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Exam 70-646 – Preparations for My Next Exam

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I am preparing to start studying for my next Microsoft exam. The exam I am working on will be 70-646, PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator. In my preparations, I am going to use the MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-646): Windows Server 2008 Administratorexam preparation book to study for the exam. I bought this book last fall from Amazon.ca, as with the OWSUG study groups, we always used the MS Press books and found them to be the best resource for subject material when preparing for the exam. I also find that its definitely less expensive to get my books from the online stores versus a physical brick and mortar store.

When I read the books, I find that writing out brief points about what is covered in each section helps me remember what I read. I will take my notes and put them up on my blog; probably post dating them so it works out that 2 chapters a week get posted to the site. My plan is to write the exam next Thursday, but I may move that date out another week if I don’t get a chance to get a good solid study in over this weekend.

My Year End Review

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had a post a few week back about his certification achievements this past year. Seeing this is the last week of the year, I was reflecting on what I accomplished this past year. Listing what you have accomplished in the past year along with setting goals for the future is a good way to mark your progress and then set goals to achieve going ahead.

This past year I have been fairly steady with the certifications I passed the following exams:

  • 70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
  • 70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
  • 70-625 TS: Connected Home Integrator
  • 70-626 Consumer Sales Specialist
  • 70-622 PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians
  • 70-293 Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
  • 70-294 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
  • 70-297 Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure

As a result of these exams I received the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician and the MCSE 2003 credential.

I am also taking a program through Loyalist College’s Loyalist Training and Development Centre called Managing and Leading in a Municipal Environment as part of my job at the County.

 

In 2009 my plan is to pass the following exams:

  • 70-643 TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring
  • 70-646 PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
  • 70-647 PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
  • 70-236 TS: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring
  • 70-635 TS: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008, Desktop Deployment

As well as these Microsoft exams, I also want to do an ITIL course this year and Security+ and maybe look at the CCNA from Cisco but probably won’t write that exam in 2009. I may also try and write some other Microsoft exams besides the ones above, but we’ll see how it goes. I am going to try to get through the ones listed first.

Registration open till October 25th for testing New Virtual Lab based Exam 70-113

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Microsoft has extended their offer to write the Microsoft exam 70-113: TS: Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring. This is the exam where you don’t get a score but it is for Microsoft Learning to test their deployment and for your trouble you will receive 3 three exam vouchers. I have written this exam and some words of advice, don’t arrive too early for the exam, you can’t start the exam until the time you selected. For example, I arrived at 8:45 and started my 9:00 exam. I had to sit and twiddle my thumbs until 9:00 while the counter counted down because the VM you run your test in
doesn’t get prepped until a few minutes before the exam. So don’t be like me, arrive a little early for your test but don’t start the exam until your allotted
time.

Normally I would say good luck, but in this case, there is no
score, so have fun. Below is the official text.

Registration open
till October 25th for testing New Virtual Lab based Exam 70-113: TS:
Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring

Responding
to a ton of positive and productive feedback and many customer requests,
Microsoft extends the registration for exam
70-113 till October 25th. Call to your near test centers before
October 25th to learn and experience it now to prepare for your experience
during scored testing. The new pilot exam 70-113: TS: Windows® Server 2008
Active Directory, Configuring tests candidate’s abilities to actually perform
tasks and solve problems in virtual lab environment like they would do it
normally in a real world. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to
experience this pilot exam at no charge and obviously we are eager to receive
your opinion.

Now
virtual lab based pilot Exam 70-113 is available worldwide, with high
concentration of test centers ready to receive registrations for this pilot exam
in Ireland, Singapore, Canada,
Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, UK,
Egypt, UAE, South Africa, US, India, Eastern Europe, Russia (Moscow),
China.

Upon
completion of this pilot exam, the first 3000 candidates will receive
3 (!) free exam vouchers that can be used to register for any
Microsoft Certification exam delivered at a Prometric testing center.  The
voucher will be distributed electronically 4 weeks after end of Pilot.  This
pilot exam will not provide you with a score as with normal beta exams.
This pilot is a test of the exam experience, so only a portion of the final exam
will be presented to you during this pilot. This pilot exam will not be added to
your transcript and you will need to take the exam in its released form in order
to be awarded the credential. Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-640.mspx

Registration
Information

You
must register at least 7 days prior to taking the exam. Register before October
25th to take the exam before October 31st.
Please use
the following promotional code when registering for the exam: H640
(promo code is active till October 31st)
Receiving this
invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the pilot; we recommend that you
register immediately.


•

· Go
to the Prometric Website: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

· Select
Microsoft exam 70-113:
TS: Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory,
Configuring

· Enter
Promo Code H640
(promo code is active till October
31st)

Send your opinion
about exam experience to: http://blogs.technet.com/betaexams/and to:[email protected]