I needed to know. The
> > > objectives list really helps out in that department.
> > >
> > > Hopefully this post will help others that are in the position I was before
> > > taking this exam. I was worried that I might fail before I started the exam,
> > > and even during the exam, but in the end I really had nothing to worry about
> > > because I put in enough time with the study materials and practice tests, and
> > > because I has truly familiarized myself with the OS. Do the same and I'm sure
> > > most anyone can pass easily like I did.

Marie S