If you are taking a Microsoft exam online, read before

If you are taking a Microsoft exam online, read before

There are two ways to take a Microsoft exam:

• In an examination center
• Online and you can take the exam anywhere as long as you have a computer with a webcam and connected to Internet

What is the difference between the two?

Basically, it is the comfort.

Some people like to make the exam in examination center, and we will get a pen and a paper so that we can make notes for answering the question. At the end you must return the pen and the paper note.

Other like to make the exam at home or other location. But there are a lot of restrictions. For example, all notes are taken digitally by the following feature https://home.pearsonvue.com/Documents/Technical-specifications/Online-Proctored/online-proctored-whiteboard-overview.aspx).

You may also want to know the specifics restriction on how to prepare for the online exam

You should test your software at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/online-exams.aspx.

What is important to know if you are taken the exam online.

Andy Malone is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and Microsoft MVP he has had some issues and warned of some situations.

He recommends that you do the following:

1. During the registration process you will receive a code notification to start the exam. Do not delete this message and note the code.
2. Do not schedule your exams for a Saturday or for the end of the day, especially at night. The Pearson Vue will use artificial intelligence (AI) if there is no one available, and you won’t be able to call for help.
3. If you need or have any problems/issues call the support number or use chat.
4. Andy Malone noted that it is very important to disable any notification system. That are pop-ups or any type of notifications like Windows 10 Toast Notifications. The notifications will end your exam, so disable them for Windows or Mac OS.
5. Don't cover your mouth, read the questions out loud, don't talk to yourself, or look around. Any of the proposed actions on exam will cause the exam to be canceled. And the examiner will only warn once.

You can consult the Andy Malone blog post at: https://www.andymalone.org/post/taking-an-proctored-microsoft-exam-you-need-to-read-this

It’s recommended that you have/do:

• Good Internet access connectivity because any Internet issues or connection fail the exam will terminate, and you cannot resume it.
• A place with good lighting.
• Prepare to be in place for 2 or 3 hours without moving, that is, you cannot move a chair, you cannot stretch your arms, among other situations.
• Before starting, clean and remove any paper, folder, dossier, notebooks, etc from your workplace.
• And remember you will be monitored by WebCam do not make any funny faces, do not put your hands on the head and others
• Any outside noise can terminate the exam.

All certification exam policies can be found here.

Upcoming Microsoft Course Retirements

Microsoft standard courses are used when technology changes, functionality, new versions and updates.

These are the following courses that will be removed.

Microsoft is retiring the following courses on March 31, 2019: 

•  10996A: Hybrid Cloud and Datacenter Monitoring with Operations Management Suite (OMS) (OMS is deprecated.)
• 40457A: MOC Workshop: Azure Developer Hackathon
• 40500A: DevOps Workshop (replaced by AZ-400 curriculum) 

Microsoft is retiring the following courses from our course catalog on June 30, 2019:

•  20347A: Enabling and Managing Office 365 (replaced by courses aligned to exams MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services and MS-101: Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security)

• 20697-1D: Implementing and Managing Windows 10 (replaced by courses aligned to MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops) 
• 20697-2C: Deploying and Managing Windows 10 Using Enterprise Services (replaced by courses aligned to MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops
• 20698B: Installing and Configuring Windows 10 (replaced by courses aligned to MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops

You can consult the list of upcoming exams scheduled to retire here.

You can view course retirements history here.

Does the Microsoft Azure AZ-100 exam replace 70-533? What about AZ-101?

I have received some questions about the Microsoft Azure AZ-100 and AZ-101 exams and have decided to create a publication of the various questions I have received about them.

Does the Microsoft Azure AZ-100 exam replace 70-533? What about AZ-101?
Exam 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, certifies system administrators in Microsoft Azure, which guarantees a Microsoft Specialist certification. In conjunction with the AZ-532 or AZ-534 has the MCSA certification. With all three you have the MCSE certification.

But this was discontinued on December 31, 2018, due to the various changes and innovations of Azure services. The current exam was sometimes outdated. For those who were to take the exam he had to answer questions where services no longer existed and their prices were not what they were being practiced.

