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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| 1/24/02: Mr. Boots from ddd says: |
It doesnt make a difference if you score a 1000 or a 540- if you have never touched Win2k professional and you score a 1000 because you studied a lot what does that make you? To each person who is using brain dumps, practice tests and other materials that may be considered unethical, I challenge use to this- pass a test without one. Brain Dumps need to go. That is why we have paper MCSEs These tests are designed for you to have hands on experience. I achieved my MCSA on Tuesday Jan 22nd. The 70-218 test requires hands on experience |
| 1/24/02: Mr. Boots says: |
It doesnt make a difference if you score a 1000 or a 540- if you have never touched Win2k professional and you score a 1000 because you studied a lot what does that make you? To each person who is using brain dumps, practice tests and other materials that may be considered unethical, I challenge use to this- pass a test without one. Brain Dumps need to go. That is why we have paper MCSEs These tests are designed for you to have hands on experience. I achieved my MCSA on Tuesday Jan 22nd. The 70-218 test requires hands on experience |
| 1/25/02: Chris Russell from Los Angeles says: |
So someone wants to show off a 900 or better score. Which is better, someone with a 900 score who failed the exam the first time or someone with a 750 score who passed the first time? Only one of my scores exceeded 900 but I passed everything without retakes. Getting the job done is what counts. |
| 1/25/02: Mulder says: |
Good job, it's common knowledge that most high scores are achieved by the "learn the book, do the test, don't have any experience" folks. In practise the high scorers will mostly turn out less usefull because of this..(for the record i did score >900 so it's not jealous behaviour :) ) |
| 1/25/02: Chester from Philadelphia says: |
With all the debate over Microsofts Pass or Fail test scores, I believe the bottom line is not really being addressed.....First thing: This decision was well thought out, I would bet the house that the majority of MS certified Professionals didn't pass with the highest of scores, I'd be interested in the avg. score at the time this decision was made, & we all know that MS is trying to protect the value of the MCSE cert but like most corp. MS has missed the point, like Chris Russell said, if the effort was put forth and you don't score to high (Seasoned Admin or Students)but pass, is this better or worst than someone who takes the test twice and passes with a 960...your gonna have half-steppers & slackers everywhere (BTW someone who has scored 900 plus has put forth an effort no matter how many times the test was taken)!!!! Second: anyone who put stock in Microsofts certification program as legit should do some basic math...ex: there are over 1 million MCT's, each has to pay at least $300 annually to keep this title...need I say more, I could but I won't!! I personally know 2 kids under 20 with Win2K MCSE's, and they are both sharp, ones a jr admin and the other is a Teachers Assistant at a tech college....this isn't rocket science, if you have avg intelligence, the intrest and motivation it'll be a cake walk! One more thing to think about "IF" this was to be a true Technical Certification why bundle you MCSA cert with Comptia????????? Why not bundle it with say....Cisco CCNA or RedHat Linux or better yet Novell......Honestly how technical is the MCES cert anyway....Numbers Lie, Skills Don't!!!!! |
| 1/26/02: Jonathan Hardison from Missouri says: |
Even though I got high scores I believe that the Pass or Fail system is a good system. Since you randomly get questions, your high score doesn't mean you know more than the next. It could me you got dealt easier questions. So my opinion is keep pass or fail... IF YOU PASS. If you fail, give a score or some kind of breakdown to show the areas you screwed up on. For instance, the DDSI test (ad design), it is "testlets" and could have been broken down to which "testlets" you failed or had troubles with. But just my humble opinion, as I do not really care. I got my certs with high scores... I'm happy. |
| 1/27/02: Anonymous says: |
Actually i just want the piece of paper! Don't care about high scores. Have not sat yet, no experience, start 1 week course tomorrow and expect to 'pass' in few week time, so what!. |
| 1/28/02: J Gaddis from Florida says: |
I think that MS made a great decision by changing to Pass/Fail System. The only people this change hurts at all are Paper MCSE's with no exp. who only have the hope of finding a potential employer that is foolish enuff to find a high test score to be of more or equal value to exp. I have often found that the majority of people who attain high scores are the ones who have enuff free time(IE no real tech job)to cram for them. Most people in the field too much time applying the technology, to be able to quote word for word how MS wants you to do it. OFten practical knowledge gained from applying the technology conflicts with the way that MS wants you to answer on the exams. The way it is now you are certified or you are not....That means that everything you've done outside taking a test has its proper signicance again |
| 1/28/02: Rogelio from San Juan, PR says: |
What a waste! Hoe are you supposed to know when youneed to improve? Knowing that I passed is not enough for me. I need to know my score. Imagine if everything goes to the pass/fail scheme... |
| 1/28/02: Anonymous says: |
I think the purpose of the exam is to be certified thus the score is irrelevant. As certification is a recognition of your ability on the module tested, it does not matter whether you have a section by section score or not. Unless if you fail, then your area of weakness must be highlighted for you to focus on. |
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