SME and MCDST scoring

Just thought I would throw this out. The first week of
Dec me and my co-worker (we both took both beta exams)
got an email saying MS wanted us to be part of the SME
for this exam. We agreed, and although I couldn't make
the flight my co-worker did. MS paid full round trip from
here in Boston to Redmond, WA to sit on the panel to
decide the score. He tells me it went well and he would
know the score and results of the exam in the coming
weeks. The instructor at the facility mentioned that if
you got an email saying they wanted you to come to the
facility then you "passed" the exams. I've attached the
email I've received below. So sit tight and you will all
get your results soon.

The first email i got was this, I've pulled the name out
of the sender:

I'm xxxxxxx, Content Development Manager for Microsoft's
Desktop Support Technician Exam 271. Thanks for taking
our Beta exam. We're interested in your skills and
knowledge of the Desktop Support Technician role and
would like to know more about you. If you are interested
in helping us as a Subject Matter Expert for this exam,
please reply to this message and briefly answer the
following questions:


Do you currently support end users? How many hours a week
and for how many months/years?
If you do not currently support end users, how long ago
did you support them? How many hours a week and for how
many months/years?
Do you have experience managing desktop support
technicians? How long have you managed them?
What city, state/region, and country do you live in?

Thanks for your help. I'll get back to you shortly.

So I replied positively, and then got :

Based on your skills and experience supporting end users,
we are interested in you attending a one-day standard
setting meeting for Exam 271. The meeting is scheduled
for Tuesday, December 16th in Redmond, Washington. If you
are invited and able to attend, we would pay your travel
expenses. However, your work as a SME would be on a
volunteer basis, without pay. Are you available December
15 - 17th and interested in participating?

At this point it was to short of a notice for me.

 

Can anyone else comfirm this?

 

I can confirm it with my co-workers pictures he took
while being an SME onsite for this exam again, we both
got this email I just could not have attended. The
instructor told my co-worker that getting the email to be
a SME meant also that we scored EXTREMLY high. You should
see some of the stuff Microsoft has in the WA facility.
They have a services called "Microsoft Dining" , its for
food service.

 

in addition to my first post on being invited to Redmond,
WA for the 271, I received one for 272 today.

Good Afternoon! If you are not in the continental United
States, please delete and accept my apologies for the
distraction. I am looking for experienced Desktop
technicians who support applications. You are on this
mailing because of your strong performance on the beta
exam.

Part of the development process for new exams is to set
the passing standard for certification. We are
progressing toward this milestone for the Microsoft
Certification Exam 70-272: Maintaining and
Troubleshooting Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP
Platform for Desktop Support Technicians and we need your
help to ensure the standard is set properly. We arranged
to do this on January 6th but not enough people were able
to attend. That said, I am reopening the session and
would like 6-8 people to attend.

The development team needs qualified beta examinees to
attend a one-day meeting at Microsoft's Redmond campus.
This meeting is to establish a fair passing score for
Exam 70-272. You will be providing a key role in "setting
the bar" that determines the standard required to gain
certification for this exam.

Where: Microsoft Main Campus, Redmond, WA
When: Friday, January 16th 9:00AM to 4:30PM
Travel: If you are not local to the Seattle, WA area, we
will reimburse you all travel related expenses after
attending this meeting.

If you can attend this meeting please let me know ASAP.
We are unable to pay fees for attending this meeting, but
there will be a token gift for your participation and, of
course, breakfast and lunch will be provided. If you
confirm, we will get in touch with you by Tuesday to
confirm your attendance, provide travel instructions and
finalize meeting details.

Thank you! Your interest and participation are much
appreciated! Please feel free to contact me if you have
any questions.