MCSA Certification testing! 70-290 Exam - What's the best way to study?

[Archaea]

I'm taking my 70-290 exam next week as part of my Microsoft Certified Professional Administrator courses. I've been studying a Microsoft Published Self Training kit with a virtual PC domain controller, servers, and workstation -- but I'm not as far along in it as I'd like.

I've discovered in the book that if the time guideline is 15 minutes for the section it takes me an hour, if it says 30 minutes it takes me 2 hours. I'm on chapter 6 out of 20. (roughly 1/3 of the book though by page count).

I plan to continue going through it until my test, but is there any other preparation you guys would suggest to ensure I'm ready? This is my first Microsoft exam so I don't really know what to expect. I was on a help desk for four years, but have only been working with servers for about 4 months and am still pretty green.

[LittleMe]

Just keep up with the book, it'll give you the answers that MS is looking for on the test. When it comes to the exam's there is the the right/quick/easiet/whatever way and then the MS way. They always wants you to give the answer that they give in the book.

Nothing makes up for hands on experience though.

[Keiichi]

Stay with the book, and practice the excercises. Just a general thing about MS exams is there is always an "MS" answer. With the MCSA and MCSE test they'll want you to answer that way. Which is not necessarily what you would do in the real world.

[Canadian in Berlin]

Agreed with the above, I can also recommend those cheat exam websites, don't memorize(though I know many do), but they make a great practice test, I used a bunch of old versions simply as sample questions (for my CCNP and CCSP).

[LoStMaTt]

70-290 is one if the easiest tests IMHO. Study real hard the night before and you will be just fine.

[Demon10000]

Nothing beats hands on experience. Continue testing with the labs. That way, if you don't know the answer to a question, you'll have a better chance figuring it out.

On top of that, lots of 290 is simulation meaning you're going to have to do the question, not just pick the answer from a list of possibilities.

[Archaea]

I passed, I'm really glad I spent lot of time preparing. It was a tough test. I got an 828 out of 1000. When I pushed the submit button I wasn't sure I'd pass. Thanks for the help guys.

[LoStMaTt]

Congrats. Now just remember to sign up on the MCP website and get your free MCP starter thing.

[fluke420]

be a wimp... http://www.testking.com/

[Demon10000]

I passed, I'm really glad I spent lot of time preparing. It was a tough test. I got an 828 out of 1000. When I pushed the submit button I wasn't sure I'd pass. Thanks for the help guys.



Congrats!

I'm stuck on 290 too. It's very intimidating to me, and I should just bite and go take it!

[fluke420]

Congratulations! You only need 3 more for your MCSA. Take the Exchange test as your elective. It's somewhat hard but it looks better to employers.

[Archaea]

I was actually thinking of doing the Networking + as my elective. My degree was in networking and communication management and I "should" have a bit more of a background in that than exchange :) which I've never worked with. We are a Lotus Notes shop at the place I work.