Microsoft Certification Exam Development

Microsoft Certification exams are carefully developed with input from industry professionals to reflect how Microsoft products are used in organizations throughout the world. The exams test the skills required to use Microsoft technologies. These rigorous exams go well beyond testing routine knowledge or terminology. After all, on the job, you need to know more than facts. You need to apply your knowledge by analyzing technical solutions, solving problems, and making decisions.

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 set of questions we have defined for that exam. The test equipment and 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 cut score for the exam.

By participating, you can:

How to participate

Early notification of beta exams is sent by email to qualified candidates who are members of the Microsoft Learning SME Profile database. If seats are still available after this notification process, notification about the beta exam will be announced in Microsoft certification-related blogs and newsgroups. The notification includes a registration code that enables you to register for the specific beta exam. Only candidates who have work experience in the technology are sent notifications. No priority is given to SMEs who have more years of experience than other candidates. This process ensures that beta candidates with a range of skill levels are able to participate in the beta exam.

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 as soon as the beta registration period begins.

All invitations include a registration code. You must use this code when you register.

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. Formal courseware and other training are not usually available at the time the beta exam period begins. 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 result is added to your Microsoft transcript. In general, results for beta exams will be visible in your transcript within two weeks of 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

Once the beta period closes, we statistically analyze the data to evaluate the performance of each question and section of the exam. We also read and evaluate all the comments provided during the beta exam.

Next, a group of subject matter experts from outside of Microsoft participates in a focus group and reviews these results. 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 up to 16 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 the beta exam. If you are interested in earning a certification that requires successful completion of that exam you must wait to take the exam in its final version at its regular cost.

If you believe your score should be available and it is not, first check whether Prometric has posted it on its website. If not, contact Prometric. (Note that it can take up to two weeks after the final version of the exam is publicly available for your beta score to appear on the Prometric website.) If Prometric has posted a score, but you do not see the score on your Microsoft transcript, contact your Microsoft Regional Service Center.

Microsoft is committed to offering certifications that are relevant, valued, and respected indicators of IT professional and developer technology skills. To fulfill this commitment, the Microsoft Certification team continually monitors industry trends and adjusts exams and standards accordingly, developing new exams to ensure that certification requirements keep pace with technology updates. You can find announcements about new releases on the Microsoft Learning blog.

The following table lists new exams, beginning with those most recently released. Follow the links to the corresponding exam preparation guides to learn about the skills measured and credits you can earn toward certification.