community day the power of certification
DESCRIPTION
This is my presentation I gave at Belgian Community day last week, talking about the importance of being IT certified. It explains the updated credentials MCSA and MCSE, followed by tips and tricks on how to prepare, register, take and pass the exam in a better way.TRANSCRIPT
#comdaybe
The Power of CertificationIAMCT – International Association
of Microsoft Certified Trainers[Peter De Tender]
Agenda
• About the speaker• Microsoft Certification
Overview• Preparing for and scheduling
an exam• Test-taking tips and how to
succeed• Q&A
About the speaker
#PDTIT#MCTBelux
IAMCT Country Lead Belux
6 year MCT
Member of MSL Advisory Council
Trainer, Speaker
15 years IT Pro
Infrastructure Architect @ ICTinus
Peter De Tender - IAMCT.org
Microsoft Certification Overview
Microsoft Certification Overview
Value of Certification
Recognition
DifferentiationEmployability
Changes to the Certifications and Exams
Deeper Skill Set
Certification
Requirements
Broader Skill Set
Recertification
Relevance Rigor
NO MORE MCITP CONFUSION
Microsoft Certifications
Master
Expert
Associate
Microsoft Certified Solutions Master
(MCSM)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert
(MCSE)
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
(MCSA)
Solution/cloud focus
MCSE and MCSD certifications
Web ApplicationsWindows Metro Style Apps
Server Infrastructure
Desktop Infrastructure
Business IntelligenceData Platform
Private Cloud
How to prepare yourself
Study for Success
Replace the Ns with your exam number to find your prep guide: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-NNN
Second tab shows Skills Measured.Third tab shows Preparation Materials, including a link to the Learning Plan for the exam.
List of available languages
Topics covered on the exam
Use multiple methods
Training Kits E-Learning
Instructor-led
trainingVirtual labs
Listen to an expert MCT describe the task
Read about the task
Watch the task being completed
Complete the task on your own
Practice Tests
Certguard
Assess Yourself
Community resources
Study groups
Peers and
colleagues
User groups
Born to Learn
Microsoft
Virtual Acade
my (MVA)
Practice practice practice... And then practice some more
The Single most important preparation method
About taking an examAbout taking an exam
How to register for your exam
Call or visit Prometric.c
om
Exam fee (varies by country)
Special Accommodatio
ns
Rescheduling fee
Extra 30 minutes for
ESL candidates
During your exam
Think POSITIVE—You can do it!Don’t rush
Trust your instincts
Answer the ones you know first
How to interpret the questions
One or Multiple Correct Answers
Goal Statement
Business ProblemAll questions have a consistent anatomy
Multiple Distracters
Questions are not intended to trick you
Question types go beyond multiple choice
Choose All That Apply
Case Studies
Best Answer
Code Review
Extending Matching items
Build ListsDrag & DropActive Screen
Hot Area
Short Answer Code
Multiple Choice Items
Extended Matching Items
Case Study Example Item
Drag & Drop Example Item
Short Answer Code Example
After the examAfter the exam
Scoring
After the candidate submits the exam, the testing software automatically compares the answers selected by the candidate against the answer key provided by Microsoft
Scaling converts the raw score to a common scale
Allows for comparisons from one administration to next
Ease of communication
Based on input from SMEs, minimum qualifications for competency, and difficulty of item pool700 ≠ 70%
Exams are Scaled
Scoring is Automated
How to read your score report
YOUR SCORE: nnn
Mrs. Certy Fication
Friday, November 13, 2012
70-410
gb4
0294A8
789
tc7lon57c3
Pass
PRO: Windows Server 2012, Installing & Configuring
Planning & Managing Client Life Cycle Strategy (16%)
Designing a Standard Image (17%)
Designing Client Configurations (16%)
Designing a Windows 7 Client Deployment (15%)
Designing Application Packages for Deployment (17%)
Identifying and Resolving Deployment and Client Configuration Issues (19%)
After you leave the test center
At any point: get help from your Regional Service Center
www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/help.aspx
Within 2 weeks: associate MC ID to Live ID & access MCP siteTranscript and transcript sharing tool, certificates,
Logo Builder…
Within 48 hours: receive MC ID in e-mail from MicrosoftPassed? Get temporary access code for MCP site
Tips: • Keep printed copy
of score report• Register with a
valid e-mail address
• Set spam blocker to accept e-mail from
• Keep your MC ID handy!
If you didn’t pass... Don’t cry
If you didn’t pass
Try, try again
Take a break
Review your score
report
Practice the
objectives you were weak on
Schedule your exam
again
Q&A
No you stupid, not time to leave the room yet
Who wants to win a free exam voucher? (value 150 Euro!!)
Some help for your next exam
No you stupid, not time to leave the room yet
Did you pay attention?• What does the new MCSE acronym stands for?• How many MCSE credentials are there currently
available?• What was the name of the exam candidate?• How many years does the MS certification program
exists this year?
• (hand forms over at session exit, a drawing will do the rest…)
• Email address + CellphoneNr
Q&A
Thank you!The Power of Certification