And now?
The certification has been changed to a new Microsoft Azure Administrator Associate certification, and it can be done in two ways:

•  Do you have the 70-533?
• Yes, then you will only need to take the AZ-102 transition exam until June 30, 2019.
• No, then you will have to take two exams the AZ-100 and AZ-101.

Does the AZ-100 and AZ-101 allow the continuation and/or renewal for the MCSA and/or MCSE?
No, these are part of a new certification.

Do the new exmas have the same content as 70-533?
The content of the AZ-533 was divided into two exams and updated with the new services. In my modest opinion the division was not well made. Because we talk about network in the AZ-100 and the other part of networks is in the AZ-100.

The following images demonstrate the differences between the 70-533 with AZ-100 and AZ-101.

What is the AZ-102?
The AZ-102 is the 70-533 transitional exam. It is a delta between the AZ-533 and AZ-100 + AZ-102. For those who have the AZ-533 do not need to do both exams, you only need to do this that entitles you to a new certification. This exam is available until June 30, 2019.



I have the AZ-533, do I have to do the new certification?
I always recommend upgrading your certifications. Iso demonstrates companies that are well prepared.

  

Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and HDInsight beta exams

Are you data scientists, analysts, data engineers, data architects or data developers who use Azure cloud services to build and deploy intelligent solutions or big data analytics solutions.

Now you have the opportunity to do two Microsoft exams totally for FREE.

Exam 70-774   : Perform Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning (beta)
Registration    : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-774.aspx Voucher code  : SCPAZ774EP

Exam 70-775   : Perform Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure HDInsight (beta)
Registration    : https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-775.aspx
Voucher code  : BPERB775VM

You must register and take the exam by March 31, 2017.

There are a limited amount of spots, so when they're gone, they're gone.

You should also be aware that there are some country limitations where the beta code will not work (e.g., Turkey, Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam); you will not be able to take the beta exam for free in those countries.

To prepare for the beta exam, check out my recent blog for ideas: https://borntolearn.mslearn.net/b/weblog/posts/just-how-does-one-prepare-for-beta-exams-without-preparation-materials.

Also, keep in mind that this exam is in beta, which means that you will not be scored immediately. You will receive your final score and passing status once the exam is live.

Beta Exams Microsoft SQL 767 and 764 require more participants

You are specializes in database administration and Data Warehouse implementation.

Until 31 January 2017 has the chance to make these two exams free betas.

Exam 70-764: Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure (beta)
Marking: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-764.aspx
Voucher: ZTNDFS764CC


Exam 70-767 Implementing the SQL Data Warehouse
Marking: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-767.aspx
Voucher: BVPYHJ767DD


There is a limited amount of seats.
These examinations are beta, which means that is your final score takes time, please be patient!

Source: Microsoft Training and Certification Community

New Exams for Data Scientists: Beta Testers Needed!

Microsoft is introducing a series of exams for data scientists and analysts! And, you can help us by participating in the beta exam! Our first, 773: Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R, starting January 3, 2017 until February 28, 2017

Are you a data scientist or analyst who processes and analyzes large data sets using R with the following experience:

• Familiarity with data structures
• Familiarity with basic programming concepts such as control flow and scope
• Familiarity with writing and debugging R functions

There are 300 seats for the beta exam 70-773.

This means you can take the exam for free!! BUT... the seats are limited to first come, first served basis.

The registration for now can only be made by phone using the contact details for customer services at Pearson Vue at http://www.pearsonvue.com/microsoft/contact/.

You need to inform the voucher code ' PPCABD773MM ' when prompted for payment to take it for free and its MS IS not the MS ID.

Before register search the exam centre where you wish to take the exam in http://www.pearsonvue.com/microsoft/gov/also can make in your home or office more information at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/online-proctored-exams.aspx.

Resources for exam:

• EDX: Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R https://www.edx.org/course/analyzing-big-data-microsoft-r-server-microsoft-dat213x
• MVA: https://mva.microsoft.com

Source: Microsoft Learning