Opinios: SQL DB Dev MCP Exam 70-229

I'm terrified, and could use some opinions from the user community...
I'm about to take my first ever Microsoft MCP exam on SQL Server 2000
Development (70-229). To prepare, I've been reading the SQL Server 2000
Design Exam Study Guide from Sybex Books.
One of the problems I have is with ambiguously-worded questions. One example
is this:
You have data stored in SQL Server and Oracle. Occasionally, you need to
access data from both sources as a single result set. How should you do this
?
A. Add the Oracle server as a linked server.
B. Use the DTS Import Wizard to import the data from Oracle into SQL Server.
C. Use the OPENROWSET function to access the Oracle data.
D. Export the data from Oracle to a text file, and import it into SQL Server
using BULK INSERT.
Now, although it seems all 4 technically would work, the obvious first step
is to narrow it down to A and C (B and D are too cumbersome).
Linked servers should be used if the data is accessed FREQUENTLY. OPENROWSET
should be used if the data is accessed INFREQUENTLY. I have a full
understanding of that concept.
How often is "occasionally," as it is worded in the question?
In my world,
Frequently = 90% of the time
Infrequntly = 10% of the time
Occasionally = 30 - 50% of the time.
The only other guideline I have is elsewhere in the book, where it states in
a big NOTE area:
"If access to a data source is needed more than a handful of times, the
source should be registered with SQL Server" a.k.a. linked table.
Is "occasional" more than a "handful?"
I thought so. I said Linked Server. The Sybex author thinks "occasional" =
"infrquent," and that the correct answer is OPENROWSET.
I got the question wrong. Or so says Sybex.
Here's my question for opinions: For those who have taken this MCP exam, do
the Microsoft authors word the questions on the MCP exam as ambiguously as
the authors from Sybex?
It seems if the question has a black-and-white right-and-wrong answer, then
the question should have a more black-and-white wording, and not use words
like "occasional," that different people will interpret differently.
Ultimately, I'm afraid I will get questions wrong, not because of lack of
understanding of the subject matter, but from ambiguous wording of the
questions. Are the Microsoft questions this loosely worded?
Thanks!If you are prepared, most of the questions on the exam will appear to you to
have only one correct answer. The sample question you provided is poorly
written and misleading (In addition to being an MCDBA, I tought at colleges
for about 5 years). I have used Sybex books for other certifications, and I
think that it is a pattern with their products. Although the main text may b
e
well-written by a reputable author, very often the question banks are writte
n
by someone else. Even so, the question may have served its purpose by gettin
g
you to research and think about the answer, even though your answer wasn't
"right."
That being said, you probably will encounter at least one question during
the exam that seems to have either no or multiple correct answers. It might
be a "throw away" question placed on your exam to test the *question* for
usability in later exams.
In addition to your technical studying routine, I would also recommend
looking at some resources for dealing with test anxiety; you're opening of
"I'm terrified" give you away :-) . Good luck!
"Joel" wrote:

> I'm terrified, and could use some opinions from the user community...
> I'm about to take my first ever Microsoft MCP exam on SQL Server 2000
> Development (70-229). To prepare, I've been reading the SQL Server 2000
> Design Exam Study Guide from Sybex Books.
> One of the problems I have is with ambiguously-worded questions. One examp
le
> is this:
> You have data stored in SQL Server and Oracle. Occasionally, you need to
> access data from both sources as a single result set. How should you do th
is?
> A. Add the Oracle server as a linked server.
> B. Use the DTS Import Wizard to import the data from Oracle into SQL Serve
r.
> C. Use the OPENROWSET function to access the Oracle data.
> D. Export the data from Oracle to a text file, and import it into SQL Serv
er
> using BULK INSERT.
> Now, although it seems all 4 technically would work, the obvious first ste
p
> is to narrow it down to A and C (B and D are too cumbersome).
> Linked servers should be used if the data is accessed FREQUENTLY. OPENROWS
ET
> should be used if the data is accessed INFREQUENTLY. I have a full
> understanding of that concept.
> How often is "occasionally," as it is worded in the question?
> In my world,
> Frequently = 90% of the time
> Infrequntly = 10% of the time
> Occasionally = 30 - 50% of the time.
> The only other guideline I have is elsewhere in the book, where it states
in
> a big NOTE area:
> "If access to a data source is needed more than a handful of times, the
> source should be registered with SQL Server" a.k.a. linked table.
> Is "occasional" more than a "handful?"
> I thought so. I said Linked Server. The Sybex author thinks "occasional" =
> "infrquent," and that the correct answer is OPENROWSET.
> I got the question wrong. Or so says Sybex.
> Here's my question for opinions: For those who have taken this MCP exam, d
o
> the Microsoft authors word the questions on the MCP exam as ambiguously as
> the authors from Sybex?
