MCITP Qualification

[dezt]

Ok, so my Microsoft Press books have come today and i'm ready to start working my way through the exams, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for self study, as a course is too much for me and the school has already agreed to buy the books and pay for my exams.

 

I have a quad-core HP PC with 4Gb Ram at home ready and waiting to be used for studying on, I was thinking of using VMWare Workstation or something similar to virtualise my servers as I work through the books. Can anyone else suggest anything I may need to help get through the exams.

 

I've decided to do the 3 core exams that count towards the Server Administrator and Enterprise Administrator first, then, depending on how confident I feel I may go for the final Server Administrator exam and then the final 2 Enterprise Administrator exams.

[Kitkatninja]

Tips:

 

1. Do not just use one form of study resource, use multiple. For example two different books, CBT's, audio books, flash cards, etc...

 

2. Don't just follow the books, experiment with the OS...

 

3. Use legit practice tests (eg Preplogic, Transcender, Measure-Up) and stay away from braindumps...

 

4. If you can, grab yourself a study buddy. When I was studying for it, the extra pair of eyes really helped

 

5. Don't rush & take your time.

 

-ken

[azrael78]

What I used for my MCSE training was to have the MS-Press books in their eBook form (easier for me to read) - I also used VirtualBox as opposed to VMWare as VBox is free and light.

 

As for tips and tricks... when the MS-Press books say 'Exam-Tip' make sure you read the tip and anything related to it, you'd be surprised how many "light coverage" items are actually more than light in the exam.

 

I'm working toward my MCITP:Enterprise Admin - but you said 2 exams? I was aware only of the 1 exam - 70-647.

 

Az

[jack0w]

What I used for my MCSE training was to have the MS-Press books in their eBook form (easier for me to read) - I also used VirtualBox as opposed to VMWare as VBox is free and light.

 

As for tips and tricks... when the MS-Press books say 'Exam-Tip' make sure you read the tip and anything related to it, you'd be surprised how many "light coverage" items are actually more than light in the exam.

 

I'm working toward my MCITP:Enterprise Admin - but you said 2 exams? I was aware only of the 1 exam - 70-647.

 

Az

 

I'm currently studying for 70-270, next step on the road to MCSA. I'm also using VirtualBox on my laptop to run a few server/client vms to practice some of the theory.

 

My question though... where did you get the MS Press books in eBook form? The one part of studying I hate is the huge books and I think reading from an eBook would be much more up my street

 

Also has anyone here used CBTNuggets and have any feedback? Have been looking at resources to use in addition to the MSPress book and found these, although they're very expensive I was wondering if anyone had found these valuable?

[cookie_monster]

Try not to skip through bits of the book that you 'think' you know, it's surprising how often you know most of an area then suddenly find yourself saying 'oh I didn't know that'. You don't want 'that' coming up in the exam. This is expecially important with parts of Windows that aren't very often used in the field but MS would like to push, you don't have much experience of it but MS are going to test you on it.

 

I've found the exam cram series of books to be great when you think you're ready to take the exam, also if you really think you know a subject well an exam cram book can be good enough I passed 70-210 with just the exam cram book.

[Kitkatninja]

...I'm working toward my MCITP:Enterprise Admin - but you said 2 exams? I was aware only of the 1 exam - 70-647...

 

If you have the MCSE already, then in order to get the MCITP: EA you need two exams, the 70-649 (upgrade exam) and the 70-647 (Pro exam). Otherwise it's five exams, see here.

 

-Ken

[Kitkatninja]

...Also has anyone here used CBTNuggets and have any feedback? Have been looking at resources to use in addition to the MSPress book and found these, although they're very expensive I was wondering if anyone had found these valuable?

 

I have, and I have to say that they are a very good resource. Not as dry as books, that's for sure. Other vendor's that I've used in the past include: Trainsignal & Learnkey. Both again very good

 

-Ken

[sandeep2504]

 

My question though... where did you get the MS Press books in eBook form? The one part of studying I hate is the huge books and I think reading from an eBook would be much more up my street

 

 

These come on a disc with the book when you purchase the MS Press Books.

 

Not sure if you can buy the ebooks only though.

[tmcd35]

Working through the books now. I'm reading the e-Book form and running the practise test in a VM. Cookie Monster is right - don't skip anything it's amazing some of the little nuggets you pick up in areas you thought you were familiar with.

 

The only problem I have is time - must find the time to study! Been stuck half way through Chapter 7 for a couple of weeks now

[stevenwba]

im currently studying at the min, finding it difficult to find them time, id say thats the biggest challenge,

[dezt]

I'll have a see at whether i can get the CBT Nuggets, i've seen them before and thought they looked good. I've used exam cram books before for my 2000 MCSA and found them useful

[jack0w]

These come on a disc with the book when you purchase the MS Press Books.

 

Not sure if you can buy the ebooks only though.

 

Thanks for that, I'd taken out the XP Evaluation CD and installed from it although I didn't actually browse it, assumed it was a standard XP CD!

[cookie_monster]

I'll have a see at whether i can get the CBT Nuggets, i've seen them before and thought they looked good. I've used exam cram books before for my 2000 MCSA and found them useful

 

 

So are you an MCSA on 2000? Why don't you take then 2003 upgrade exam you can then upgrade that to a 2008 cert. The whole process would only take 2 exams.

