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Failed twice: Test 77-881 Microsoft Word 2010 RRS feed

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    I am in a technical edu and I am working on my Master Certs. My Microsoft Office 2010 book only covers the core I believe. My issue is that I feel I am missing some kind of training. I have tested using Sam 2010 for the chapter training and exams. I use Certiprep for the actual cert exam. My issue is that the testing and training in Sam 2010 and Certiprep is nowhere near worded anything like the actual exam. I understand the work but it takes some thought as to compare what they want you to do with what you trained to do. It is like all the training material and chapter exams are like layman terms and when you take the actual Cert Exam it throws you into very technically written terms. Basically what I am saying is that in training material it might tell you to "Insert a simple text box into the bottom right corner of the document with a tight text wrap"... ok I know how to do that. Then in the actual Cert Exam it tells you to "Position the picture at no more than 50% at the indent, make sure it is tight."  This is not verbatim but very close. How can one get through the 20 questions in 40 or 50 minutes when each question has 2-3 things to do. By the time you read the question, process and compare it to what you learned, then do it, your time has ended. I literally took the test twice and both times I ran out of time. I don't know if this is due to the, what seems like, mismatched materials or that my teacher never friggin' lectures us. If there are others who have this same problem please post. Maybe the more people that complain, Microsoft might extend it's testing time. I also want to state that I am not a quick reader when taking tests. Especially when it is very important like these cert exams. We are told as kids to read your test questions carefully and completely before answering them. I guess most of the population are speed readers now? I am 43, I took the TABE test to get into school and scored a 12.9 on all subjects tested on. I am by far not stupid or slow in any way. I really feel like a dumb sh*t at this point. Especially when my teacher says "Well I have never had anyone not finish". Thanks for the encouragement teacher...   
    • Edited by Nautigirl Sunday, October 16, 2011 2:26 AM
    Sunday, October 16, 2011 2:21 AM

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    I just took the 77-881 Exam, and I passed the exam in 35 minutes.  I am a legal secretary and I have not yet transitioned to Word 2010 - still using 2003.  So, this exam was definitely a challenge.  Not having used the program, made it difficult for me.  I prepared for 2 1/2 months, using the following materials:

    (1) Lynda.com has very good tutorials

    (2)  Microsoft Word 2010 Comprehensive, Shelley Cashman Series

    (3)  MOUS 2010 Certification Book

    (4) Certiport's Word 2010 Practice Exam

    I was very surprised at the questions that were asked - not something that I would think the general public would know how to do.  Very odd questions.  I am now preparing for the 77-883 exam (Powerpoint) - if anyone can shed some light on this exam - it would be appreciated.

    Thanks !

    EEH

    • Proposed as answer by Mr. Wharty Wednesday, February 1, 2012 10:11 PM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Friday, February 10, 2012 9:22 AM
    Wednesday, February 1, 2012 9:06 PM

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    Which books did you use as preparation materials? Think about using the ones that you can find at the following web address

    http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2011/09/19/new-books-individual-mos-2010-study-guide-ebooks-for-microsoft-word-word-expert-excel-excel-expert-outlook-powerpoint-access-and-sharepoint.aspx

