Anybody else studying for certification tests?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My misery could use some company. :wink:

With the slow economy, and computer consultants and contractors market really dead temporarily, I decided to take the time and upgrade my certs. Man it is a pain reading something where you know 95% or the stuff and have been using it for years. The 5% that is new, or unremembered sneaks through my attention meter. Unfortunately that is the 5% that will make up 40% of the test most likely. :frowning:

I could probably just walk in and pass the tests, but I don’t want to waste money in case, so I read the material books. And they do structure the tests so that simply being a good user of the language won’t help.

Questions like:
"Which three of these horrible things will happen is you do X

  1. The internet will collapse into a black hole
  2. Bill Gates will rape your dog
  3. Godzilla will eat your city.
  4. Your genitals will fall off.
    "
    The reality is I don’t know, because I don’t care. Years ago I learned “NEVER DO X” and haven’t thought about it since then. If some new miracle technology now allows X they know enough to put it in big letters"X is now safe to do with ACME X compatable software". But usually once you learn not to do X you just never do it and go about your business until you die.

But now My eyes are bleeding from reading, and rescanning for the little tidbits that are irrelevant to me using it, but will be on the test.

2

Ugh. I really should too. But I’m gainfully employed and it looks pretty stable, so I’ll prolly ignore them until I have to do 5 in a month.

#2 already happened. He does it when you are at the tests.

3

I was going to wait till Friday to start a thread to brag, but why not put it here. I am doing my MS certs right now. In the last 90 days I have passed 270, 290, 291, 293, 294, 298, 649, 646, and 620. I have failed 2 exams (294 and 647). I am taking 647, and 622 on Friday. I kind of started a certification frenzy where I work. In the 90 days 6 of us have recieved over 30 certifications, mostly Microsoft, but also Security+, and Network+ for one guy who didn’t have them already.

Like you this is mostly stuff we all know, and been working with for years. Everyone thinks the same as NurseCarmen and if you have a job why bother. I just got this job, and know everyone wants the certification, but I couldn’t afford them without a job. Now that I have a job I almost didn’t bother, but the job is a 1 year contract so I will be looking again soon. Also it is hard to beat the price here. The exams are only $50 compared to the $125 in the US. So even for the ones I failed I still ended up paying less than for one try at home. The CompTIA stuff does not have a discount so my one coworker spent quite a bit on those. Also there is a free voucher from prometric to get 15 - 25% off the exam cost. If you need the web address PM me, and I can dig it out of my email.

The 2008 upgrade exams are not that hard. We setup a test server here, and played with it. The hard part is remembering what domain or forest level you need to be at for specific functions. I usually guess if I don’t remember it in 2003 you must need a 2008 domain/forest. I was shocked at how easy the 620 (Vista) exam was. I took it cold and got a 962. Only ever using Vista on my laptop. There were a lot of simulations on that exam. The 647 killed me I missed it by quite a bit(Think I scored a 610 or so). I am alot more confident now for my attempt on Friday.

After Friday I think I will be done with Microsoft for a while. Might take 299 to get my MCSE+S, and 624 for another MCITP. I already have the gear ordered to start my CCNP studies. Once it gets here I will work on that and hope to finish it before DEC. Once that is done I might go back and do Windows 7 just so I will be certified on Microsoft for a few years. Then maybe Linux+ try to be a well rounded IT guy.

Guess I should get back to my book for 647. Good luck on your exams.

-Otanx CNAx3, CNEx3, A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003, MCSE 2003, MCTSx4, MCITP:SA, CCNA, and for some reason I am thinking I am forgetting one

4

I’m working on my ITIL cert. I’ve passed the foundations and Service Strategy. I’m taking Service Design this month. Luckily, (damn lucky!) the tests are more geared to the best way to resolve a problem, not memorization.

5

I’m going for a dose of CLP - Certified Linux Professional, basically because it’s in my objectives. I have virtually no interest in it at all, and I dread what happens when I tackle my first practicum - setting up an SSL connection or a DHCP server by command line or something equally pointless. I’m supposed to get it done by the end of October but I don’t like my chances.

6

I’m not in IT, but I’m working on the Praxis I and II teaching exams. The Praxis I involves reading comprehension, writing and high school math. But as anyone who’s ever read my posts here, I have problems with reading comprehension. :stuck_out_tongue: