Tod1d's Thought Process

On May 28, 2004, I became a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). I am on the Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) track (5 exams). Here are the MCSD for Microsoft .NET Certification Requirements.

The exams I have chosen to take for my MCSD certification are listed below in order of (expected) completion :

1. Exam 70–300: Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures (Completed May 28, 2004)
2. Exam 70–315: Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C#™ .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (Completed Jul 30, 2004)
3. Exam 70–316: Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET (Completed Aug 05, 2004)
4. Exam 70–229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000 Enterprise Edition
5. Exam 70–320: Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework

This track has the benefit of including the Microsoft Certified Applications Developer (MCAD) certification once you have completed all of the exams but Exam 70-300. Therin lies my problem. I painted myself into a bit of a corner by taking the 70-300 exam first. Now I won't get my MCAD until I finish all 5 exams, at which point I will also receive my MCSD. Doh!

MCSD Study Tools
Here are a list of the study tools that worked best for me :

• Books
• MCSD .NET Solution Architectures Exam Cram 2 (Exam 70-300)
• MCAD Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 70-315)
• MCAD Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 70-316)
• MCSE SQL Server 2000 Database Design Exam Cram (Exam: 70-229)
  
• MCAD Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Visual C# .NET and the .NET Framework Exam Cram 2 (Exam Cram 70-320)
• Transcender
• TranscenderCert Exam Simulations
  

MCSD Certification Study Method

I work with several people who are Microsoft Certified Professionals and one who has his MCSD. They recommended studying for the MCSD using Exam Cram books and Transcender's TranscenderCert Exam Simulations. This method has worked very well for me. Here are the steps I have take for all my exams (more or less).

1. Take Transcender Exam A. This will give you a good idea how much you really know about the subject you are going to be tested on. If you score 600 or more, you are practically ready to take the real exam.
2. Read the Exam Cram book from begining to end, depending on how familiar I am with the subject. I made sure to answer the questions in each chapter.
3. Take 1 of the practice exams in the Exam Cram book.
4. Review questions that I missed while taking TranscenderCert Exam A.
5. Take Transcender Exam B. You should have a noticable increase in your exam score since taking Exam A.
6. Review questions that you missed in exam B.
7. Take Transcender Exam C. Hopefully you will see another increase since taking exam B.
8. Review questions that you missed while taking Transcender Exams C.
9. Schedule your real exam. I used Thomson Prometric to schedule all of my exams. I have taken all of my exqams at New Horizons in Tempe, AZ.

The TranscenderFlash Quiz & Review Software didn't seem to help me much, so I wouldn't recommend them. It depends on how you learn best. I felt like they would ask every question under the sun, rather than questions that were actually on the exam. For example, the TranscenderFlash ask questions like "How large a number can an Integer type hold?".

On the other hand, you will be amazed at how many questions in the TranscenderCert Exams are very similar to the actual exam.