Please comment on 70-270 prep materials
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Forum Name: MCSA/MCSE
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URL: http://certcities.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?tid=3970
Printed Date: 17 October 2006 at 10:12pm
Topic: Please comment on 70-270 prep materials
Posted by: Kaliante
Subject: Please comment on 70-270 prep materials
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 9:32pm
| Hi everyone. I'm new to the forums, but so far it seems there is alot of great advice here. I would like comments on my study materials for 70-270. I haven't taken a certification test since NT Server 4.0 in the Enterprise, and I'm a bit concerned about new "hands-on" type of questions. Here's what I've been using: Books: -MS 70-270 Training Kit -Sybex XP Fast Pass -Sybex MCSE 2000 Professional -MCSE XP Pro for Dummies (I really like Weadock's work) Exams: -Exams in the above books (including Sybex WinSim) -MS Readiness Review for 2000 Pro (70-210) -Transcender Exams/Flash for 2000 Pro (70-210) Hardware (I do all of the exercises in the books) -Domain Controller (2000 Advanced Server eval copy) -Client (XP Pro eval copy with SP2) Are there "real world" questions on 70-270 that I won't be familiar with from my materials? Also, will the above approach be sufficient for 70-290? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. ------------- Kal |
Replies:
Posted by: TMichael
Date Posted: 26 September 2006 at 11:11pm
| The 70-210 stuff won't prepare you for 70-270. The MS 70-270 Training Kit should do well for you. Personally, I'd avoid the "For Dummies" book... but at least you're not using it as your only reference. Never heard of Sybex's Fast Pass. I'd recommend the full study guide by Chellis and Donald, but if you're already familiar with the materials, perhaps the Fast Pass will be sufficient. Can't really go into detail about the questions on the live exam. However, if you work with XP Pro a bit in your job, you've read the books and can pass some high-quality 70-270 practice exams, you're probably ready. ------------- TMichael MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCDST, MCDBA, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+ Served proudly, US Army, 98C Intelligence Analyst, '89-'92 |
Posted by: Kaliante
Date Posted: 28 September 2006 at 9:29am
| Thanks for your response TMichael. The Fast Pass book is by Lisa Donald and is a condensed version of the full text. I only studied the 2000 materials because I felt getting myself up to a thorough understanding of 2000 would be a good starting point for studying the 2003 track. Thanks again! ------------- Kal |
Posted by: Wildcat_Dude
Date Posted: 28 September 2006 at 11:50am
| In my opinion, fast pass books aren't worthwhile unless you have lots of experience but for reference books, they are worthless. I prefer books that can be kept as reference books, but that's me  I do like exam cram 2 books but only for material I have experience with already as I don't buy test practice materials (boson netsim is an exception) ------------- MCSE:Security & MCSA:Security 2k, MCPS, MCNPS, MCDST, MCP XP, SonicWall CSSA, CompTIA Security+, A+ & N+ Being a  is  |
Posted by: Kaliante
Date Posted: 28 September 2006 at 5:07pm
| Thanks Wildcat, I'll try Lisa Donald's full Sybex book and maybe get the Trranscender exams for XP. ------------- Kal |
Posted by: nitrousgtstang
Date Posted: 08 October 2006 at 6:55pm
| I took the 70-270 about 6 months ago. I passed it, but not with a score worth bragging about. I am enrolled at Techskills and they offer several tools. One is the MS Press book by Microsoft. Another tool they have is a test prep program that has several questions geared like the Microsoft exams. On the test I took I did the worst on installation, of all things. Be prepared to know installing XP over the network. |
Posted by: Wildcat_Dude
Date Posted: 08 October 2006 at 7:11pm
