I have for the last 3 months along with work experience studying for the 70 236 exam. I have just read the book front to cover, took the practice exams in the book and confirmed the objectives. I did hear how people used testking and transcendor to help pass. I looked over a few of the sample test and they look tempting. If anyone has experience in this please reply. I now want to buy testking and or transcendor, they both have a guarantee but not sure which one to buy. Any clues?

Transcender.  They're actually a legit practice test.  TestKing is a braindump, and if you get caught using them you can get a lifetime ban from MS certs.  If you value the certification and have already put in the effort, don't cheat.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

Agreed. Transcender is legitimate. Test King is not. I definitely would not recommend Test King.

Network+
Inet+
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OP might want to think about bookmarking http://www.certguard.com as well, because that site will help you a lot when you are considering what to use.

Transcender is a braindump as well. The one difference is their answers are far more detailed.

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Pat Richard MVP
http://www.exchangeblogs.com/
 

Not according to Certguard.  

I've always heard that Transcender were one of the best practice exams out there.  Detailed explanations are good, but whether it comes down to being a braindump or not is simply a matter of whether they have the exact exam content or not.  I can't say for sure since I haven't used them, but based on their long history and reputation I'm inclined to think they're legit.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

They've used people with photographic memory to take the tests, then dump what they say, and write the tests accordingly, changing a few words here or there to skirt past complaints from MS.

That's not being prepared for a test. If you know the questions and answers ahead of time, that's cheating.

Knowing the product fairly well, and studying the materials mentioned on the MS training site is how you should prepare.

Stop by the new Tek-Tips group at LinkedIn. Come say hi, look for a job, have some fun. http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Networking-TekTipscom-forums-members-3952395

Pat Richard MVP
http://www.exchangeblogs.com/
 

I'd love to see more information on these claims if you have them.  I can't say I've ever heard of them, but from looking over their web site it seems like a pretty thorough self-test.  If you check their "pass guarantee" you'll find that the terms are far more rigorous than with the typical braindump sites.  You have to be taking the 200 question practice tests, getting perfect scores on them, reading and understanding all of the answers and descriptions of why they're right/wrong, as well as reading all of the linked source material.  That's not quite the same league.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

I talked to someone who used to work there.

I agree they are more rigorous than most brandumps. But the problem is that the questions are nearly verbatim from the actual test, and that's where I have the problem. Someone could get the Transcender test, go through them a couple of times, viewing each answer and explanation, and then be ready for the test. And that does NOT show a comprehensive knowledge of the product.

Stop by the new Tek-Tips group at LinkedIn. Come say hi, look for a job, have some fun. http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Networking-TekTipscom-forums-members-3952395

Pat Richard MVP
http://www.exchangeblogs.com/
 

Quote:

Someone could get the Transcender test, go through them a couple of times, viewing each answer and explanation, and then be ready for the test. And that does NOT show a comprehensive knowledge of the product.  

That is true. But, the Microsoft certification tests do not test for a thorough knowledge or understanding, either. They test on facts and many of them are pretty esoteric.

I don't condone brain dumps but when certifications are granted based on test scores, people will "teach to the test". Live certification classes do that and no one considers those brain dumps or cheating.

This is why employers should never rely solely on the fact that someone has a cerification. They need to combine that with experience and make sure candidates really know what they're doing.

But employers consider certification to be a thorough understanding of the product, and that's where they go wrong. That's why I think I'm seeing FAR less focus on certifications, and far more on experience. Thankfully. Add a good tech interview when possible, and that helps as well.

Stop by the new Tek-Tips group at LinkedIn. Come say hi, look for a job, have some fun. http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Networking-TekTipscom-forums-members-3952395

Pat Richard MVP
http://www.exchangeblogs.com/