Preparing for and Taking an Exam – FAQ
Fully prepare for and understand the exam process. On this page, you can find
answers to frequently asked questions about exam registration, preparation,
scoring, testing technologies, question types, formats, policies, and security.
Q. What is the most effective way to prepare for a
Microsoft Certification exam?
A. The exam preparation guide for each exam offers a "Skills measured" section
that you can review, as well as a list of preparation tools and resources
provided by Microsoft. The best way to prepare for a Microsoft Certification
exam is to practice the skills listed in the preparation guide.
* Learn more about preparation guides
Q. Can I find out how many questions there will be?
A. We do not provide information about the number of questions included on each
exam. This practice helps protect exam security and the value of Microsoft
Certifications.
MCITP Training –
MCSE Training –
MCTS Training
Q. How much time will I have to complete the exam?
A. The time varies from one exam to another, but it will not exceed four hours
under normal circumstances. In addition to answering the exam questions, you
will have time to review instructions and provide comments after the exam is
completed. To request the duration of your exam, contact Prometric, the
Microsoft Learning test provider; however, because Microsoft reserves the right
to change the exam content and time at any time, the most accurate information
will be obtained if you contact Prometric on the day of your exam.
The testing software provides a notification screen before the exam begins that
shows the maximum time allowed for answering the questions in that exam. Some
candidates may complete the exam before reaching the maximum time.
Microsoft is dedicated to developing technology that is usable for and
accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. If certification
candidates are unable to take a Microsoft Certification exam within the standard
exam duration, the MCP program is committed to making all reasonable efforts to
accommodate these candidates.
Inquire about the duration of your exam (Prometric.com)
View specific information regarding special accommodations
Q. What is the most efficient way to use my time during a certification exam?
A. Individuals vary in their approaches to test taking, so there is no one
approach that works for everyone. However, these tips help most candidates:
Note whether a section of the exam is timed. You will be unable to return to a
timed section after you have left it or after it has timed out.
Use all of the time allowed for each section and for the entire exam.
Answer the questions you know first. If you are unsure of a question, mark it
for review, and return to it later. In some exams, you cannot return to a
section of the exam after you have left it; these sections will be clearly
indicated during the exam.
Q. What is the most efficient way to navigate through previous questions on a
certification exam?
A. To return to the question immediately preceding the question that you are
answering, use the Previous button. To return to any other questions, use the
Review Screen at the end of the section or the exam. In some exams, you cannot
return to a section of the exam after you have left it; these sections will be
clearly indicated during the exam.
Q. Why do some questions cover topics that are not specifically called out in
the preparation guide?
A. Our exam preparation guides list key tasks that subject-matter experts have
identified as important for the technology area covered by the exam—but they do
not list all subtopics related to the key tasks. The preparation guides list
subtasks that might be included on the exam, but the actual exam might include
other subtasks. Also, some questions might reference technologies that are
outside the focus of the exam in order to provide appropriate context for the
question. Candidates who fit the audience profile for the exam should have the
experience to understand this contextual information.
Learn more about exam preparation guides
Q. The study materials I used to prepare for the exam included technically
inaccurate information. How can I provide feedback?
A. If you have feedback about an instructor-led Microsoft training course, you
can provide it directly to the instructor. If you have feedback about a
Microsoft E-Learning course, complete the feedback form that appears when you
complete the course. For Microsoft Press books, use the following link.
Provide feedback about a Microsoft Press book
Microsoft does not review study materials developed by third parties and is not
responsible for their content. If you have questions or comments about exam
preparation materials developed by third parties, please contact the publishers
directly.
Q. I studied for an exam by using Microsoft training and a Microsoft Press book,
and the exam included material that was not covered in the training or the book.
Why is this?
A. All learning materials related to exams, including Microsoft training and
Microsoft Press resources, are developed independently of exam content, because
the exams are intended to assess real-world experience with the technology, not
the effectiveness of training materials. Although these materials are designed
to help candidates prepare for the exam, it is expected that qualified
candidates will have sufficient experience in working with the technology to
successfully perform the tasks described in the test questions.
Use the exam preparation guide to identify which Microsoft training resources
cover the skills represented in the exam. For a variety of reasons, including
the time available for the course, it is not always feasible to cover all the
exam objectives in a classroom environment. However, Microsoft works hard to
ensure that some form of training material exists for all skills that will be
measured on an exam.
Q. How and when will I get my exam results?
A. You will receive notification of your pass or fail status immediately upon
completing your exam. In addition, you will receive a printed report that
provides your exam score and feedback on the skills measured. The exam provider
will forward your score to Microsoft within five working days of your test.
