During exam development, Microsoft Learning selects candidates to help conduct an objective and critical review of each exam before it becomes available to the public. Participants help us produce exams that are challenging, relevant, and accurate. Ultimately, beta testing helps us maintain industry-leading recognition and respect for Microsoft Certifications.
When you participate in a beta exam, you have the opportunity to respond to a specific set of questions we have defined for that exam. The test equipment and the test environment are the same as those used for the final version of an exam. The results help us determine the final sets of questions and the scoring model for the exam.
By participating, you can:
Influence the future of the Microsoft Certification program. Your expertise and feedback will be used to improve the quality of our exams, which ultimately determine the value of Microsoft Certifications.
Be the first to pass the exam—or earn the certification. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will appear on your transcript when the final version of the exam is available. If the exam qualifies you for a certification, you will earn that certification; you will not need to retake the final version of the exam.
Take an exam for free. In recognition of your time and contribution to our development process, we offer the beta exams free to selected candidates.
How to participate
Candidates can receive invitations to participate in two ways:
Selection by Microsoft. After Microsoft identifies qualified candidates, we send invitations and registration codes by e-mail.
Note Receiving an invitation does not guarantee your participation in the beta exam. Because participation in beta exams is popular, we recommend that you register with your local Prometric testing center immediately following receipt of the invitation.
You can also receive an invitation through the MCP Flash newsletter. Any candidate who earns a certification is automatically subscribed to the MCP Flash newsletter.
Public announcement. Microsoft sometimes announces opportunities to participate in beta exams through Microsoft newsgroups and certification-related blogs. We recommend that you join communities applicable to your areas of interest and expertise to stay current on upcoming beta exams.
All invitations include a registration code. You must use this code when you register, and you can then take the beta exam for free at your local Prometric center.
Preparing for a beta exam
In most cases, you will have access to an exam preparation guide. Microsoft tries to make these guides available early, but it is not always possible to do so. People interested in beta exams usually have access to other resources, are experienced with the technology, or work with the beta product. We recommend that you consult peers, community resources, and early-adopter articles for support.
Beta exam scoring
When you complete a beta exam, you do not receive a score immediately because the scoring model for the exam is not yet finalized. The scoring model is determined by the cumulative results of the beta, as illustrated in this overview of the scoring process.
Your score is added to your Microsoft transcript. In general, results for beta exams are available on or near the date when the final version of the exam releases.
Note Participation in beta exams is voluntary, and Microsoft makes no promises or guarantees regarding the beta exam process, availability of your scores, or the timing of your results.
Beta exam results
Microsoft reads and evaluates all the comments you provide during the beta exam. We statistically analyze the beta exam results to evaluate the performance of each question and section of the exam.
Next, a group of subject matter experts from outside of Microsoft participates in a focus group. Some participants took the beta exam and scored very well, and others have not taken the exam. The group reviews questions that may have errors, as identified through the statistical analysis and beta participant comments. Based on feedback from the focus group, Microsoft determines which questions are valid and relevant, which need modification, and which should be removed from the exam.
Passing the beta exam
You usually receive your exam score by the time the final version of the exam becomes available—this may be 16 to 20 weeks after you take the exam. This timeframe reflects the comprehensive process used to evaluate the beta exam results. If you pass the beta exam, you earn credit for that exam and any resulting certification. You do not need to retake the exam in its final version if you pass the beta version.
If you do not pass the beta exam, you cannot retake it. You must wait to take the exam in its final version at the regular cost of US$125. There are a limited number of seats available for beta exams, and it is important to allow a variety of candidates to participate. You should not use a beta exam as a practice test.
If you believe your score should be available and it is not, first check if Prometric has posted it. If not, contact Prometric. If Prometric has posted a score, but you do not see the score on your Microsoft transcript, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center.
