Testers: New Microsoft Exam is Easy

Several testers have taken Microsoft’s 70-680 beta exam, and found it to be less than challenging.

The test is titled "MCTS: Windows 7, Configuring." The exam came out in beta (i.e. pre-release) form on June 1. Greg Shields, a founder of the tech Website Concentrated Technology, had this to say:

"Let me give you my initial impression in just a few words: Embarrasingly easy."

Shields is concerned that the exam in its current form doesn't test enough real-world knowledge:

"I have to say that I’m fairly unimpressed with the difficultly in this beta, or the content it tests upon. If the final exam is simply a snipping of this beta’s large sample of questions, I worry that it might not do a good job of effectively testing who really knows their stuff in configuring Windows 7."

A software developer who goes by the name Eralper had this to say:

"I believe if you have enough knowledge on the general exam content you will complete the 70-680 in a short time."

These comments should send up a red flag for Microsoft. It has dealt with concerns in the past about exams being too easy, which ultimately devalues the certification upon which it's based. Of course, that's why there are beta exams; Microsoft will hopefully take the feedback seriously (it usually does) and adjust the tests accordingly.

Microsoft says that the exam, when it's live, will count toward the following certifications:

• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
• MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7
• MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7