January 8, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with Transcender or Kaplan, Inc. (the parent company of Transcender)
I have a diverse set of certifications from the various vendor products that I am supporting. These include Microsoft, Oracle, IBM and Business Objects. I have seen a lot of different certification training materials and a lot of certification exam questions. In my opinion, Microsoft has the best certification programs and leads the industry in the implementation of new testing methods. It is also the most popular certification vendor, with over 2.3 million certified professionals. MCP count
There are many ways to prepare for taking an exam (classes, books, online labs, etc.) but most paths lead up to taking a practice exam before going for the real thing. The top three vendors for Microsoft practice exams are:
1. Transcender
2. Self Test Software
3. MeasureUp
Transcender was an independent company until December 2003 when they were bought by Kaplan, Inc. Self Test Software was also acquired by Kaplan in October 1999, so Kaplan now has two companies that produce a very similar product. However Transcender continues to be the premium product with premium pricing because it has the best reputation in the industry and local customers (like me).
I used Transcender for five Microsoft certifications and mostly recently one Oracle certification. I have also pre-purchased their 70-448 SQL Server 2008 online practice exam to use for 30 days before I plan to take the real exam sometime this spring. They have prepared me well and I recommend them. I haven't used any other practice tests and both Self Test Software and MeasureUp may be just as effective when preparing to take the real exam.
However one nimwit said:
transcender is good if you don't know anything about the subject
No practice exams will teach you about the product. They are designed to ensure the test taker has studied the topics that will be on the test and is prepared for the type of questions that will be on the test. Some questions will have different formats (select the best answer, select all that are correct, ordering, matching, study the scenario, etc.) and a practice test can help you effectively budget your time and filter the information for the vital facts to answer these questions. Furthermore, if you miss a question on the practice exam, Transcender has a list of references that you can research to make sure your knowledge of the subject is rock solid. The practice exam identifies the gaps in your knowledge so that you can study and prepare for any question on the real test.
Well, that's my rant. [rant=off]
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