Passed all 4 SharePoint 2010 MCP exams at TechReady

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 I passed all 4 SharePoint 2010 MCP exams at TechReady-12 (a Microsoft field employees only tech conference) and have gained following new MCP titles:

  • Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): SharePoint Developer 2010
  • Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): SharePoint Administrator 2010
  • Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS):
    • SharePoint 2010, Configuration 
    • SharePoint 2010, Application Development

Here are the exams I passed:

  • 70-573 TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
  • 70-667 TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint 2010, Configuring
  • 70-576 PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications
  • 70-668 PRO: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Administrator

It turned out that the PRO exams were easier to me than the TS'. However, without passing the TS exams, the PRO's would not be activated. The hardest one for me was 70-573, I failed the first time (scored 624) and had to re-take it.

I chatted with the guy who was managing the makeshift exam site at the conferece, he said the passing rate was about the same as his other "official" sites, around 50%. I figure since the exams for TechReady attendees were free so there would be much less stress and preparations for our Microsofties, like me, I didn't prepare for the exams at all. Therefore, we do know better about our own products.

OK, here are some tips I would like to share if you plan to take these exams:

  • Each exam has 50 questions, you have enough time to complete them, don’t rush
  • PRO exams are more focusing on case studies
  • PRO Admin exam requires SharePoint enterprise deployment experience
  • Make sure you have clear knowledge on basic SharePoint concepts, for example, web app, site collection, site, …
  • Make sure you understand the new 2010 features and concepts well
  • Don’t stay on a single question for too long, make a guess, mark it and come back later
  • Don’t change your answer if you guessed it, chances are your first guess is the correct one
  • Don’t panic and don’t blame yourself if you don’t pass, even I have failed J

 

 

Zewei Song, Ph.D.
MCPD, MCITP, MCTS: SharePoint 2010, .NET 3.5
Enterprise Services, Microsoft Corporation

Comments

  • Anonymous
    March 02, 2011
    Hi Dr. Z If you remember some questions can you share as that will give some idea of the type/pattern of questions. Thanks.

  • Anonymous
    March 03, 2011
    SPQuery, I wouldn't share the exact questions but I can show you a few knowledge points you don't want to miss:

  1. Difference between web app, site collection, and site
  2. Difference between workflow and event receiver
  3. Memory leak and how to prevent it
  4. How to package and deploy custom solutions
  5. 14 hive and where to store what artifacts
  6. Supported authentication methods and when to use which
  7. New technologies and how to use them, such as sandbox, claims, FAST, LINQ to SharePoint, Office web apps, service web apps, new UI features, etc.
  8. Always go with the simplest solution (not necessarily the shortest answer)
  9. Always go with the latest technology
  10. You need to be familiar with medium/large farm deployment to be able to pass PRO Admin exam Good luck!
  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Congrats and Thanks Dr Z!!!!