70-216 - Bad rep or just bad?

I've read over and over how hard the 70-216 exam is. I'm curious if this is
simply being repeated from those who have read it other places, or if each
post represents a true opinion from someone who has taken the exam. I have
reviewed the topics for the exam, and quite frankly, it just doesn't look
all that difficult. I would like to get some opinions from those that have
taken the exam, and if you consider it to be very difficult, please give a
few reasons why.

Thanks!

Clint Kennedy
BSCS, MCP

 

This test is not hard, I read the same thing. The only major difference is
that the questions are longer so you have to weed out
more of the bullshit. As long as you have read the book and understand,
Microsoft's way of doing things, you'll be ok.

Don't be afraid of it.


I've read over and over how hard the 70-216 exam is. I'm curious if this is
simply being repeated from those who have read it other places, or if each
post represents a true opinion from someone who has taken the exam. I have
reviewed the topics for the exam, and quite frankly, it just doesn't look
all that difficult. I would like to get some opinions from those that have
taken the exam, and if you consider it to be very difficult, please give a
few reasons why.

Thanks!

Clint Kennedy
BSCS, MCP

 

Yeah I found it quite average compared to the other MS tests - I mean,
it WAS harder than the 217 but thats not really saying much!

I wouldn't say its much, if any, harder than the other tests. Its like
everyone says, know the material and you will have no problems

 

It's not hard if you know the topic. For that matter all Microsoft tests are
easy if you know your stuff. But comparatively speaking 216 is more
challenging than 210, 215, and 217. That says more about the ease of 210,
215, and 217 than it does about the difficulty of 216.

--
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MCSA, CCEA, MCNGP #15
The MCNGP Team - We're here to help

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
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The key point is that every poster can only give their
opinion. In reality just like with all other test it
depends on your experience level. There have been posters
who've thought the test was quite easy. Whether the test
is hard or easy is relative to each individual, but none
the less quite a few posters here get all worked up in
preparing for the exam because someone else thought it was
hard.

 

216 isn't the beast they make it out to be.
i found it much the same as some of the other exams.
i think the problem may be in the fact that it is more industry standard
than MS focused.

 

I read also the same thing from several different people
who had passed all kinds of exams before, and hit the wall
on 216.

Here's my thoughts on 216.

I think difficulties on this exam stem from the fact that
it's sort of esoteric, and requires deductive reasoning
possibly moreso than other exams. I flunked this exam
twice in 2001 and 2002, and passed it on my third attempt.
I had passed a total of 9 microsoft exams before I took
216, and had failed only twice on different exams before.
I used the same preparation habits for 216, and found that
they weren't quite good enough, first attempt on 216 I
missed by 140, second missed by 100... I don't know how
much I cleared it by on my third attempt (pass), but it
felt like i had a decent margine).

The first time I sat down to 216 in Nov 2001, I thought
they had loaded the wrong exam...it was that bad. i had
used the sybex book. The second time, a few weeks later
I'd used the sybex etrainer(virtually same info as the
sybex book), and the exam felt just as bad.

At that point. I got away from it for a bit as work was
demanding, and they wanted me to get my CDIA and some
other minor certs. After that and Network plus(at my
company's request), I took the relatively easy 218 and got
my MCSA by using my A+ and Network + in place of 216. I
knew i would return to 216 soon....which I did.

I THINK the key to 216 is to use multiple sources for
study material. Although in previous exams, one source
study can cover 7/8's of the questions, for 216 i think
any one source can cover only 2/3rds. Another words, even
two sources may not get you there. I am absolutly not
faulting good ole Sybex in the above, due to the wide
range in 216, Sybex did a good job covering 2/3's of 216,
just like New Riders did, Microsoft Press did and Passport
did.

I had used Sybex the year before and this year added
Microsoft Press, New Riders and Passport...4 sources in
all.
When I sat down to 216 this time, it didn't seem like the
wrong exam, actually all of the questions save one, had
been covered in my 4 sources. As i was taking the exam the
thought crossed my mind "This is a fair exam, If I fail it
this time, I deserve it". I cant remember back to 2001 to
know if the questions had changed, but reading through the
new sources i was learning many new things.

Therefore, I personally believe the the easiest way to
traverse 216 is use multiple sources, and unless your day
job is a rocket scientist, or a millionaire, don't attempt
216 without multiple sources. if you use multiple sources,
calm yourself before you sit down, it will feel just as
any other MS exam

BTW. I found I liked different sources for different
reasons. MS Press was it's usual dry self, but I used if
as the difinative answer in resolving "conflicts" from
other sources. Passport was it's usual wonderful self in
hands on real world stuff, and was the core of my study,
(i learned Passport real well, and filled in with MS Press
and New Riders. New Riders was between MS Press and
Passport, and had answers which were not in the others.

I may have over prepared a bit, but when I had 40 minuets
left at the end of the exam to go over my answers, I
pretty much new I was going to make it. I think that
multisourcing made all of the difference.

Passoprt was the core of my study, i examined it very
carefully...then folleows up with a light reading of New
Riders and MS Press, making ones of all new info that
wasn't covered in Passport.

Judging from my experience of two fails then a pass, i's
day anyone who multisources will make it aok

Good Luck!



So in a nutshell, multisource

 

Great insight and advice! I agree with your approach 100% That is how I am
proceeding in self-study.
Thanx for the down to earth comments.

 

216 is very tricky... when I first saw the microsoft
training kit, I thought it's even easier than 210, it
turned out that it's not true.. for sure u don't have to
be Bill Gates to pass it.. but u need a really good and
long preparation, and here r some reasons:
1. I call 216 "the check boxes exam" u need to know every
check box in every single service (dhcp, dns, wins.. etc)
and it's not that easy, cz they r very similar, and u need
to know where is every check box...
2. there is no 1 single resource for studing, u must use
several resources unlike any other subject
3. some pple find subneting very defficult
4. must cases can't be practiced: when u have a question
like: we have 20 router!!
I think that all what 216 needs is a good preparation, and
u'll pass it