MS: Accelerated Exam Was "Learning Experience"
1/23/2002 -- The Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam was Microsoft's first try at a composite test, and although it isn't saying whether it considers the exam a success or not, Redmond hasn't ruled them out in the future.
In an interview with Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine, Anne Marie McSweeney, Microsoft's director of certification skills and assessment, declined to give the pass/fail rates for the Accelerated Exam, saying that "disclosing information like this can be really, really misleading."
The Windows 2000 Accelerated Exam, which expired at the end of 2001, was available to anyone who had finished the Windows NT 4.0 core exams. An alternative to taking the core four Win2K tests, it was free to test-takers, but was also a one-shot deal: If you failed it, you couldn't retake it, and failing any one out of the four sections also resulted in a failing grade for the entire exam.
"This was a 1.0 [version of the test]: Keep that in mind," McSweeney said. "I would say we learned a lot from it. It provided an option for customers, and given that the technology's advanced, it's given us the ability to create a better solution next time." In the future, she suggested, a composite test might be structured such that candidates could take make-up exams for those modules failed.
Microsoft emphasized in the interview that 70-240 was "psychometrically sound."
McSweeney did admit to some frustration among those who attempted the test. "70-240 was not as customer-friendly as we'd like." But overall, she added, "I'm satisfied. I look at the learning we got from it that we can apply to future exams."
Although the evidence is entirely anecdotal at this point, it's apparent that a large number of test-takers, even perhaps a majority, failed the exam. Those who failed have to take each exam individually on their way to their Windows 2000 MCSE. Those who passed still have to take one design elective and two other electives to receive their credential.  -Keith Ward, MCPMag.com
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There are 32  user Comments for “MS: Accelerated Exam Was "Learning Experience"”
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| 1/23/02: Captain BA from Somewhere, USA says: |
Microsoft's McSweeney may say that the 70-240 test was "psychometrically sound"; but with roughly a 3% pass rate, whoever took this test came out of that exam thinking they needed to start taking "psychotrophic drugs" to maintain their sanity! I hated that test. Bill do yourself a favor and get rid of Anne Marie before she causes all of us to say to heck with Microsoft, move to Research Triangle Park, NC and go to work for RedHat! |
| 1/23/02: Anna needs to listen from USA says: |
Anne Marie McSweeney, Microsoft's director of certification skills and assessment, is unfit for her job. Her poor decision to eliminate all scores from exam results; as opposed to only giving scores for failing grades, the way she ignores the requests of the MCP's and MCSE's, the entire handling of the accelerated exams, and release of information through third parties (like this site) instead of timely postings on the official MCP site or MCP email newsletters. You would think that if someone got an unprecedented number of calls and email, that she would at least make some official statement. Finally, take the time to read about the group she picked to justify eliminating scores from exams results (from official MCP site). "Keeping exam scores was not an option for the MCP group questioned". Talk about rigging the results!!! Hopefully we can see a 2.0 versions of changes from Microsoft. The 1.0 decisions of Anna really stunk. |
| 1/23/02: Hung Nguyen from Australia says: |
Hi, I have not got the chance to sit for the 70-240 exam yet. I am very sure there are a lot of people same as me. I love to try the exam.Is there any chance the 70-240 exam can re-run again??. Regards. HN |
| 1/23/02: Anonymous says: |
Anne Marie shouldn't be fired because of the 240 fiasco. She should be fired because she has done absolutley NOTHING to stem the cheating that occurs on all Microsoft exams and then has the gall to say how satified she is with the process. It's completely unethical and dishonest and she damn well knows it! |
| 1/23/02: Brad Dinerman from Boston, MA says: |
So what was the overall pass rate? |
| 1/23/02: Anonymous says: |
It is a better choice that make each accelerated exam,I think. |
| 1/23/02: DS Mayo, MCSE from Edmonton, Canada says: |
Disclosing information about pass rates is misleading? How about embarrasing instead? The information I've gathered from 4 different testing centres in my region is pretty dismal. On the 70-240 Accelerated Exam, only 10-13% of the people who wrote the exam actually passed. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them. I've heard several different reasons for the low pass rates from a number of colleagues who also failed the exam. First, 4 hours was a bit too long for the exam, especially without a break. Secondly, several of the questions were worded ambiguously- much more so than the usual MCP exams. Finally, the passing score on the exam was unusually high- somewhere around 80+ percent by several estimates. While I am not personally certain of the last criticism, I agree with the first two wholeheartedly. As comfortable as my testing centre was, it was still very difficult to spend 4 straight hours in it. And I didn't just experience a number of ambiguous questions, but also a few duplicate questions as well. As to the passing score for the exam, I think there is some merit to the criticism. I strongly felt at the end of the exam that I failed it by only a few questions, and a number of my colleagues feel the same. Had the passing score been a few points lower (ie. the usual 70 percent), I believe that I would now have only one more exam to pass in order to get my MCSE in Windows 2000 instead of five. I guess this backs up what I've heard several times: Microsoft never really gives anything away for free. Many of us spent hundreds of dollars in lost time, system upgrades, and training materials in order to pass this exam, only to fail it anyway. I'd understand if I hadn't been properly prepared for it, but that wasn't the case. The 70-240 exam was indeed a learning experience- and not a very positive one. Unless Microsoft lowers the bar a bit I think I'll stick to the regular exams next time. |
| 1/23/02: Scoundrel from Seattle, WA, USA says: |
I know I'm going to sound unbearably smug here, but I don't see why there is such an uproar about this exam. I got some beta materials from a free Microsoft Just-In-Time Training session in early 2000, covering 1560 and 1561 - the updating support skills course. I didn't even attend the whole thing, but kept the materials. I went through the stuff over time, doing some labs and getting some on-the-job training in Windows 2000 stuff, keeping my eyes open and researching things that I had trouble with at client sites - just what you'd expect from a consultant. A week before I took the test, I went through the material again to refresh my memory on key points. I sat the test in three hours, finishing each module with time to spare. They didn't seem harder or more ambiguous than I have come to expect from Microsoft exams. I passed the test, having done limited studying and having used no practice tests at all. I didn't really see what the big deal was, and was fairly nonplussed about the fuss that was made of it. I think that if some people spent the time and energy learning their trade instead of researching and berating Microsoft's exam people, they'd pass the tests. I'd never heard of this McSweeney chick before tonight. I was too busy learning and practicing my own job to worry about who made the tests and how badly they might be doing their job. If the pass rate was extremely low on that test, then I know of a lot of people who need to "raise the bar" on their own skills and knowledge. |
| 1/23/02: Scoundrel II from District Heights, MD says: |
Sorry gotta agree with Scoundrel. I passed the exam. The 4 hour sit time made it an endurance challenge as well but I self studied and wrote the exam and passed. Lot of crying going on and not all of it is a bad thing. But we have to be more responsible for our own success regardless of whether those at the controls are doing right by us or not. This is our chosen profession. We have lots of options. Choose one. |
| 1/24/02: Scoundrel III from Charlotte, NC says: |
I agree with my fellow scoundrels. I've been an MCSE for over 4 years. I've taken numerous exams, and have worked as a consultant for several years. This test was nothing compared to the NT 3.51 TCPIP test or even the original Windows 95 exam, which was used to weed out people not serious about the program. I'm not trying to diss the people who failed, only those that don't go back and pass the 4 individual exams that it covers. MS can't win for losing it seems in any arena. They offer a free exam, that can be used as a fast track to a Windows 2000 MCSE, and people say that it is "unfair". Reality check: Life sucks sometimes. But you brush yourself off, get up and go again. Grow up people! |
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