So here is the challenge. In this article I am going to write a review on the new Vista 70-620 exam preparation tool (PrepKit) from uCertify. Not only that, but I will put my score in this article so you can all laugh at me. I have taken many exams in the past and used both books and exam prepration tools to help in my readiness for those nerve-racking exams. I remember taking one beta .net exam and spending over 4 hours in the exam room. My brain was smokin’ at the end of it.

It may sound strange, but the letters after my name is not a core reason why I take these exams. The main reason comes from the whole exam process giving you an appreciation for areas of the framework which otherwise you may never have visited. I was one told by a karate instructor that gaining the black belt only serves to prove you ability to learn, after that the real training begins. The same can be said for the exam process.

So I have with me the evaluation copy of the uCertify Vista 70-620 exam preparation tool (PrepKit) : Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring. I typically use these tools once I have read a huge book on the subject and want to gain confidence in answering the questions. I have been a 'user' of Vista since beta 2, but don't consider myself as a 'configurer' – I can’t say my confidence is going to be high and i'm a little nervous - like before the real exam! So here goes...

The Evaluation exam is a FREE download and comes with 15 questions, which is enough to get an idea of what you are up against. The full product appears at a bargain pre-release (30th April) price of $29.99 for a single user. Subsequent Full price $79.99. The full exam has three main practice exams with 50 questions each, taken from a massive pool of 260 questions.

With the ‘Diagnostic test’ I have 120 minutes to answer 15 question, with the passing score being 730 – all of these settings are configurable. So as you get more comfortable you can start to turn the screw.

Question one is about Windows Calendar – I am already on the ropes as I’ve never used it.. It’s going to be a bumpy ride. Not only that, but the question is in the style of required steps. So I have to move items from the right to the left and put them in the correct order. See you in 15...

Ok I am back.. Overall I felt I didn’t do too bad. The tool itself was very easy to use. There were questions about Bitlocker, Upgrading from 98, Dual booting, Synch Centre, parental controls and spyware. All those questions people who work in IT seem to get everyday. I’m hoping to score around 550. So here goes.

Wicked – 800 (pass) I feel like I have just done the real exam and got that ‘buzz too’ – I want to tell everybody. In fact I am in this review – “hey everybody – I got 800”. It looks like upgrading, mobile computing and network connectivity caused me problems. So I will go back and review them. That's another reason for using these tools: They highlight the areas you are weak on and allow you to focus on them. The uCertify tool also allows you to create custom exams, based around those areas.

He shoots! he scores! - Weird spelling of examination though!

One of the questions I read reminded me of so many real Microsoft exam questions in the past. In this question a user couldn’t log onto their machine. Most of the options could be plausible, until you read the PC has Vista Home Premium – which can’t be connected to a domain – Those two words change the way you approach the question – The only valid answer now has to do with parental control.

Now I’m reviewing one of my incorrect questions. I see I misread it – classic exam schoolboy error. The question screen now shows the correct answer along with an explanation on the correct answer and references windows documentation if you require further research.

Was this beneficial? – Absolutely. Did I learn something – yes!

If you are going to take exams, you’ll need to purchase reference books and exam fees. At $30 the uCertify exam PrepKit is a no-brainer, even at $79.99 it's a solid base to build you exam preparations on. What’s more important though is uCertify will, if you fail, refund you the cost of the tool with their money back guarantee.

At very least, you'd be mad not to download the relevant PrepKit evaluation a couple of weeks before you take the exam. It will give you an appreciation of some of the diversity of the exams and also get you used to reading and interpreting the question – which is probably the most important part.

One way you can think of uCertify, is as a confidence insurance you take out. If you pass, it was a good investment. If you fail you get your money back – either way you come out smiling :-).

Oh no. I’m getting that desire back to go and do an exam...

You too can enjoy the 15 questions in the evaluation edition and send Rich your scores. Download from http://www.ucertify.com/exams/Microsoft/70-620.html