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SQL Server Beta Exams Extended, Open Invitation

Below, you will find two beta exams invitations for SQL Server 2008 DBA 71-432 and SQL Server 2008 BI 71-448.

These exams will be available until July 31, 2008.

71-432 - Promo code 943F6

You are invited to take beta exam 71-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance. You were specifically chosen to participate in this beta because of your current Microsoft Certification status or previous participation with Microsoft Learning. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.
By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

71-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

· Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance


Availability

Registration begins: June 5, 2008

Beta exam period runs: June 9, 2008– July 31, 2008

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

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions).  All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China


71-448 - Promo code B6543

You are invited to take beta exam 71-448: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance. You were specifically chosen to participate in this beta because of your current Microsoft Certification status or previous participation with Microsoft Learning. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.
By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

71-448: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

· Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance


Availability

Registration begins: June 15, 2008

Beta exam period runs: June 16, 2008– July 31, 2008

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

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions).  All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China


Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: 943F6
Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.

To register in North America, please call:

Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp


Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-432.mspx


Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is a beta exam?

Where can I learn more about the registration process?

Where can I learn more about the beta exam invitation process?

Where can I learn more about the new structure of Microsoft Certification?

Who do I contact for help with this beta exam or other MCP questions?

Posted: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 1:59 PM by Gerry O'Brien

Comments

Jason said:

shouldnt there be a coupon code for this?

# July 1, 2008 9:51 PM

tony said:

can you release the promotion code for the BI beta exam (71-448)?

# July 1, 2008 11:11 PM

Brian Knight said:

If you're interested in becoming certified in SQL Server and are really, really driven, there's

# July 1, 2008 11:14 PM

Peter Read said:

Hurrah!  Thought I'd missed out on this one, thanks Gerry :)

# July 2, 2008 3:25 AM

Graeme said:

The code doesn't work for 71-448, does that mean it's full already, Or can I only sit one, not both?

# July 2, 2008 7:30 AM

Ryan Garaygay said:

Hi Gerry,

The promo code "943F6" doesn't seem to work for 71-448 with error Discount is not offered for this Exam Alias. But works fine on 432. Probably a different one? Hope I'm just not overlooking something. Thanks for the info.

# July 2, 2008 7:45 AM

.NET Developer Notes said:

MCTS SQL Server 2008 DBA 71-432 and BI 71-448 beta exams

# July 2, 2008 7:54 AM

Graeme said:

The codes are:

71-432 - Promotion code: 943F6

71-448 - Promotion Code: B6543

# July 2, 2008 9:02 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Thanks Graeme,

My cut and paste job failed to include the 448 code.

Gerry

# July 2, 2008 10:23 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Thanks Graeme,

My cut and paste job failed to include the 448 code.

Gerry

# July 2, 2008 10:55 AM

Suresh Kumar said:

I'm a SQL Server DBA, have 8 yrs of experience as a DBA working in NJ. I would like to receive Open invitation for SQL Server Beta Exams Extended. I have already Subscribed for MSDN Flash as a pre-requisite to receive this invitiation.

Can you please let me know what else should I need to do to receive this letter

# July 12, 2008 10:10 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Hi Suresh,

Our current process uses a list of candidates who have taken beta exams in the past and scored well on them, MCPs who have helped us during exam design etc., and MVPs.  This is the initial group of people that get sent the invitation.  Occasionally it will go out in the MCP Flash newsletter as well.

When a beta exam is ready to be published, we use our data on candidates past scoring on the subject and create a list from that database.  

We do not maintain a database of candidates who are interested in participating in beta exams for the purpose of sending out invitations.  

As you can well imagine, the numbers of candidates wanting to take a free exam would be huge and the potential that unqualified canidates greatly outnumbering the qualified candidates would limit the possibility of you being able to register for the exam and would incorrectly skew our psychometric data that we collect on the beta exams.  Also, the beta period is limited and so are seating opportunities at the testing centers which means that there is a good chance qualified candidates would not be able to register for and take the exam.  

It is imperative that we ensure qualified candidates take the exams at the early stages.  It also helps to reduce piracy of the exam content during the beta phase.

My suggestion is to take these current exam betas and score well on them to increase your chance of getting invitations for the next round.

I will not and do not accept requests to be added to a beta invitation list.  The above menioned procedure is the only way to ensure a place on future betas.  It's a catch-22 I know.

Gerry

# July 12, 2008 1:11 PM

Francesco Quaratino said:

Ghiotta occasione per chi è accorto di "liquidi"... Qualche giorno fa un esimio collega mi

# July 15, 2008 12:10 PM

Iman said:

Hi Gerry,

Thanks for the beta exams info. Would there be any  beta exam for MCITP SQL 2008 BI?

Cheers,

Iman

# July 23, 2008 12:05 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Hi Iman,

Yes, there will be a beta exam for the MCITP BI for SQL 2008.

As usual, it will not be open to the public unless required.   If you are subscribed to the MCP Flash and have scored high enough on previous exams, you may be identified as a potential candidate for inclusion in the beta of this exam.

There are no guarantees however that you will be notified.

Gerry

# July 23, 2008 11:04 AM

Carlos Felipe said:

What's the best stuff for studying to 71-432?

