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Recommend me some MCSE study guides?
VoodooV
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Registered User regular
So at my workplace, we're finally going to be ditching Netware and probably moving to Active Directory in a year or two. I'd like to learn more about MCSE training and work towards that and use it as leverage for a promotion.
I've been supporting Windows desktops and servers for years, but have very little experience with Active Directory. I've also taken some instructor led MCSE classes, but I just never pursued the cert. I can probably get at least one, maybe two, weeks of paid instructor-led classes from work thanks to our training policy
One thing I remember about taking some sample tests after taking the class is that very little of what was actually covered in class was on the test. I understand the reasons for that, so that people aren't just doing brain dumps to pass the test and MS is actually forcing them to load up the OS in a real environment to get experience. I'm fine with that.
That being said, can anyone recommend me any quality curriculum or MCSE program. I'm not made of money, so I know I can't afford those big instructor led multi-week boot camps or whatever. But maybe just a good high quality self training kit or something along those lines. I used to get a ton of advertisements from a company called TestOut selling MCSE training kits but I dont know if they're any good or not. Is there any site out there that rates these training materials at all?
Thanks in advance.
I've been supporting Windows desktops and servers for years, but have very little experience with Active Directory. I've also taken some instructor led MCSE classes, but I just never pursued the cert. I can probably get at least one, maybe two, weeks of paid instructor-led classes from work thanks to our training policy
One thing I remember about taking some sample tests after taking the class is that very little of what was actually covered in class was on the test. I understand the reasons for that, so that people aren't just doing brain dumps to pass the test and MS is actually forcing them to load up the OS in a real environment to get experience. I'm fine with that.
That being said, can anyone recommend me any quality curriculum or MCSE program. I'm not made of money, so I know I can't afford those big instructor led multi-week boot camps or whatever. But maybe just a good high quality self training kit or something along those lines. I used to get a ton of advertisements from a company called TestOut selling MCSE training kits but I dont know if they're any good or not. Is there any site out there that rates these training materials at all?
Thanks in advance.
VoodooV on
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First - the MS Press books are good, but like any book, it will teach you only very little when it comes time to take the tests. They also come with some software in the back of each book, some study guides and self tests - they're okayish, but hey, it came with the book.
I used the following, and I highly recommend all of them:
CBT Nuggets - It's a video course, no self testing. The guy who does it is a natural teacher, and shows you damn near everything. They can run kinda long, but I learned an incredible amount from watching the video's. Stuff I didn't get OTJ, in class, or in reading. Big thumbs up.
Transcender - Some of the best self tests out there, I only discovered them for my last two tests, and I regret that.
selftestsoftware.com - Just as good as Transcender, I used'em for 6 of my 7 tests.
TestOut - I didn't discover these guys until my very last test, and I'm still pissed. A buddy loaned me a CD he had bought, and it was excellent. Kinda like CBT Nuggets - you get a video of a guy drawing concepts and teaching you. The bonus is that you get self-test questions with it, and really damn good ones. Big thumbs up.
Alright, here's the stuff I stayed away from - your milage will vary, but in terms of substance, I found them lacking.
Examcram - the book is great. The self-tests are not so great. Very generic, key concept kind of questions. Will they prepare you for the test? Not likely - good for initial studying, but when it's crunch time, not so much. After my first test, I wasn't impressed and stayed away. The book is still great reading material though.
Sybex - Again, outstanding book and reading. Selftests didn't impress me. Perhaps the one critical thing I could say about the book, is that they give you too much information - much of which microsoft doesn't emphasize or care about. Seperating that information can be tough when you're gearing up for the tests, so your mileage will vary. I loved'em though for reading - I don't think you'll find a greater compendium of network engineering knowledge better than most Sybex books.