Beta exam results: You will be notified by mail of your beta exam results about
8-10 weeks after the beta period ends. Some beta exams require additional time
for results to be processed. Call your test registration center for more
information.
Q. If I fail what can I do?
A. If you do not pass a certification exam and want to retake it, review the
exam preparation guide and continue to practice the necessary skills. When you
are ready, call your test registration center to schedule a retake in accordance
with our retake policy. Note that you must pay for each exam you retake.
Review the exam retake policy
Q. What testing formats and question types appear on Microsoft Certification
exams?
A. Microsoft Certification exams include various formats and question types,
which are applied on a per-item basis to accurately evaluate the candidate’s
knowledge and skills.
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Formats might include:
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Case study format
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Simulations
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Virtual labs
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Question types might include:
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Multiple-choice questions
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Hot-area questions
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Active-screen questions
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Drag-and-drop questions
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Build-list and reorder questions
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Microsoft is continually introducing innovative testing technologies.
Q. Can I find out which testing formats will be used in the exam I’m taking?
A. No. Microsoft does not identify the formats of any given exam at the time of
registration. Also, we adopt new testing technologies and question types
periodically. Both practices help us protect exam security and the value of
Microsoft Certification.
To get a feel for the exam testing technologies, we encourage you to take
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) practice tests offered through Microsoft
Certified Practice Test Providers. The following tips may also help you.
Hot-area questions
Q. How do I know which elements are selectable?
A. Selectable elements are marked with a border and shaded when you move your
cursor over them.
Q. How do I select an element or cancel a selection?
A. Click an element to select it. The area around the element will become dim to
indicate that it has been selected. Click the element again to cancel the
selection. To reverse all selections, click the Reset button.
Q. I can’t see the complete text of a question. What should I do?
A. You can use the split bar to resize panes. In some cases, you might need to
use the scroll bar to view the entire text of the question or the entire
graphic.
Active-screen questions
Q. How do I change the text in a text box?
A. To fill in a text box, drag the appropriate text element to the text box. To
replace the text in a text box, drag another text element to the text box. To
remove the text, drag the text element back to its original location.
Q. How do I select an option or a check box?
A. To select an option or a check box, you can either click the option or check
box or click the text of the option or text box.
Q. How do I clear an option?
A. To clear an option, you can either click another option within the same group
or click the text of another option within the same group. To reverse all
selections, click the Reset button.
Q. How do I clear a check box?
A. To clear a check box, you can either click the selected check box or click
the text of the selected check box.
Q. I can’t see the whole text of a question. What should I do?
A. You can use the split bar to resize panes. In some cases, you might need to
use the scroll bar to view the entire text of the question or the entire
graphic.
Q. I tried to select an element, but it isn’t responding. Why?
A. In some active-screen questions, not all elements in the dialog box will be
active.
Drag-and-drop questions
Q. How do I answer a drag-and-drop question?
A. Drag the appropriate source objects to the correct target locations in the
answer areA. Target locations are indicated by a dimmed box. When a source
object is within a target, an outline will appear around the dimmed box. The
object will snap into position when you release the mouse button.
Q. How do I remove a source object from a target?
A. You can either drag the object back to its original position or select the
object and press the DELETE key. To replace objects that have been positioned on
a target, you can also drag another object into its position. To reverse all
selections, click the Reset button.
Q. I can’t see the whole text of a question. What should I do?
A. You can use the split bar to resize panes. In some cases, you might need to
use the scroll bar to view the entire text of the question or the entire
graphic.
Q. Do I need to use all source objects or targets provided?
A. You might not need to use all source objects or targets provided. Depending
on the question, plausible distractors may be included in either list.
Q. Can I use source objects more than one time?
A. Some source objects can be used only one time, while some can be used more
than once. A source object will appear deactivated when its use limit is
reached. To use this source object again, remove an instance of it from the
answer area.
Build-list and reorder questions
Q. How do I answer a build-list and reorder question?
A. Drag source objects from the list of choices to the answer list, and arrange
the objects in the correct order. You can also click a source object to select
it, and then click the LEFT ARROW key to move the object from the list of
choices to the bottom of the answer list.
Q. How do I reorder objects in the answer list?
A. To reorder objects in the answer list, drag an object to the correct location
in the answer list. You can also click an object to select it, and then use the
arrow buttons to move the object. Note that the arrow buttons might be
unavailable based on the location of the selected object.
