Server 2003 Designing Network Infrastructure Exam 70-297: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
E X A M D I F F I C U L T Y
SYNOPSIS • MCSE 2003vs
Microsoft’s exam 70-297, “Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure is a core design requirement for the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 certification. It is designed for IT professionals who work in the typically complex computing
environment of medium to large companies.
There is no specific prerequisite for this exam but Microsoft recommends that candidates have at least one year
of experience implementing and administering a network operating system in the type of environment described. As well, Microsoft says that a candidate should have at least one year of experience in the following areas:
Implementing and administering a desktop operating system and Designing an Active Directory and network infrastructure.
Beginning with the release of the Microsoft Windows
Server 2003–related exams, Microsoft will provide numerical scores on exams. By the end of September 2003, most exams will have the new score report format, which includes this numerical score. The new scale requires a minimum passing score of 700 on all exams. The maximum score on the exams will vary depending on the complexity of the skills being measured
Note that Microsoft does not document the format of
a particular exam. In the past, Microsoft exams might include adaptive testing technology and simulation items. Currently, Microsoft does not identify the format in which exams are
presented.
The domains of this exam are:
Creating
the Conceptual Design by Gathering and Analyzing Business and Technical
Requirements
Creating
the Logical Design for an Active Directory Infrastructure
Creating
the Logical Design for a Network Services Infrastructure
Creating
the Physical Design for an Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
The difficulty with this exam lies in the lack of time. Each case study (I had 6) has around 25 minutes to read the whole case study and answer up to 9 questions. Questions and content are fine, time to complete is where this one is tough.
Scored 984
michaelmarx on Wednesday, December 05, 2007
This was the easiest exam i've ever written,294 was my hardest.
maybe because of all the horror stories i've read,and therefore studied very hard,if you've written 290,291,293,and 294 its pretty straight forward,The case studies are long and if you're good at finding info you wont have a problem...
Case study format throws me...
chrislehr on Friday, June 29, 2007
I dont like it one bit. If you get the general "idea" of a case and the network config to be used, you will likely get at least 1/2 of the 9-12 questions for that study wrong.
this is the first MS exam to REALLY challenge me, I have taken it twice now, and its the last one I need to obtain my MCSE. :(
Scored a 931 on exam
WyattJones on Tuesday, June 26, 2007
I had 4 case studies with about 9-10 questions for each and a time limit of about 30min per. I have used PrepLogic, Transcender, and ActualTests.com for my study materials and by far the most useful has been ActualTests.com. I HIGHLY recommend using their Study Guides and Practice Exam questions. Their material has helped me pass 6 exams so far with 2 more to go. It's worth your time to check it out!!
Need good prep materials!
scottsmith130 on Monday, April 30, 2007
This was definitely the hardest one I took. It was my last MCSE exam, and the first MCSE exam I failed - score 622. Scored 800 or better on the others. The case studies are very wordy, practice finding the important info quickly. All the info you need to answer the questions are in the case studies, as long as you know the technical stuff well. I was tested heavily on DNS, NT Migrations, and forest/domain/OU design. Take your time to study for this one. Definitely take some practice exams to get used to the format (not the same as the other MCSE exams). Also, I wouldn't advise Sybex study guide, at least not for this exam - I thought I was ready, and I certainly wasn't. Lastly, if you have consulting experience with AD design, then the exam shouldn't be an issue.
Confusing
Gibbsy on Tuesday, November 21, 2006
this exam is more about info finding than studying for questions. All the info reqd is in the enourmous amount of info given. Its a nightmare to read through it all and then answer the questions. I found it easier to read the question and find the info. layout is rubbish, wording is rubbish. Know your stuff and the answers jump out at you. 885 on 1st attempt, 1 hour to complete.
Extremely tough
rjlinney on Tuesday, September 12, 2006
I've passed all of the other exams for my MCSE first time - I've failed this one twice! (this is my last exam!) The scenario's are badly written, confusing, unclear - it's very difficult to get to the bottom of what they're trying to describe! Next attempt in 14 days!
I do not past this test, i
smunger on Friday, April 14, 2006
It's me last and do not have the time to complete
Passed with 816
_Icing_ on Wednesday, August 17, 2005
After doing the 294 2 weeks earlier, this exam was pretty easy. It's a combination of the 291 and 294 but then timed. The read material was a lot, but beside that the questions weren't that difficult. I used the megaguide from this website to study.
Very difficult test
Nexus798 on Saturday, June 18, 2005
The format is a bit unforgiving. Each question is timed and if you a slow reader (like me) you will pressed for time to answer the questions by the time you get done reading all the scenario info. Other than that, I found the questions to really test your knowledge of windows server AD and network infrastructure. I primarily used the mspress book, which was very good, but beware, it largely covers the topics needed to pass, but its expected you have a solid understanding of the two topics it covers (active directory and network infrastructure(DNS, DC, Global catalog, FSMO, subnetting, RRAS functions, sites, ect.)
If you have gone through MSCE tests in chronological order this would be your last or second to last test and SHOULD have this knowledge by now, making preparing much easier. But I did have to go back and brush up on items to make sure I fully grasped the concepts you are asked to put in place by the questions meaning I spent much of my prep time in my other resources that
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Difficulty with less time...