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Current  user Comments for "Help Removed from MOUS Exams"
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| 7/17/02 - Jon Lewis from Australia says: |
MOUS 2000 and XP Instructor I do not believe that Help should be taken off to improve the authenticity and status of MOUS. The fact that you have fairly tight time constraints to complete the exam tasks is restriction enough. As a teacher, I strongly advise my students of the importance of using help. Awareness is important Ignorance is careless. |
| 7/18/02 - Jim says: |
Removing help is another bad move by Certiport. Since this is suppose to simulate the real working place, help is available there. When will Certiport ever get there act together. Instead of doing trival moves they should be promoting the MOUS program and improving the quality of the exams. At the rate Certiport is going the MOUS program will not exist in the future because everyone will be tired of how the program is being administered. As Jon stated above "Awarness is important Ignorance is careless" |
| 7/18/02 - JimmyFace says: |
If they're removing the help they should lighten up on the time restrictions. I haven't talked with a person yet who was able to complete the Outlook XP exam within the time limit. Nobody uses help during the exam anyway because there isn't enough time to do it. JimmyFace out! |
| 7/18/02 - Millie Arbuckle from SJC says: |
I could not agree with Faithe more. An attorney can not practice law without a complete reference (help) library and an excellent Microsoft Office Practitioner can't memorize every single button and click choice. Especially if you use all the applications where some click choices may be a hairs difference, but enough to make a wrong answer on a test. |
| 7/18/02 - Christine from WashingtonDC says: |
Took 2000 and XP. Never knew help system worked. Too worried about the time. Who has time to use help???? |
| 7/18/02 - Greg from Washington, DC says: |
I have taken three of the exams and used the help a couple of times, sometimes I was able to find the solution and other times not given the time constraints. The tests don't resemble real work situations in any way and the limited amount of time to complete such a wide range of unrelated tasks doesn't resemble they way anyone actually works. Better to give one big project which would test a user's skills than a series of unrelated and sometimes repetitive questions. And True/False along with multiple choice questions on the Outlook exam-give me a break! |
| 7/18/02 - J says: |
What is it with the Outlook exam. TrueFalse and Multiple cHoice on the 2000. Then on the XP exam 24 multipart questions that are difficult to finish becuase ot the time. It is like answering 50 qustions in 45 minuetes, less than a minute a question. Of the ones I know who passed the XP exam, they barely passed because of the time constraints and how many tasks are asked in that limited time. |
| 7/18/02 - Bill says: |
How can Certiport make the claim "ever-increasing value of Microsoft Office User Specialist exams". When most people using computers and Office don't know that the MOUS program exists. Everyone has heard of the MCSE program but not the MOUS program. Come on start promoting the MOUS program like it deserves |
| 7/18/02 - Rhiann from Canada says: |
I am in total disagreement with all of the previous comments on the MOUS exams. I am a MOUS Master Instructor in Office 97, 2000, and XP. All of the exams I wrote I received marks over 900 and completed the exams before the time limit. I am very impressed that Certiport has plans to disable the Help feature during the exams. If you take a look at the more prominent certifications such as MCSE, or CompTia exams, these certifications are well-known due to the fact that they test hard skills, not that someone knows how to ask for help. I am a firm believer in the MOUS exams and believe that they are extremely easy to pass if the examinee knows their stuff. Good Work Certiport! |
| 7/18/02 - Terrie says: |
I also agree with Faithe, Jim and Millie. Being resouceful is as important as knowing exactly where to go to do each task. It's important to know that a person can find the solution quickly if they don't know it off the top of their head. I don't know the relationship between Microsoft and Certiport, but I believe that Certiport has made poor choices at every move. This test or certification should be treated no differently than other Microsoft certifications. |
| 7/19/02 - Jaye says: |
Having help available definately tilts the scale in favor of the unprepared. The first time I used Word XP was during the exam, and thanks to a well-crafted help system I passed although I really did not know the features I was being tested on. I think removal of the help functionality will help keep the bar high for the MOUS tests and mean that test takers have to actually know their stuff in order to pass. |
| 7/19/02 - Nicole says: |
I agree with Terrie, Certiport has made poor choices at every move. By disabling help Certiport is sending the message that you should never ask for any help, if your not sure of the answer then you should not bother to try. Way to go Certiport. |
| 7/22/02 - Becky Nagel from Web Editor, CertCities.com says: |
CLARIFICATION -- Certiport contacted me after we posted the original version of the story. They said that help will indeed be disabled in August, they don't know exactly WHEN in August -- Most likely later in the month. The above story has been changed to reflect that (previously said Aug. 1). -- Becky Nagel, Web Editor, CertCities.com, [email protected] |
| 7/23/02 - Anonymous says: |
right on! |
| 7/23/02 - Safety MCSE from S. Florida says: |
Oh no!!! Remove HELP and people will actually have to study! I think passing the MOUS qualifies an individual to BE the HELP others are seeking. There are no help files on most (if any) other certification exams. I obtained my Win 2K MCSE and the MCP exams test you to the minutest of details EVEN THOUGH there are few real world network problems that can be overcome without some reference. If they kept the help for MOUS then they should ADD the Win 2K Server Resource Kit to the MCP exams. |
| 7/26/02 - Gwen from PA says: |
Faith Wempen truly hits the proverbial nail on the head with her comments. Help files like a dictionary or Thesaurus are reference materials to get you back on track. The time limits on the MOUS certification exams are more than sufficient for the prepared user. If you don't know your material all the Help files in the world won't get you through the exam before you run out of time. When taking the Expert level exams I did find the need to use Help for a couple of tasks I know but rarely use. With more companies using MOUS certifications as hiring & promotion tools for clerical positions, MOUS exams should be reflective of a true office setting and that includes the ability to access Help files as needed. As a Microsoft Office 2000 Master Instructor I need to remind my students that they can't expect to memorize everything in every Office 2000 application and that the Office Assistant and Online Help will always be available to them in the "real world". |
| 7/26/02 - Todd says: |
Gwen is totally on the mark |
| 8/3/02 - Joseph Villapaz says: |
Using the Help feature slows you down and makes you lose precious time. The Help feature can return an unsorted list of a hundred topics that you'll have to sort through. The tests should simulate reality based on applying the skills without the use of the Help feature. After all, it is an exam to test what you know so using the Help feature shows you really don't know your stuff. |
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- B.N.