SQL Server: 70-432 Study Material

  • Hi Guys. I just recently passed my SQL Server 2005: 70-431 exam. For that I used the Official Microsoft Training Kit and brain dumps. I found the book was OK but a bit vague in areas. I believe it also never even mentioned things like SSIS and SSAS.

    I am taking the 70-432 exam in March. I bought a book called 'The Real MCTS SQL Server 2008 Exam 70-432 Prep Kit: Database Implementation and Maintenance'. I have read the first 200 pages and it seems OK however it does not get favourable reviews on Amazon and the official Microsoft book gets even worse reviews saying they both contain technical errors and incorrect answers to questions. So could anybody recommend a book that will not just assist me in the exam but will also give me good knowledge of the subject matter? I am really interested in learning about the technology so I can further my career as well as passing the exams.

    Brain dumps are good for knowing what kind of questions to expect, this site is brilliant and the articles are very informative but call me old fashioned I also like to have a good ole fashioned paper book I can carry around with me and refer to at any time 🙂

    Thanks for any help.

  • Congtratulations on passing, but do you realise that using brain-dumps is against the terms and conditions of taking the exam and they could revoke it.

  • seany1977 (1/26/2011)


    I just recently passed my SQL Server 2005: 70-431 exam. For that I used the Official Microsoft Training Kit and brain dumps.

    Brain dumps are good for knowing what kind of questions to expect, this site is brilliant and the articles are very informative but call me old fashioned I also like to have a good ole fas

    Brain dumps are cheating. They are actual questions taken from the actual exams. Using them can result in your certifications being revoked or even a permanent blacklist against ever writing further exams.

    See the Microsoft exam policy: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/exam-policies.aspx

    Quote from that page (tab 2):

    Exam Security and Integrity:

    Efforts to keep Exams secure help maintain the value of Microsoft Certification and help ensure that only qualified information technology professionals are certified.

    The Examinee may be prohibited from taking any Microsoft Certification Exams, and/or may be decertified from Microsoft Certification Program if Examinee violates this Exam Agreement and/or engages in any misconduct. Proctors are authorized to take immediate and appropriate measures against Examinees who violate testing rules. This policy is enforced to ensure the integrity of the Exams and Microsoft Certification Program. Examples of misconduct and/or misuse of the Exam include, but are not limited to, the following:

    * Modifying and/or altering the original results/score report for this Exam or any other exam records

    * Violation of the current exam retake policy

    * Fraudulently impersonating another to gain access to the Exam

    * Submission of any work that is not completely your own

    * Providing or accepting improper assistance

    * Using unauthorized materials in an attempt to satisfy Exam requirements (this includes using brain-dump material and/or unauthorized publication of Exam questions with or without answers)

    * Disseminating actual Exam content

    * Possession of non-authorized items at the testing center during an Exam

    * Misconduct as determined by statistical analysis

    * Copying, publishing, disclosing, transmitting, selling, offering to sell, posting, downloading, distributing in any way, or otherwise transferring, modifying, making derivative works of, reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling or translating any Exam in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, verbal or written, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose

    * Using the Exam content in any manner that violates applicable law

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • ooohhhh Thanks for the information and advice Steve. When I refer to Brain dumps I mean Transcenders, Test King etc are they the same thing? and I only use them as study aids. Like Q & As. I like to know where my knowledge falls down so I can go back and re-study the areas I am weak on. I certainly don't believe in cheating as I am only cheating myself.

  • Congratulations on passing.

    I'm going to do the 70-433 exam!

    Currently sitting here ploughing through this, finding it decent material and the real jewel is the CD Rom accompanying it as it has a pool of questions which can be answered in an exam like scenario!

  • I am not sure about those sites as i have never used them, but brain-dumps would be considered anywhere that republishes the exams usually from people taking them and memorizing the questions.

    They consider it cheating, but i know that a lot of people are unaware of this as often the sites attempt to pass themselves off as legit

  • seany1977 (1/26/2011)


    ooohhhh Thanks for the information and advice Steve. When I refer to Brain dumps I mean Transcenders, Test King etc are they the same thing?

    Transcender, no (at least not last time I heard). Those are valid simulated exams, same style, not same question.

    Test king however are brain dumps. They are the actual, real questions that you will get in the exams. Using them is like getting a copy of your university final exam before you write it. Microsoft has some legal battles against Testking in the past for their distribution of copyrighted content (the actual exams)

    Like Q & As. I like to know where my knowledge falls down so I can go back and re-study the areas I am weak on. I certainly don't believe in cheating as I am only cheating myself.

    Doesn't change the fact that studying from the actual exam paper is considered cheating by Microsoft (and by just about every education institute)

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • I suggest that you limit yourself in future to practice tests which are approved by Microsoft.

    http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/exam.aspx#tab2

    Gail Shaw
    Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
    SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

    We walk in the dark places no others will enter
    We stand on the bridge and no one may pass
  • Ok I am a bit annoyed now. I studyed for 2 months solid before my last exam. I worked 8 hours, sometimes 10 hours in work and then spent 2 hours studying after work for 5 nights. I built my own Database from scratch so I could see how it worked. I set up virtual servers with multiple instances and simulated various backup, recovery and tuning scenarios teaching myself how to use the various tools in SQL server. I have worked hard and I am still working hard. So I feel harshly judged.

    If I studied a bunch of dumps a week before the exam and then passed with 1000/1000 yes I would be a cheat. The fact was I found the exam challenging and I only scraped a pass on the sims dead on 700/1000.

    Take what you want from that. We all have our own ways of studying

  • seany1977 (1/26/2011)


    Ok I am a bit annoyed now. I studyed for 2 months solid before my last exam. I worked 8 hours, sometimes 10 hours in work and then spent 2 hours studying after work for 5 nights. I built my own Database from scratch so I could see how it worked. I set up virtual servers with multiple instances and simulated various backup, recovery and tuning scenarios teaching myself how to use the various tools in SQL server. I have worked hard and I am still working hard. So I feel harshly judged.

    If I studied a bunch of dumps a week before the exam and then passed with 1000/1000 yes I would be a cheat. The fact was I found the exam challenging and I only scraped a pass on the sims dead on 700/1000.

    Take what you want from that. We all have our own ways of studying

    I didn't mean to annoy you, it sounds like you worked hard and deserved to pass. But you need to be careful saying that you used brain-dumps esp. online as they could rightfully take the cert away from you.

  • I understand what you are saying Steve. I shall be more careful in the future. Believe me it grinds my gears when people just study dumps and just pass on that merit. I haver to study hard to retain information. Must be my age 🙂 I also want to head my career in the direction of a DB Admin so I will definately need to be knowledgeable for Interviews and the role itself. Also sadly I actualy find SQL Server really interesting and I always want to know just not how something works but why?

  • there is nothing sad about finding SQL server interesting --- well at least i hope not!

  • steveb. (1/26/2011)


    there is nothing sad about finding SQL server interesting --- well at least i hope not!

    Looks like I'm amongst friends *weeps happily*

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