dob111283 (3/27/2013)
I've been playing with mysql all that time. Creating tables, using commands, search queries, etc. I would never go into learning with books but not practicing at the same time.
Practising with MySQL is not going to help you pass a SQL Server certification exam, they're different in all areas, query language, administration, behaviours, everything. That's like speaking French in preparation for a Latin exam
You need to get hold of a SQL Server instance and practice on that.
btw, if you mean this book http://www.amazon.com/Head-First-SQL-Brain-Learners/dp/0596526849, that's also not going to help you much in passing the certs. In learning to think and write SQL for the MySQL database, yes, to pass a SQL Server 2012 cert exam, not so much.
It's a fine book for learning databases, just please don't think it's a study guide for the cert exams.
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