Examforce - Something you're going to learn real fast - The simulation questions can be a pain in the ass - and it's tough to find self-tests that will actually run you through simulations - that is soliving simulated desktop/server problems. Examforce is probably the only software out there that actually includes simulated excercises on their software - but there's a catch. The software ain't the cheapest (100 bucks or so), and the company is chock full of pushy telemarketing douchebags - if you buy from them (and I recommend you do, for the simulations alone), don't give them your telephone number. They'll harass the hell out of you to buy more of their crap, and frankly, who wants that? I made the mistake of giving them my work number, and they bothered me for months, even after a bunch of 'no thank you's'.
So to summarize - Transcender, selftestsoftware and Examforce are great test prep's. TestOut and CBT are great teaching aides, with TestOut head and shoulders above the rest in content and teaching.
As always, YMMV when using this stuff. Find what works for you the best.
http://www.thelostworlds.net/
I'm on my way to obtaining my MCSE, mostly because my boss looks better if we have official certs, but also because studying keeps my mind engaged during my post-undergrad life. I have passed the 70-270 (XP) and 70-290 (2K3) exams so far, and have like what, 5 more tests to go?
For the 270 and 290 exams, I used the official MS press books that 3lwap0 referred to. They are great for learning conceptual stuff and introducing you to topics, but they won't completely prepare you for the exams. The exams like to combine lots of topics into questions and simulations that you won't necessarily read about in your study material. Because of this, you really should use 2 or more study guides.
My second source for both tests were the TestKing booklets. TestKing is a company that users professional test takers to take the tests and then record what questions they had on the exam after they take it. This results in having pretty much every question, word for word, to study before you take the test. My network engineer swears that all you have to do is study TestKing, but I don't like the idea of having a "paper cert" (not being able to back up the certification with the required skills), so I read the MS press books all the way through and then use TestKing for review.
Examforce is good for practice exams and simulations, but I can't comment on the company's business practices since I haven't dealt with them directly.
I thought Examcram was good for quick reviews when I only had a few minutes to study, but I wouldn't rely on it as your only source.
You're going to need to pick a study method that works for you, though, so if self-study isn't your deal, you might want to look in to taking prep classes for the exams.
Testking is nothing more than pure cheating mate. I've seen'em, and they're word for word exactly what you see on the test. Anyone who uses them doesn't deserve the cert, and it devalues the hard work that honest folk gave to pass it legit. I don't care how you, or anyone justifies it to help you sleep at night - it's still bullshit cheating - even if it's for 'review'.
OP - if you're a man of integrity, don't touch'em. Passing fair and square is the only way to go.
I feel compelled to defend myself, even though I know I don't have to. I think questioning my integrity is a bit much in this situation, considering that TestKing is available to the public and if it really were cheating, Microsoft would have shut down the entire operation.
I read the press books cover to cover. I studied for hours every day for months at a time for these exams. I don't rely on TestKing exclusively. I think it's weak when people take these exams just so they can pad their resumes when they really don't have the knowledge to back up what the certs mean.
All in all, I know my shit and I worked hard to get to this level.
I think TestKing is a good way to get an edge on the exams, but I don't think anyone should rely on them exclusively. Again, getting a paper cert is stupid because your employer will find out that you don't know what you're doing very quickly, so it's important to actually read the books and work with the material.
Really? Shut them down? You don't fucking say. It's not public domain either. TK sells it on their website, and other sites buy those tests and either warez them out, or re-sell them.
If that's the case, then you shouldn't need to cheat at all. You can sell it to yourself how ever you like - a cheat is a fucking cheat.
Look man - it's the actual tests, copied, and presented to you prior to the actual exam. It's a duplicate. Exact copy. Literary doppleganger. And you're looking at those answers prior to taking the tests. How in the hell can you call it anything but cheating? You'll call it a 'review', or whatever the fuck you want to help you sleep at night. The real deal is if you could hack it, you wouldn't have to fucking cheat. End of story.
I don't intend to derail the OP's thread, so i'll stop with the tirade. The OP is just going to have to make the best choice he can on what road he wants to walk down.