> It seems if the question has a black-and-white right-and-wrong answer, the
n
> the question should have a more black-and-white wording, and not use words
> like "occasional," that different people will interpret differently.
> Ultimately, I'm afraid I will get questions wrong, not because of lack of
> understanding of the subject matter, but from ambiguous wording of the
> questions. Are the Microsoft questions this loosely worded?
> Thanks!|||Joel,
First off, good luck on the exams. Second, I have written a score of books
for Sybex, (The SQL 2k Admin guide being one of them, Note: I did not write
the Development Guide).
The sample questions in the books are of two varieties. One set is to
ensure that you have specific knowledge about the subject. The second set
of questions will have a similar look and feel to the live questions on the
exam.
As far as ambiguity is concerned, the example you gave below could be
construed as ambiguous unless you have read the chapters carefully. In the
Admin book, we would normally discuss what is "occasional usage" or "a
handful of times" in the same set of paragraphs where we discuss the
OPENROWSET command. It should give you a mental link between those words
(occasional usage, handful of times) and OPENROWSET. Likewise, in the
Linked Server section it should discuss with words like "frequent" and
"often".
In addition to the Sybex books, I would suggest you purchase and go through
some sample exams. MeasureUp and Transcender do a pretty good job of test
prepping you with questions. They tell you why the correct answer is
correct and more importantly why the incorrect answers don't match the
questions. (This information will give you much broader depth of knowledge
about the subject as most answers are TRUE statements, but don't necessarily
apply to the question given.)
Some information about the questions themselves. In general, you need to
read the question carefully and pick the answer which correctly solves the
QUESTION as given. You will find that in most cases, the answers provided
will all be TRUE statements about SQL Server, but only the correct answer
will apply to the question given.
In some instances (as you have shown below), all the solutions given could
successfully answer the question, but from that you need to cull the BEST
solution given the parameters of the question itself. In those situations,
make sure that you factor in what Microsoft thinks is the BEST solution.
As an example, in the real world, a Primary Key should uniquely identify a
single row in a table. A natural key could do that (Like a UPC code for a
product). The Microsoft answer however would be that you should always use
a surrogate key, even if a valid natural key is available. In the real
world you would need to determines the pros and cons of using that UPC code
versus a surrogate.
HTH
Best of luck on the exams!
Rick Sawtell
MCT, MCSD, MCDBA
"Joel" <Joel@.discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:49E3DB04-9969-4A65-85DB-B82CC92F9BD7@.microsoft.com...
> I'm terrified, and could use some opinions from the user community...
> I'm about to take my first ever Microsoft MCP exam on SQL Server 2000
> Development (70-229). To prepare, I've been reading the SQL Server 2000
> Design Exam Study Guide from Sybex Books.
> One of the problems I have is with ambiguously-worded questions. One
> example
> is this:
> You have data stored in SQL Server and Oracle. Occasionally, you need to
> access data from both sources as a single result set. How should you do
> this?
> A. Add the Oracle server as a linked server.
> B. Use the DTS Import Wizard to import the data from Oracle into SQL
> Server.
> C. Use the OPENROWSET function to access the Oracle data.
> D. Export the data from Oracle to a text file, and import it into SQL
> Server
> using BULK INSERT.
> Now, although it seems all 4 technically would work, the obvious first
> step
> is to narrow it down to A and C (B and D are too cumbersome).
> Linked servers should be used if the data is accessed FREQUENTLY.
> OPENROWSET
> should be used if the data is accessed INFREQUENTLY. I have a full
> understanding of that concept.
> How often is "occasionally," as it is worded in the question?
> In my world,
> Frequently = 90% of the time
> Infrequntly = 10% of the time
> Occasionally = 30 - 50% of the time.
> The only other guideline I have is elsewhere in the book, where it states
> in
> a big NOTE area:
> "If access to a data source is needed more than a handful of times, the
> source should be registered with SQL Server" a.k.a. linked table.
> Is "occasional" more than a "handful?"
> I thought so. I said Linked Server. The Sybex author thinks "occasional" =
> "infrquent," and that the correct answer is OPENROWSET.
> I got the question wrong. Or so says Sybex.
> Here's my question for opinions: For those who have taken this MCP exam,
> do
> the Microsoft authors word the questions on the MCP exam as ambiguously as
> the authors from Sybex?
> It seems if the question has a black-and-white right-and-wrong answer,
> then
> the question should have a more black-and-white wording, and not use words
> like "occasional," that different people will interpret differently.
> Ultimately, I'm afraid I will get questions wrong, not because of lack of
> understanding of the subject matter, but from ambiguous wording of the
> questions. Are the Microsoft questions this loosely worded?
> Thanks!