MICROSFT 70-461 EXAM DETAILS

Introduction

This course is the foundation for the Microsoft Certificate 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL
server 2012. In session 1, one is supposed to learn about dates, strings and number data types
,and in session 2,covers construction of select queries using select ,from ,where ,group by
,having and order by, and joining multiple tables together.

The 70-461 exams is meant to be taken by SQL Server database administrators, implementers,
system engineers and developers who have two or more years of experience and are seeking to
prove their skills and knowledge in writing queries. Microsoft states that exam is meant to be
taken by those whose primary responsibilities include;

 Apply built-in scalar functions.

 Apply ranking functions.
 Create and alter views.
 Implement error handling.
 Design views.
 Create and alter user-defined functions etc.

The exams objectives are broken up into four different categories as stated by Microsoft are as
follows

 Create database objects (20-25%)

 Work with data (25-30%)
 Modify data (20-25%)
 Troubleshoot and optimize (25-30%)

After passing Querying Microsoft SQL Server 70-461 exams, you complete the requirements for
the following certifications;

 MCSA; SQL Server.

 MCSE; Data Platform
 MCSE; Business Intelligence.

In today’s competitive world, technical certifications play an important role in advancing once
career. It is a great way to validate and sharpen once technical skills, thus helping you be more
productive in your assignments. It also helps one to stand out from the crowd and get more
visibility.
Target audience

 This SQL course is meant for anyone, who has not used SQL Server much and want to
start to learn T-SQL.
 This course is also meant for those who want a refresher on SQL and also for those
working towards the requirements for exam 70-461, or if one just want to expand
knowledge of T-SQL.

Tips for 70-461 Certifications

In order to be successful studying for the 70-461 exams, one needs a good strategy and plan.
Before you start studying you need to prepare. You need to get right equipment together to make
you study effectively. When preparing for the 70-461 you’ll need to make sure you have a
dedicate work space and a computer in good working order. The following are items you should
put into action.

Use Small Short Study Sessions

Don’t try to cram for the Microsoft 70-461 exams; it is better to study in thirty minute sessions
than it is in one to ten-hour stretch. Also, if you’re busy, it is easier to set aside thirty minutes
each day at work or home for your prep.

Be consistent

Set up a specific time to study each day and stick to it. For personal stuff, students can set aside
time just after the kids have settled down for bed in order to avoid interruptions.

Have a specific goal for each study session

Make a goal for each session. In fact, why not make a flash card or two after each session. This
will help one reinforce what he/she has just learned.

Explain what you learned

As you learn new material explain it to a friend co-worker. It’s a really good test to see whether
you truly understand it. If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t know it well enough.

Practice! Practice! Practice!

Students should have SQL Server installed and practice using the adventure works database. If
they don’t, they should get it now for SQL practices. Microsoft provides special offers on the
certification exam in the form of an additional retake or even a practice test. It might not be a bad
decision for students to improve their exam odds through taking questions in practice tests.
Overall practice tests, helps one to prep up for the exam and gain confidence.

Have a Study Area

Set up a designated area to study. Make sure you have all the materials you’ll need readily
available. Dedicated work space that is distraction free, has a good work surface with room to
hold laptop and study material such as book.

Focus

Turn off that music and put away the phone during studying to avoid interruptions and improves
once concentration.

The 70-461 Study Plan

Once you get a plan put together, set up a schedule so you know what topics you’ll cover each
week. This will to keep on schedule. A good and well planned study structure ensures once
consistency in studying and in the right amount, will help to avoid cramming. The plan
sequences what you should learn first. Students should learn basic concepts and build upon them.

Exam Details

When taking the exams, read each question carefully. Microsoft is notorious for adding a lot of
unneeded information in their questions. Make sure that when you click on choice that is really
marked. Be careful clicking anywhere on screen since clicking near the scroll bar on the right of
the screen, can actually change an answer.

You can use a small amount of time before you even start the exam to make notes once you enter
the test area. You can use this time to write down notes, facts, tables or other information by
taking your time between answers. The Microsoft 70-460 exam details involves;

a) Number of questions: Approximately 45-55 questions but the number of questions may
change without notice.
b) Types of questions: This taste format is multiple choices and multiple answers.
c) Passing score: 70%, this passing score does not mean that you must answer 70 percent of
the items correctly in order to pass exam. The actual percentage varies from exam to and
may be more or less than 70%.
d) Time limit: 120 minutes.

As with any exam, it will vary from person to person as what is deemed to be difficult. Be sure
you are familiar with each of the topics in the exam objectives.

Conclusion

Querying Microsoft 70-461 exams SQL server validates the skills required to create database
objects, work with and modify data and finally troubleshoot and optimize queries. I had a great
learning experience while preparing for this exam. There are numerous benefits of earning a
certification and advancing once career by acquiring comprehensive technical knowledge tops
the list.