| Now I would think that all test prep materials would be geared like MS exams (or whatever it is). I noticed TechSkills doesn't like to embelish much on their programs and costs without giving them personal info (so they can sell it most likely - just my opinion of course) so they can contact you to give you the ole used car high pressure salesman pitch I assume. Hopefully you're not spending much for it, or took out any loan, but you'd been better off going to a local community college that would have cost far less and give you a degree at the same time while you're learning. To me, its a very clear warning sign to stay away when they don't freely offer info you can make at least a decent decision to investigate further without devulging personal info. But it is your responsibility to know the concepts that are being tested on the exam, and that is clearly listed at Microsoft's web site. ------------- MCSE:Security & MCSA:Security 2k, MCPS, MCNPS, MCDST, MCP XP, SonicWall CSSA, CompTIA Security+, A+ & N+ Being a is |
Posted by: Kaliante
Date Posted: 15 October 2006 at 8:41pm
| Thanks for the info nitrous. I got the MS training kit for 70-270 and it seems like a much better product thant the previous MS training materials. Congrats on passing the exam! ------------- Kal |
Posted by: Peggenberger
Date Posted: 17 October 2006 at 12:53pm
| Kal & All, Thanks for this info. Please help with a bit more... I'm struggling with prep for the 70-270 exam. I think I have the knowledge, but my practice test scores don't show it! (So now I'm struggling with exam content, and severe discouragement! :) ) Are the practice exams an accurate reflection of the real exam? (I'm using MeasureUp and Transcender). Is there any published (legitimately) information about the exam format -- how many questions (range); how much time is allowed for it, etc. If you can tell me where to find this info, or provide it for me, I will appreciate it. Kal -- I heard bad reviews about the MS Press book (see exact title below), and so have avoided it. I've found other materail that seems helpful. Can you tell me more about what you like about the MS Press book? Also, what brand of practice exam does in include? Thanks, Pete PS -- The MS Press book I referred to is "MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional" Second Edition (Hardcover) |
Posted by: Wildcat_Dude
Date Posted: 17 October 2006 at 2:45pm
| It gets bad reviews because people are lazy and don't like reading it It is very dry reading, but they are very good for the exams, whatever the latest version is, that's what you should go for. Sounds like you've been using the test prep software way too much because you're not absorbing the concepts. Visit MS web site under Elearning tab. Get to know that site well, it'll be beneficial to you. I'll add more when I get home, time to get out from my work load. ------------- MCSE:Security & MCSA:Security 2k, MCPS, MCNPS, MCDST, MCP XP, SonicWall CSSA, CompTIA Security+, A+ & N+ Being a is |
Posted by: TMichael
Date Posted: 17 October 2006 at 3:10pm
Quoted for Truth. Those folks also try to read the book and take the exam without working with this stuff in the real world and without having done the labs found within. Practice exams should be used ONLY after you've already finished studying, right before you take the live exam. Taking practice exams over and over and over until you start getting good scores is NOT a good indicator as to whether you'll pass the live exam because after you've seen a question or an exam once, you start subconsciously memorizing the questions. And since you won't see those exact questions on the live exam, you'll start getting a false sense of hope when you start scoring higher and higher the 2nd, 3rd, 4th time through an exam you've already taken. Trust me on that - I wrote questions for one of those practice exam companies you mentioned, and am currently starting my own practice exam company. :) My suggestion is to stop using the practice exams, study your materials AND do some hands-on work (like those labs in the MSPress book)... THEN try a practice exam, preferably one you haven't seen yet. If you can pass the practice exam the first time you take it, that's a fair indication that you might be able to pass the "real thing". Best of luck to you! ------------- TMichael MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCDST, MCDBA, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+ Served proudly, US Army, 98C Intelligence Analyst, '89-'92 |
Posted by: Wildcat_Dude
Date Posted: 17 October 2006 at 3:19pm
| Yeah, that's what I'm talking about TM got it covered as I was in a hurry getting off from work. (home is only 5 minutes away) ------------- MCSE:Security & MCSA:Security 2k, MCPS, MCNPS, MCDST, MCP XP, SonicWall CSSA, CompTIA Security+, A+ & N+ Being a is |