[dezt]

the 2003 upgrade exam has been retired now, i should have done the exam before it was retired but never kept up with studying, so i've got to start from scratch now

[bossman]

@wagnerk:

 

I agree when I did mine the actual Microsoft books which were provided did seem a little dry and machine like, so another thumbs up for trainsignal and CBTnuggets.

 

Another tip is don't take short cuts even though you know the keyboard shortcuts as in the exams it is all mouse click orientated and the routes to folders, files and systems is exactly as Microsoft teach you so shortcuts are out of the window (4 years since I did mine so might have changed but I doubt it)

[cookie_monster]

the 2003 upgrade exam has been retired now, i should have done the exam before it was retired but never kept up with studying, so i've got to start from scratch now

 

 

I do remember now that's why I rushed to do it in 2008 even though I was busy. Thats a pain that they would retire the upgrade exam when you can still take the 2003 exams

[apeo]

When working towards MCITP 2008 EA, any tips on which book/exams to cover first?

[Kitkatninja]

When working towards MCITP 2008 EA, any tips on which book/exams to cover first?

 

Personally, I would do it in this order, if starting from fresh:

 

Client (either the 70-620 or the 70-680), then 70-640, then 70-642, then 70-643, then the 70-647.

 

Because I did the upgrade path, I did it in this way: Client (70-620), upgrade exam (which is equivilant to the 640, 642 & 643), then the Pro exam (70-647).

 

-Ken

[tmcd35]

For what it's worth I've started with 70-640. Does anybody know how long we have between taking exams? If I pass 70-640 I'll have an MCP, I am right in thinking I can do each MCP one at a time over a period of months (closer to a year probably) and then claim for the MCITP once I've passed the final MCP in a year or so's time?

[cookie_monster]

You can take them all in one week if you want but you can't retake one within 2 weeks of not passing I think. Once you have all of the modules for a cert it will automatically be added to your transcript on the MCP site. You'll be an MCP after passing your first cert.

[teejay]

I know this is a how long is a piece of string question, but how long does it take to complete each module using self study?

[azrael78]

I know this is a how long is a piece of string question, but how long does it take to complete each module using self study?

 

It all depends on you.

Assuming when you say 'module' you mean module in a single book for a single exam.

 

On average I get through around 2 a night, but I've been busy busy so I'm down to 1 a night.

 

If you mean Exams... that's a tough one - for my 70-646 (MCITP: SA) I took 2 weeks flat from doing the MCSE Upgrade to 2008 exam, for my current one 70-647 I'm looking at 3 weeks.

 

I'd say if you put aside around 2 hours a night (giving you a chance to unwind after work), aim for a chapter a night. If you did that - you should be ready in 3 weeks but TAKE the practice tests, treat them as if they were a real exam.

 

What do I mean by this? DON'T view the answers (as the risk is that you memorise the answer to the question, rather than learning the answer) - take it as a real exam. Bear in mind that in the exam room it's a more pressured than the self-test stuff, so this may well help or hinder you, so plan accordingly.

 

Take a couple of mints with you (if you like mints) or boiled sweets to suck on during the exam as this will help you to stay calm and collected and the sugar boost will help you think.

 

Bear in mind this is what works for me - it may not work for you but feel free to give it a blast - the best bit of advice besides all that has been given above - DON'T go for the exam if you don't feel ready.

 

In short - you should be booking the exam when you feel it's a 50/50 chance of passing, make that date a week or 2 weeks off - so you have time to continue studying.

 

The worst thing is you book the exam and then pressure yourself and beat yourself up if your self-test scores aren't great - the self-tests are to help you locate your weak points to improve, but don't ignore other things at the cost of that. Cover everything - if you have time (and you should) - recover things you are weakest in as you can bet that's what they'll ask

 

HTH,

 

Az

[tmcd35]

Just to be clear, sorry me being a bit thick, but I actually want to take as long as possible doing this - not in any rush. So I just want to be certain their are no time limits between certs. If I pass 1 cert I don't have to do the exams for the over carts within 1 week or 3 months or anything silly like that in order to get the MCITP?

[apeo]

For what it's worth I've started with 70-640. Does anybody know how long we have between taking exams? If I pass 70-640 I'll have an MCP, I am right in thinking I can do each MCP one at a time over a period of months (closer to a year probably) and then claim for the MCITP once I've passed the final MCP in a year or so's time?

 

I think the cert for this is known as an MCTS now, and i've not seen anything stating anywhere that puts a time limit as to how long you can take between the first and last MCTS to achieve the MCITP.

[somabc]

Ok, so my Microsoft Press books have come today and i'm ready to start working my way through the exams, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for self study, as a course is too much for me and the school has already agreed to buy the books and pay for my exams.

 

I have a quad-core HP PC with 4Gb Ram at home ready and waiting to be used for studying on, I was thinking of using VMWare Workstation or something similar to virtualise my servers as I work through the books. Can anyone else suggest anything I may need to help get through the exams.

 

I've decided to do the 3 core exams that count towards the Server Administrator and Enterprise Administrator first, then, depending on how confident I feel I may go for the final Server Administrator exam and then the final 2 Enterprise Administrator exams.

 

VMware ESXi would work well also Hyper-V with Server 2008 R2