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno - Microsoft Community Contributor 2011 Award
    Sunday, October 16, 2011 1:17 PM
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    Well there have been a lot of material. The initial book for the projects is Cengage Technology Microsoft Office 2010 Introductory, Shelley Cashman Series. Then we have an online program called Sam 2010 that has training and project stuff. What my problem really is during the training simulation in Sam 2010 the way you are trained they tell you how to do things more or less in layman terms. Then when you get to the exam it is written more like rocket science. By the time you equate what task it wants you to do, you have wasted precious time. There are 20 questions, each question has 2-3 tasks each. By the time you read it and mentally match up the "technical" task with the "layman" task, then you actually say, "oh I know what it wants me to do", then you apply it and you do this mostly through all the questions, but before you know it your out of time. I was told to skip questions I was not sure about and the test would take me back to those skipped questions at the end of the test. Newsflash, it only let me skip so many before it pushed me to answer those before I could move on. Then it grayed out the skip button on me. That means that we do not have control of how we test. If it was a paper test I could have moved on and came back to those when I felt like it.  Some things are easier that others. Like when it tell you to create a new document using the Black Tie Newsletter template. I know that. It just seemed like some of the stuff I had to do I did not get trained on. I did all my assignments in Sam 2010 but there was one task about demoting that I did not know how to do. I trained on how to demote one item. The Cert Exam had me demote 3 but they named the items to demote and then said "each", which made me think maybe I need to highlight all 3 simultaneously and push the demote button, or maybe I needed to highlight each one separately and demote one at a time. This I did not get trained on. There is definitely more gripes that I have but I won't go on. I just know that I have done some research and found a lot of others saying that the test is too hard and they did not like the way it was worded as well. I don't expect the exam to be verbatim of how I trained but the fact that it was like learning in kindergarten view and testing in college view. I have looked at those books you gave me the link to. I have not actually had the opportunity to look through one yet, as there is no way to "peak inside" like Barnes & Noble sometimes has. I also have an issue with the fact that you only get 40-50 minutes. I don't recall the timing I got, but there is a company called "Measure Up" and they give you 90 minutes for the same test. I just don't get that.
    • Edited by Nautigirl Sunday, October 16, 2011 2:23 PM
    Sunday, October 16, 2011 2:16 PM
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    You could try using the books I've suggested you in my first answer.

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno - Microsoft Community Contributor 2011 Award
    Sunday, October 16, 2011 2:23 PM
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    Yes Luigi, I will try that, and thanks for the link...and for being my sounding board. Have a Great Day...
    Sunday, October 16, 2011 3:53 PM
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    Hope it could be useful.
    Nice to meet you.

    Bye.

    Luigi Bruno - Microsoft Community Contributor 2011 Award
    Sunday, October 16, 2011 3:54 PM
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    I have to agree with some of the comments in this post.  I have had trouble passing the Excel test for the same reasons you mentioned.  Each time I ran out of time.  I wonder if the developers wrote the questions so that they will translate better, but sometimes you have to read them several times to understand what they are asking.

    I think Microsoft (or whoever wrote the tests) would be better served to give you more difficult problems while giving you adequate time to complete them instead of making the test a race to complete a series simple of tasks.

    My employer would much rather I be knowledgeable and accurate than fast at common tasks.  I think they have lost sight of what passing these tests mean.  Maybe they just want to collect more test fees.


    Friday, December 9, 2011 12:20 AM
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    I just took the 77-881 Exam, and I passed the exam in 35 minutes.  I am a legal secretary and I have not yet transitioned to Word 2010 - still using 2003.  So, this exam was definitely a challenge.  Not having used the program, made it difficult for me.  I prepared for 2 1/2 months, using the following materials:

    (1) Lynda.com has very good tutorials

    (2)  Microsoft Word 2010 Comprehensive, Shelley Cashman Series

    (3)  MOUS 2010 Certification Book

    (4) Certiport's Word 2010 Practice Exam

    I was very surprised at the questions that were asked - not something that I would think the general public would know how to do.  Very odd questions.  I am now preparing for the 77-883 exam (Powerpoint) - if anyone can shed some light on this exam - it would be appreciated.

    Thanks !

    EEH

    • Proposed as answer by Mr. Wharty Wednesday, February 1, 2012 10:11 PM
    • Marked as answer by Mr. Wharty Friday, February 10, 2012 9:22 AM
    Wednesday, February 1, 2012 9:06 PM
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    Hi nylegal,

    Thanks for sharing your experiences with this exam and the study materials you used as they will assist others with preparing for this exam.

    Cheers
    Jeff

    Jeff Wharton
    MSysDev (C.Sturt), MDbDsgnMgt (C.Sturt), MCT, MCPD, MCITP, MCDBA
    Blog: Mr. Wharty's Ramblings
    MC ID: Microsoft Transcript

    Please mark answered if I've answered your question and vote for it as helpful to help other user's find a solution quicker
    Wednesday, February 1, 2012 10:11 PM