INVITE: Final Phase Performance Based Exam Pilot (7/29 - 9/12)

If you have any issues registering or taking this pilot exam please email Performance Based Exams (pbexam@microsoft.com).

Register for New Performance Based Testing Pilot Exam 70-113: TS: Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring

You are invited to take this pilot exam 70-113: TS: Windows® Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring.

Microsoft Learning is testing a new Performance Based testing system that will be integrated into the existing certification programs in order to better evaluate and validate candidates’ skills using Microsoft products and technologies.

The Performance Based testing method we are piloting is an exam which emulates a Windows Server 2008 infrastructure. In this infrastructure you will be tasked with completing a series of tasks. Once complete, the system will evaluate each tasks end-state to determine if the tasks have been completed and correctly implemented. This process is different from simulations because you will have every tool and path available that you would normally have in a real world scenario. Simulations restrict you to a small number of expected paths, whereas emulations allow for any path, as long as the end result is correct.

This pilot exam will not provide you with a score as with normal beta exams. This pilot is a test of the exam experience, delivery system and infrastructure, so only a portion of the final exam will be presented to you during this pilot. This pilot exam will not be added to your transcript and you will need to take the exam in its released form in order to be awarded the credential.

By participating in this pilot exam, you have the unique opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about your exam experience, and exam content, which is vital to the future development of Performance Based exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals as we continually improve and expand our certification program and testing technologies to grow the value of Microsoft certifications.

Upon completion of this pilot exam, the first 3000 candidates will receive a free exam voucher that can be used to register for any Microsoft Certification exam delivered at a Prometric testing center. The voucher will be distributed electronically 4 weeks after end of Pilot. If you have not received your voucher within this timeframe, then unfortunately, you were not part of the first 3000 candidates.

Availability

Registration begins: July 29, 2008

Pilot exam period runs: July 31, 2008– September 12, 2008

In order to facilitate exam availability in as many testing centers as possible for this pilot, registrations must be made 7 days in advance.

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in this pilot; we recommend that you register immediately. This pilot will have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all pilot slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide.

Registration Information

You must register at least 7 days prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: H640
Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the pilot; we recommend that you register immediately.

To register for this pilot:

Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this pilot exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the pilot exam. Please plan accordingly.

Though not all of the exam will be presented to the pilot candidates, we would appreciate it if you were familiar with the exams objectives. This will help us better evaluate the data from this pilot.

Find exam preparation information: https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-640.aspx

Frequently Asked Questions

For Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) help and information, you may log in to the MCP Web site at https://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/or contact your Regional Service Center: https://www.microsoft.com/learning/support/worldsites.asp.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Took exam the other day and really liked the labs. Rather realistic layout. I feel that the labs really test ones actual knowledge and layout of the software. I also feel that having a better monitor would be better for the labs. Although I did not have to wait for several hours to take the exam, it did kick me out during the questions. Which makes me wonder, if it would have kicked me out during a lab would I be able to get back into the lab, and if it did, would I have to start all over or would it continue where I was kicked out. Overall I think that this new pilot is great for testing real world knowledge.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Wow. I wish I'd read the comment above before taking the test. I cooled my heels for 2 hours after my test stopped working due to the "Could not connect to the internet" error. Prometric seemed totally at a loss. I then spent 2 hours on the phone with prometric AND Microsoft trying to get someone to help me with this. I'm frustrated, especially because the test itself did seem like a great improvement, and because I wasted so much time for no reward.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Hi Piotrek, Yesterday there was a livemeeting where the Microsoft folks told us that everyone who took/takes 70-113 will get three vouchers. The vouchers will be sent when the exam is drawn back.

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  Hi Do you know New version 70-113?: „Upon completion of this pilot exam, the first 3000 candidates will receive 3 (!) free exam vouchers” All you can read: http://blogs.technet.com/danstolts/archive/2008/10/09/windows-server-2008-active-directory-configuring-exam-70-113-free-exam-vouchers.aspx I have one question for you. What about people who register from your informationhttp://blogs.technet.com/betaexams/archive/2008/07/30/invite-final-phase-performance-based-exam-pilot-7-29-9-12.aspx#comments  ? They receive 1 or 3 free exam vouchers?? If only 1 – why? Regards Robert Stuczynski Microsoft MVP

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  PingBack from http://transcender.wordpress.com/2008/08/12/mo-beta-70-113-pilot-period-extended/

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  This was really a nice exam, this really is the way to go with Microsft Exams in the future. I already posted this on Trika's blog, I'll repeat it here: When launching the first lab my testcomputer could not connect to the internet. The tech-guy solved this by changing the default gateway on my testcomputer to point to the internal Prometric-server (which has internet access). He also enabled the internal Prometric-server as a router by changing a registry-key. He did have to reboot the server for that, but another student was live in an exam. So I had to wait ... two hours! After that, the labs loaded and I could succesfully finish the exam. I really liked the labs, it's totally different to do it this way, far more enjoying :-) Luckily the Windows-help function was available in the VM's, very handy if you quickly needed to remember something ;-) One thing, tell Prometric to make all displays 21" at the centers, because working with the labs on this screen was not fun ... much scrolling :-(

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  This was really a nice exam, this really is the way to go with Microsft Exams in the future. I already posted this on Trika's blog, I'll repeat it here: When launching the first lab my testcomputer could not connect to the internet. The tech-guy solved this by changing the default gateway on my testcomputer to point to the internal Prometric-server (which has internet access). He also enabled the internal Prometric-server as a router by changing a registry-key. He did have to reboot the server for that, but another student was live in an exam. So I had to wait ... two hours! After that, the labs loaded and I could succesfully finish the exam. I really liked the labs, it's totally different to do it this way, far more enjoying :-) Luckily the Windows-help function was available in the VM's, very handy if you quickly needed to remember something ;-) One thing, tell Prometric to make all displays 21" at the centers, because working with the labs on this screen was not fun ... much scrolling :-(

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  I read at http://blogs.technet.com/jamesone/archive/2008/10/08/server-2008-ad-free-exams.aspx that you must "register before October 25th to take the exam before October 31st". My exam is scheduled on the 5th Nov. Does this mean I won't be getting my free vouchers? Can anyone help with that question please

• Anonymous
  January 01, 2003
  I took exam today 12-30-2008, I and really liked the labs. Rather realistic layout. I feel that the labs really test ones actual knowledge and layout of the software. I also feel that having a better monitor would be better for the labs. After asking when will I receive my three freebies, Performance Based Exams [pbexam@microsoft.com] sent me this: Vouchers will be distributed directly from Prometric via email.  It may take up to 4 weeks for your vouchers to arrive.