Q. How do I remove an object from the answer list?
A. To remove an object from the answer list, drag the object from the answer
list to the list of choices. You can also select the object and press the DELETE
key, or select the object and then click the LEFT ARROW key. In all these cases,
the object will be returned to the list of choices.
Q. How do I remove all objects from the answer list?
A. To remove all objects from the answer list, click the Reset button. Case study
format
Q. Why is the case study exam format used?
A. The case study exam format uses complex scenarios that more accurately
simulate what Microsoft Certified Professionals do on the job. A case study
model also allows us to test your ability to analyze and synthesize information
to make decisions.
Q. When I start a case study, will I be able to review previous ones?
A. No, you will not be able to review a case study after you move to the next
one. When you complete a case study and its associated questions, a review
screen will appear. This screen lets you review your answers and make changes
before you move to the next case study.
Q. The scenarios are long and contain many details. Are the case study questions
designed to test memory?
A. Scenario-based questions are designed to test your ability to analyze and
synthesize information in order to make decisions—not to test memory. You can
refer to scenario details as frequently as necessary while you are working on
questions in a case study.
Q. How do I display the content in a case study?
A. Click one of the round buttons in the left pane. If a list of sections (for
example, Business Requirements or Company Information) appears under the button,
click one of them to display its content. To return to a question from a case
study, click the Question button in the left pane.
Performance-based testing
Q. Why is Microsoft adding performance-based exam items to certain exams?
A. Traditionally, Microsoft uses the format for exam items that most accurately
evaluates the candidate’s knowledge and skills. Such formats may include:
- Multiple-choice single answer questions
- Multiple-choice multiple answer questions
- Hot-area questions
- Active-screen questions
- Drag-and-drop questions
- Build-list and reorder questions
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Case studies
There are certain skills that are more accurately validated through direct
hands-on methods like simulations and lab-based testing. This varies from exam
to exam.
Q. Which exams include performance-based items?
A. To date, the following exams include performance-based items:
Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003
Network Infrastructure (core Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator and
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer on Windows Server 2003 exams)
Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network
Infrastructure
Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003
Active Directory Infrastructure
Exam 70-431: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance
Exam 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring
Exam 83-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring (This exam
will gradually replace the current version of the exam: Exam 70-640: TS: Windows
Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring.)
Note that this list is subject to change at any time. Some exceptions apply in
selected regions.
Locate a testing center near you
In the future, most Microsoft technical certification exams will include
performance-based items.
Q. What is the difference between performance-based testing using virtual labs
and performance-based using simulation technologies?
A. Simulations restrict you to a small number of expected paths to complete exam
tasks, whereas virtual labs allow for any path and tool available in a real
computing environment, as long as the result is correct.
Q. Which exams include performance-based testing items built on virtual labs
technologies?
A. At this time, only Exam 83-640 includes virtual labs testing items. This exam
is currently available in English only and in certain countries. Since the
virtual labs testing items validate the same skills and knowledge as the
multiple-choice items, candidates should not take any different approach to exam
preparation.
Q. Are performance-based exams available in all testing centers?
A. Not at this time. Note that when enough testing centers in a region have
demonstrated that they can deliver performance-based exams, only the
performance-based version of the exam will be available to customers in that
region. In other words, all of the testing centers in a given region will
deliver the performance-based version of the exam.
Q. If the performance-based exam is not available in my area, when will it
become available?
A. Performance-based exams will eventually be available in all testing centers.
Q. When will additional exams with performance-based testing items be released?
A. The decision to apply performance-based testing is made on an exam-by-exam
basis when Microsoft determines that it is the best method to validate a
particular skill. Some exams have many performance-based questions, and some
exams have few or none.
Q. Will the entire Exam 83-640 consist of completing tasks in a virtual lab
environment?
A. There are certain skills that are better tested by more traditional formats,
such as multiple-choice questions. The number of hands-on tasks in an exam
depends on the skills being measured.
Learn more about Exam 83-640
Q. As the exams become updated with lab-based items, am I required to retake
them?
A. No. The skills that are tested do not change; therefore, retesting is not
necessary.
Q. Should I prepare for the lab-based exams differently than I prepare for other
exams?
A. No. As with non-lab-based exams, we recommend that you use exam preparation
guides to find out the subject areas, knowledge, and skills that are required to
pass the exam. When an exam is updated with a new lab-based testing item, the
skills measured remain the same.
Q. Do performance-based exams take longer to complete?
A. Yes, these exams are typically longer than exams that do not contain
performance-based items.