# July 23, 2008 10:03 PM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Hi Carlos,

Because our courses and books usually lag behind the release of the beta and sometimes live versions of the exam, I always recommend that candidates look at existing materials on a prior version.  This is completely dependant of course on the features and changes.

Here is what I would do.

1) Look at the prep guide for this exam to understand what will be tested on.

2) Install the latest release candidate

3) Use your existing skills and knowledge coupled with SQL Server Books Online to learn to material.

4) You can use the training kit for 70-431 and then use BoL to study the new changes and features.

Hope this helps a bit.

Gerry

# July 24, 2008 12:23 PM

"So, a booth babe and a geek walk in to a bar..." said:

You've probably seen this elsewhere already, but I keep getting asked about it (that's reasonable!),

# July 24, 2008 1:15 PM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

>>> As usual, it will not be open to the public unless required.  

Hmmm... I guess you mean that it WILL be opened to public...  as most the beta exams in the past 9 months all needed to open to public...

# July 27, 2008 9:52 PM

Gerry O'Brien said:

What are we to do with you Paul?   :-)

Gerry

# July 27, 2008 10:00 PM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

Ahh..., could I ask Microsoft to hire me as an official beta tester? Of course, I want Microsoft paid me for taking part in the beta exams! :D

Paul

# July 28, 2008 3:44 AM

{ Héroes Certificados } said:

Y parecía que íbamos a estar tranquilitos cuando se nos presentan en el blog de Trika cuatro exámenes

# July 28, 2008 6:25 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

A paid beta tester, what a concept.  Give you an exam for free and then pay you to take it.

Hmmmm, let me run that by Steve B.  :-)

Oh wait, that's what I do.  :-)

Gerry

# July 28, 2008 10:15 AM

Eralper said:

Hello Gerry,

Thanks for your replies on 71-432 and 71-448 BI beta exams.

I take the exam 71-432 today and I think that it was a well measuring exam for especially the SQL Server database administrators. If you are lucky to work on various SQL Server components and gained hands-on experience on those components, you have the chance to answer most of the questions.

And for the new enhancements in SQL Server 2008, I believe a some reading and a few tries on the latest SQL2008 releases will guide a candidate in the exam.

I have post my review on my blog on 71-432 at http://www.kodyaz.com/blogs/software_development_blog/archive/2008/07/02/2896.aspx and I saw that the exam was covering nearly all of the new improvements of SQL Server 2008.

# July 31, 2008 2:38 PM

Joe Alfano said:

Hi Gerry,

Any decision yet on when the beta exam will be available for the 70-433 (the SQL 2008 development exam)?

Thanks.

Joe

# August 1, 2008 11:12 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Eralper,

Thanks for the posting and thanks for blogging as well.  I especially appreciate that you were able to talk about the exam without violating the NDA and giving away private exam info.

I am glad you found the exam a good experience that it was relevant.  I look forward to hearing your response to future exams.

Gerry

# August 1, 2008 12:16 PM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Hi Joe,

The beta for 71-433 is currently scheduled for an August 15 start date.

Look for announcements if you are subscribed to the MCP Flash and if past history on the current SQL exams continues, it will be open to the public before the end of August.

Gerry

# August 1, 2008 12:18 PM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

Hmmm.... just took 071-654...  need to start preparing for 071-433...

Any update for the Windows Form .NET exam?

Any update for the MCITP SQL 2008 and the MCPD .NET 3.5 exams?

Will it be an exam for SBS 2008?

New exams are never-ending now.  Unfortunately, adding a number in my online transcript is no longer rewarding, even passing them in beta.

# August 4, 2008 6:01 AM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Hey Paul,

70-505 is delayed, looking at the schedule, until at least January.  I am looking into the reason for this delay as it shouldn't be this long.

No updates on the SQL and 3.5 Pros. They are on schedule and will be in beta around October time frame.

What exam as you referring to for SBS 2008?

We need to continue to feed your appetite for exams Paul.  If we stop now, what would you do in your spare time?  :-)

Gerry

# August 4, 2008 11:32 AM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

Good question!  I am thinking about that.  Wanna find a more challenging target.  MCP exams are too easy now.  CCIE?  PhD? ... Hmm, any other suggestion?

# August 4, 2008 3:32 PM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Go for the CCIE for sure.  If I wasn't so darn lazy and working on my private pilot license, I would start down the Cisco path myself.  I assume you already have CCNA?

PhD would keep you busy for a bit too.  :-)

Gerry

# August 4, 2008 3:39 PM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

I will try CCNA only if CISCO provides free beta exam promotion code to me :)   Many ppl arround me have CCNA already, and, unfortunately, I know how they passed the exam.  I will study CCNA contents before I go for CCIE, but I don't like to pay to buy a paper.

# August 4, 2008 9:59 PM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

SQL ADMIN and BI Pro come out before the SQL DBD TS...

No time to prepare, because of the Olympic Games...

# August 10, 2008 11:58 PM

Gerry O'Brien said:

Paul,

What events are you participating in?  :-)

Gerry

# August 11, 2008 11:09 AM

S.Y. Paul Lai said:

participating ?

Just sit in front of the TV whole day.... :)

# August 11, 2008 10:03 PM
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