My main beef is that I don't want to be caught unprepared again. That was one nice thing about being on Novell back in the day. When I took my CNA class. I learned EVERYTHING I needed to know for the exam. I did extra studying for a couple weeks after the class, but it was hardly necessary as I aced the CNA test.
So you can imagine my surprise when I take a Microsoft class, study the material a bit afterward, take a practice exam and I'd get my ass handed to me.
I fully intend to set up an actual test lab and put this stuff into real practice, and I have no interest in brain dumps, I want this cert to mean something and not just be a paper MCSE. I also don't want to get shafted by a study guide/practice test suite that doesn't tell me what I need to know either.
I just really felt like I got ripped off in that class (even though work paid for it) 2 grand for a week of class and im still not ready for the exam? fuck that noise.
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First, don't get discouraged. The practice exams are gonna beat you senseless some nights, and that's a good thing. Better you get pounded in studying, than on the test. With those practice tests, be sure you read and grok the explinations you get for the wrong answers. Self tests are a great study tool, if you try and get the most out of it. Some folks say you should only self-test to get an idea of where you are in your studies - I took the opposite route, and used my self-tests too study. The more questions you're exposed too, the deeper your breadth of knowledge will go when it comes to exam time. I'm not going to lie - it's gonna suck, and suck hard. There will be some nights you'll just wanna punch yourself in the balls rather than do anymore self-testing. Just keep at it, and you'll be fine.
I did 5 months of classess, and they only taught me a little. True to the IT spirit, it's sink or swim on your own I guess. Most of what I learned was from OTJ, and just endless studying.
I know back when I was interested in getting a CNE, there was one elective that was considered the easiest so everyone did that one.
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Re: Self-testing: The questions being memorized isn't so bad - it's the concepts and answers you need to know. You can expect to see those on the test - also it helps highlight the areas that you need to work on as well, to go back and read again. So - have a big pool of questions, but grok the answers they give. Anyways, pick what works the best for you sir, everyone study methods are a bit different.
I still have a couple of core exams left, so I haven't really put much thought in to the elective yet, but if I were to pick one right now, I'd probably go down the security path like 3lwap0 did. There's an elective focused on networking for smaller businesses (70-282) that could be interesting for me since my boss is sending me to CCNA school this summer, but again, I haven't reached a point in my MCSE path that I have to make that decision yet.
RE: Self-Tests
A crappy but annoyingly important part of studying. I like to study for an hour-hour and a half and then take a couple of practice tests just to break up the monotony of reading books for hours on end. You'll have good nights where you feel like you're really nailing the exams and understand the material and the you'll have a night so bad that you just want to quit because you can't get anything right. They were a big help to me, though, so I'd say keep at it even though they're hard to get through sometimes.
I think the key point in all of this is that you have to use multiple sources for your studies to cover all of the topics. Even the Microsoft press books admit that they don't cover everything and that you have to do some extra-curricular reading to make up for their deficiencies.
In any case, just wanted to say thank you for the tips and pointers to study material that I'll be grabbing as I ramp up to taking the exams in a month or so.
I'm thinking though that I'm going to try and get work to pay for the TestOut study guides. Its cheaper than an instructor led class and I'll get more out of it, and I haven't done any training in a while, so I'm due for some training money. If I'm really convincing, I can get them to pay for some transcender stuff too.
But im also thinking of getting that big MS press study kit as a 2nd source of material. But ill probably just buy that myself. the big kit would be cheaper than buying the books individually.
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The MS Press stuff is really just good for the reading - solid books. The self-test software that comes with it is kinda weak - looking back, I could have done without the software and just used the book. For a bulk deal, 200 aint' bad. I'm bettin' a better deal could be found online though. TestOut is good - selftestsoftware.com is good as well $50 bucks for a nice bank of flash cards, questions, simulated exams. I liked'em.
I wish I could remember the tests that I actually used and found worth the money. If I remember them I'll pass it along.
Yeah, upon searching further, I found the set for $125 on Amazon
Oh, and my boss approved the purchase of the testout suite...woo!
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EDIT: N/M
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