Microsoft Moves to Pass/Fail Scoring System
1/16/2002 -- MCP Magazine has been given official word that Microsoft will no longer give test-takers an overall score on exams, opting instead for a simple pass/fail system.
Anne Marie McSweeney, Microsoft’s director of certification skills and assessment, said in an interview with MCP Magazine editors that the new grading method started in December 2001 and will include all future exams.
Even though the pass/fail system was introduced last year, most members of the certification community weren’t aware of the change. Microsoft didn’t make a general announcement about the revamped scoring, originally releasing the information in a FAQ section on its Web site.
“People will notice it most with 70-218,” McSweeney said. 70-218 (Managing a Windows 2000 Network Environment) is a core test for the new MCSA credential, which Microsoft expects to be very popular.
Microsoft decided to drop scoring, according to McSweeney, because, “scores are misleading. People put too much credence into what the scores mean.”
McSweeney added that giving an overall score, “introduces a mysterious element and gives odd perceptions ... At the end of the day,” McSweeney continued, beta testers said that, “pass/fail was what they cared about.”
Aware that Microsoft could appear to be imposing its will on the MCP community, McSweeney said, “We don’t want to look arrogant. The onus is on us to present our case” to the public and explain Redmond’s rationale for the change.
This is the second recent change Microsoft has made to how it notifies test-takers of their scores. For years, the company gave not only a total score, but section-by-section scores so testers could identify areas of weakness. More recently, Microsoft dropped section scoring in favor of an overall score and pass/fail bar. -- MCPMag.com
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There are 101  user Comments for “Microsoft Moves to Pass/Fail Scoring System”
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| 1/22/02: anynomous says: |
STOP WHINNING...........USE YOUR ENERGY FOR OTHER POSTIVE THING DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DO BESIDE WHINNING.... |
| 1/22/02: Anonymous says: |
An excellent move by Microsoft. Attaining a high score does not mean that you are a better worker or more intelligent. A lot of people have attained high scores through the use of BrainDumps and Exam Cheats. In the end, it's still the practical experiences that counts. |
| 1/22/02: Anonymous says: |
An excellent move by Microsoft. Attaining a high score does not mean that you are a better worker or more intelligent. A lot of people have attained high scores through the use of Brain Dumps and Exam Cheats. In the end, it's still the practical experiences that count. |
| 1/22/02: nil from nil says: |
An excellent move by Microsoft. Attaining a high score does not mean that you are a better worker or more intelligent. A lot of people have attained high scores through the use of Brain Dumps and Exam Cheats. In the end, it's still the practical experiences that count. |
| 1/23/02: Anonymous says: |
As much as I like to see my areas of weakness on the reports, I do agree with Micorsoft's decision to change the scoring to Pass or Fail. I find that there is too much competitiveness over scores on exams, when in reality, most people are never tested on the exact same material. For myself, I will not go in to write an exam unless I feel prepared, and confident that I have a good knowledge of whatever they may ask. |
| 1/23/02: keith mulligan from lowell, ma says: |
I recently took the 70-210 exam, I didn’t do as well as I was hopping, but I passed. I didn’t rely on brain dumps to pass the exam,(like a lot of guys I know). I’m studying for the 70-215 test now, with a major sinus infection like I had with the first exam. But at least I know I passed with all the studying and hard work I put into my studies, and if I failed it was on me. I didn’t have to rely on someone giving me the answers to the questions, welcome to the real world. The question of whether someone taking the exams is relying on brain dumps to pass the exams is up to them. The real test they will face is in the real world. But as far as the pass or fail testing, it is really no different than other methods of testing, you either know what your doing, or you don’t. |
| 1/23/02: Dino Sims from Atlanta, GA says: |
Hmmm... At first glance this seems like a bad move. But upon further inspection this could actually help the Microsoft certification programs gain more credibility. I think that it is safe to say that due to brain dumps, boot camps and other things that the Microsoft cert is not held in as high esteem (or pay) as other certs like those from Cisco, and Novell. If MS goes to a pass-fail system, it might make it easier for them to adjust the scoring system more dynamically in order to preserve the integrity of the exam, and thereby increasing the value of Microsoft Certifications. It's much harder to pass an exam, if you don't know a failing or passing score is. You really have to know the material cold. At the very least, we'd all have to study harder :-) Another thing that MS should do is create different versions of their exams and release them at different times. When I took my CISSP exam there were 5 different tests that were distributed that day. The test that I took, was different than the test that the 4 people around me were taking. So even if someone created a braindump for that exam it would be of minimal use. Just my humble opinion, Dino Sims, IT Networking and Security Consultant CISSP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA, CCDA, MSCE, MCT, MCP+I, Network+, A+ |
| 1/23/02: Brad Schmitz from Lincoln, NE says: |
If I fail I would like to know by how much. If I pass I don't care by how much. |
| 1/23/02: Tim from CA says: |
Everybody has to understand that score means nothingb because, when you get to the job, you'll forgot everything learn from books and trainning meterial. So i think Microsoft should take move to lab exam or something that people prove really know this stuff. I disagree all of your comment above. |
| 1/23/02: Tod says: |
I agree with Microsofts decision. Passing the test shows that you know the product well enough to answer their questions. It's not an exam to show how well you can answer questions. If I gave you an exam on getting dressed, you could ace that test because you are familiar enough with the process. You wouldn't have to cram for the exam. If you are familiar enough with the product, you will pass. And that's all that matters. |
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