Preparation Guide for Microsoft Office Specialist: Outlook 2003
Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 Certification Exam
This preparation guide is designed to help Microsoft Office Specialist Certification candidates prepare for the Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 certification exam.
On This Page
 | Exam News |
| Audience Profile |
| Skill Standards |
| Exam Format |
| Success Profile and Preparation Tips |
| Passing standard (cut-score) |
| Test-Taking Rules |
| Test-Taking Tips |
Exam News
| • | The Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam for Office Outlook 2003 is now available at Authorized Testing Centers. |
| • | Candidates qualifying for Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits may receive reimbursement for the cost of Microsoft Office Specialist exams. |
| • | Microsoft Office Specialist certifications have been recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for college credit. Candidates who achieve certification can apply for college credit through participating ACE member institutions. |
Audience Profile
Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 certification is intended for students and information workers whose responsibilities include the use of Microsoft Outlook to create and manage messages, tasks, contacts and appointments, and use Outlook with other Office applications in organizations of every size.
Skill Standards
This exam measures your ability to productively use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003. Before taking the exam, you should be proficient in the following program skills:
| • | Messaging
| ||||||||||||||||||
| • | Scheduling
| ||||||||||||||||||
| • | Organizing
|
Exam Format
Performance-based
This Microsoft Office Specialist exam is performance-based, requiring you to perform a series of tasks using a simulated version of Microsoft Office Outlook 2003.
Scenario-based
Many of the questions in this Microsoft Office Specialist exam require you to complete a series of tasks to create or modify a typical business document. For example, you might be instructed as follows:
Manage a monthly appointment as follows:
1. | Create an appointment with the subject Production Scheduling, from 10:00A.M. to 11:00A.M. on March 26, 2004. |
2. | Preview the appointment for printing. |
Exam Controls
During the exam you will see the exam controls across the bottom of the screen. Each of the exam controls and their functions are described below.
COUNTER: | The Counter tracks how many questions you have completed and how many remain. |
TIMER: | The Timer starts when the first question appears on your screen. The Timer displays the remaining exam time. If the Timer is distracting, click the Timer to remove the display. Note: transition time between questions is not counted against total allotted exam time. |
ZOOM: | The Zoom icon enables you to increase or decrease font size of the question text by clicking "+" or "-". |
TIPS: | The Tips icon provides access to these Test-Taking Tips at any time during the exam. |
SKIP: | The Skip button enables you skip and return to a question when you have seen or completed all other questions in the exam. |
RESET: | The Reset button enables you to restart work on a question if you think you have made an error. Note: the Reset button will not restart the entire exam nor extend the total allotted exam time. |
NEXT: | When you complete a question, click the Next button to move to the next question. Note: It is not possible to move back to previous exam questions. |
Scoring
One to three points are possible per question, depending on the number of specified tasks. At the conclusion of an exam your final score is derived by converting the task score to a 1000-point scale.
While some questions involve more tasks than others, each question is scored on a total-score basis (i.e., number correct) rather than on a pass/fail basis. For example, a 20-question exam may have 34 possible points; one point for each task.
Simulation
This exam uses an interactive simulation of Microsoft Office Outlook 2003. Consequently, Office Outlook 2003 functionality that is not directly relevant to the completion of a question may not be available (e.g., Undo (CTRL+Z) and Redo (CTRL+Y) commands). All questions, however, may be completed using standard menu and toolbar commands.
Number of questions
This exam has 15-20 questions involving 30-45 tasks. The number of questions depends on the exam form you are administered.
Completion time
This exam has a maximum allowed time of 50 minutes.
Success Profile and Preparation Tips
Experience using Microsoft Office Outlook is the most effective method of preparation.
The majority of successful candidates for Office Outlook certification:
| • | Have had more than 1 year experience using the application in an applied setting (i.e., on the job, in school, and/or at home) prior to their exam experience, | ||||||||
| • | Spent no less than 20 hours in exam specific preparation, | ||||||||
| • | Chose practice tests/assessments, instructor-led training, self-study/books guides, or computer-based training as their primary preparation methods, and used the following methods of preparation in combination:
|
Passing standard (cut-score)
Multiple forms (or versions) of this certification exam are produced to maintain exam security. The passing score for this exam, accordingly, depends upon the form that is administered.
Test-Taking Rules
Exam security
Certain security measures are in place to protect the integrity of Office Specialist exams. For example, all examinees are required to present personal identification at the testing center and to consent to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before taking an exam. Finally, additional rules and procedures are in place for Microsoft Office Specialist Authorized Testing Centers and examinees to combat cheating and misuse of exams.
Retake policy
Candidates may retake the same exam one time without restriction. However, candidates who wish to retake the exam a second or subsequent time must wait a minimum of seven days before retaking the exam. Candidates participating in exam beta-testing may take each beta exam only once.
Test-Taking Tips
Entering Information | Enter requested information as it appears in the instructions without duplicating the format. For example, all text and values that you will be asked to enter will appear with bold and underlined text formats, however, you should enter the information without applying these formats unless you are specifically instructed to do otherwise. |
Dialog Boxes, Task Panes and Toolbars | You must close all dialog boxes, but you do not have to close task panes before proceeding to the next question, unless you are instructed to do otherwise. Closing floating toolbars is optional. |
Saving | You do not have to save your work before proceeding to the next question, unless you are instructed to do otherwise. |
Office Help | To ensure a fair and secure testing environment, the Office Help system (including the Office Assistant) cannot be accessed during the exam. |
Printing | For questions that ask you to print a document, spreadsheet, chart, report, slide, etc., please note that nothing will actually be printed. |
Scoring | Scoring is based on a combination of the end result of your work and, where specified, the method used, but not the time taken to complete questions or the exam. Extra keystrokes or mouse clicks will not count against your score. Tasks that are not dependent upon other tasks within a question may be completed in any sequence. |
Computer Interruptions | In the event of a computer interruption, notify the testing center administrator immediately to restart your exam. The examination software will return to the point in the exam where you were interrupted and will retain your score and your remaining testing time. |
Exam Time | The exam timer works against the time spent answering the questions and does not count the time required by the computer between questions. |
The Microsoft Office Specialist program is committed to providing students and information workers with the opportunity to certify their Microsoft Office skills. Office Specialists enjoy increased competence and productivity with Microsoft Office programs as well as increased credibility with employers, coworkers and clients.