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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| 1/24/02: Flixx says: |
Let me start off by saying I did not pass the test, and although that seems to be the criteria for whether everyone thought the test was fair or not (those passing thought it was great, those failing thought it sucked) I have to say I thought the test was fair. I was just not as well prepared as I would have liked. Unfortunately, I had little time to study, and although I thought I might have a chance, - and what the heck, it was free, why not give it a try? - I did not pass. My only beef with Microsoft on this one is they gave no clue which part(s) of the test I failed, so I don't know which tests I might have passed individually, to go take them now. I have to treat each test as one I am not prepared for, and start at the beginning. Even a simple pass or fail on each section would have been preferable to no hint at all. I might be ready to take 3 of the 4 tests now, but since I am not certain, I can't take that chance at $125 a try. |
| 1/24/02: Another Scoundrel from Dallas, Texas says: |
Agreeing with the other Scoundrels, I've been an MCSE since '98 and a CNE since '95. I also hold a Master's degree conferred in 1984. I thought 70-240 was about par with other MS exams. As for the time involved, you are ALLOWED four hours. That doesn't mean you MUST sit there for the full four hours. I passed, finishing the exam in just under two hours and didn't think that was all that stressful. If you want to compare stress levels and difficulty, try taking a Novel adaptive exam. Or, try sitting for a set of Master's comprehensive exams. On the Novell side, you don't get to go back when you run across a similar question later in the exam, and really have no idea afterward how well or poorly you did on the different exam objectives. On the Master's comp side, they last all day, you are given three questions in the morning and three questions in the afternoon. Of the three questions, you must receive a Pass on two of the three for each session. For difficulty, they are broad questions covering a wide range of topics and require an essay answer. Guessing is out of the question. Of the three exam formats, I'll take Microsoft's over the other two any day! |
| 1/24/02: Fayyaz from Pakistan says: |
HI, I am from Pakistan. I have cleared the Accelrated Exam. It was quiet a good Experience. I am MCSE, MCDBA,MCSD,MCP+I,MCP+SB,MCSE+I.JCP2.0,CCNA. Well my Experience with the 70-240 exam was that it was a difficult exam. |
| 1/24/02: UFOB4U from Texas says: |
Didn't pass, nobody's fault but mine. No Stress, No Worry's, just sucked to be me that day. Have been taking tests for years, HP OpenView was the worst IMHO. I can say I would have liked to know my weak points but it is not a show stopper. |
| 1/24/02: Kev from Wisconsin says: |
You people have got to be kidding. One says the pass rate was 3%, another 10-13%, where are you getting these numbers from? I have no idea what the real pass rate was, no one but Microsoft does. (Did you actually read the article?) All I know is this: I work with three people who took the 240 exam, and all three passed. All three are what I would consider to be sharp people. And I'm wishing I hadn't wasted my voucher by letting it expire right about now. |
| 1/24/02: MCSE from North Carolina says: |
I passed the Accelerated Exam in just over 2.5 hours. It was tough, but generally on par with the other MS exams I have taken. The best preparation I did was printing out and reading every Transcender question on the 4 core exams. Expensive, but worth every penny in my opinion, particularly if you've already paid for the classes! One of my coworkers also passed the 240 exam using the same method. |
| 1/24/02: Keith from California says: |
I passed the 70-240 test by preparing for it just as I have done for every test I have taken thus far (Novell & Microsoft) I have always passed because I as others have stated have raised the bar for myself, I expect more from myself so that when testing time comes I will be over-prepared. I studied for this test for 4 months (1 month per section) I was not only preparing to pass the exam, in reality I was studying to know the software for my daily job. I know many "NT4.0 MCSE's", the majority of them are "Paper MCSE's" and don't even know the basics when it comes to troubleshooting an NT network. People shouldn't study to only pass the exam, they should study to succeed in their jobs. |
| 1/25/02: Dave from Minnesota says: |
The 240 never looked to me like a free ride to the Win2000 MCSE, but that's what a lot of people seem to think. Somehow people got the idea that because they brain-dumped their way into an NT4 MCSE that Microsoft should just give them an easy ticket to the Win2000 MCSE. I passed the 240 with time to spare on each section, because my job requires that I know this stuff. Most of the exam questions are a lot easier than what we deal with day in, day out in this industry anyway. I'm not shedding any tears for the loss of a few paper MCSEs--if certification means that much to you, go earn it. |
| 1/25/02: GRWACE from Colorado says: |
I agree with Dave that the 70-240 was no free ticket. I thought it was a very challenging exam and I prepared for 2 weeks before taking it. I passed with spare time in each section. Those who I know failed the test readily admit that they did not put any real effort into preparing for the test and that I believe is the only real excuse. I too did not have the time to study during work hours, but managed to find some time in the evenings and a couple of hours on the weekends for 2 weeks. They weren't willing to give this study time and the results showed it. I do believe that MS should have found some way to allow those who failed to know which parts they failed so that they would know where they were lacking, but I understand that they were nervous about releasing info on how the test was graded for fear that someone might figure out the formula and find a way to beat the machine. Unfortunately, as long as there are dishonest people out there taking the tests, the honest will have to just work harder. But that should make the victory sweeter. And the losers bitter. |
| 1/25/02: samy says: |
I took the exam. it was joke. I spent all my Holiday vacation and failed. Even in my last section I was given 50 Min. instead of 60. I think it should be you can retake the section you failed or did not get 90% score or above.That is why pass rate was 3%. This is my first exam i failed and I am not going to spend another $ 600.00 to get my MCSE. |
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