April 23, 2006
MCSD .NET Done and Dusted
After one long year, five exams later I've finally completed the MCSD .NET certification by passing the last exam: 70-300 Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures.
I remember buying the first book April last year and have been studying whenever I have the time. It hasn't been an easy process, the most difficult task is to actually find the time to study. Not to mention the amount of material to cover. When I first started studying I thought I can finish the entire set in 5 months, at 1 exam per month rate. Reality doesn't seem to agree. I've been told that the 'normal' time to finish MSCD .NET range between 10 - 18 months. I know a few people who didn't end up finishing it, you do need a lot of determination and encouragement to study.
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January 11, 2006
On the Certification Road
This morning I passed my 70-229 exam and that gives me my MCAD certification. It took me over 5 months to clear the 3 exams, much longer than I had anticipated. On my original training plan with Oakton, I put down all three exams in 3 months. It turned out to be a fantasy.
I've used the following books and study materials for my exam prep.
This is my first exam, and not only that this is my first exam since my Uni days. I haven't done any exam for over 5 years, studying for this exam is one of the hardest thing that I've ever done for a while. It was brutal, the studying I mean. The exam itself is an anti-climax. I finished it in less than 1 hour, definitely over-prepared. I read the book front to back twice for this exam :)
So book used:
MCAD/MCSD Training Guide (70-316): Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Visual C# and Visual Studio.NET by Amit Kalani.
Amit Kalani series is the guide for MCSD exam prep. I haven't met anyone, repeat haven't met anyone or know anyone else who didn't use this book. Everyone that I know who have done the tests and going to do it are using this book. And it's for a good reason. It's a bloody good book, not only it prepares for you for the exam it teaches you about the subject as well. It's a good study book which also prepare you for the 70-315 exam.
Next exam is:
After over studying for 70-315 this one is like a walk in the park. Half of the material is the same and the other half is not that hard. It's pretty much 70-315 minus Windows Forms + COM and advanced Web Service. It focuses more in advanced DataSet techniques than what is covered in 70-315. Overall, easiest exam that I've done so far.
Book used is again the one from Amit Kalani:
MCAD/MCSD Training Guide (70-320): Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Visual C# .NET and the .NET Framework by Amit Kalani.
This guy is a legend, a lot of people owe this guy a thank you note at least for writing yet another superb exam prep/learning book. Even if you don't want to do the exam this book is still a good book to learn about the subject.
Last exam for my MCAD is the elective, I chose 70-229: Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition
Here I took a slightly different path than most people. Most MCSD will do the 70-316 before 70-229 to complete the MCAD. I decided to do 70-229 first because I know this is potentially the hardest exam in the track mainly as I hate SQL or anything related to database. I took the advantage of the quiet Christmas and New Year's break to study for this exam.
Although it's an "elective" it's pretty much what 90% MCSD took as their elective. All the other elective subjects in the MCSD track doesn't sound very interesting and there's hardly any exam prep book for them. So going along with the rest of the sheep I chose this subject.
The book that I used for this exam is not that good, reflected by the my score for this exam which is the lowest out of the three that I have done. I used this one:
MCDBA, MCSE, MCSD, MCAD Training Guide (70-229): SQL Server 2000 Database Design and Implementation by Thomas Moore and Ed Tittel.
I used this book since I've used QUE's books for the past 2 exams I might as well use the one in the series. Well it helped me passed the exam but can't be compared to Amit Kalani's excellent books.
So there it is three exams, over 5 months of studying and an MCAD. Three down and 2 more to go for the MCSD.
Oh yes one note, don't bother reading MS Press books, IMHO, it's crap. Misleading even, by calling itself an "exam prep" book where it does everything but prepare you for the exam. My colleague has the set and I had a quick browse. The material is not deep enough and seriously lacking in a lot of the exam objectives. If you haven't bought it, don't. If you already bought it, well you can always use it as a monitor stand or something, and go buy the QUE books instead.
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