Advice

[JRF2k]

I can't really start this out as I am new to programming as I have been around it for a few years. I guess you can say I dabble a lot. My two biggest languages have been PHP and VISUAL BASIC. I am nowhere what you would call proficient in these languges.

I had the opportunity to write a small script at work with VBScript and WSH that has sort of rekindled my interest in programming. Even impressed some bosses. Actually, I believe it's my only way out of Tech Support ****.

I have got it in my mind to learn VB.NET and sit for the MCAD.

If I going from say 20% knowledge, and I may be shortchanging myself here, but I am being pessimistic, what chance would I have of actually passing this exam and how much study time would be involved. I could set aside 1 to 1.5 hours a night for study.

I have purchased these two books:
Murach's Beginning Visual Basic .NET
MCAD/MCSD Visual Basic .NET Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

Any advice you can give will be appriciated.

JRF2k

[emg]

Well, the issue here is you don't have a lot of comparable experience so it's very hard for you to judge your state of readiness. I NEVER discourage people from trying these things because it all comes down to how hard you are willing to work on it. And you may start out very willing, and then be less willing after a month or so.

I will say the MCAD exams are not easy. And if you're not using dotnet in your job, it's hard to know how far you are from being ready. Your best bet is to use some practice exams - - I've been doing this for years and I still find them to be real eye-openers. I use Transcender exams (www.transcender.com) but they are not cheap. However they do provide test questions that are comparable to what you get on the real exam whereas other exams (like brainbench) simply ask you to name properties, classes, etc. Transcender does offer some free sample exams so you should definitely download those. There may be other products that are just as good - - I just don't know them well enough to recommend them.

The issue here is not just learning language syntax. You have to be a "complete" analyst/software developer. This includes understanding the concepts of object-oriented coding, database design issues, some server configuration and other subject areas that you surely did not come across when you were experimenting with PHP and VBScript. This is a LOT of ground to cover. You can do it, but you are looking at many months of study and practice.

You know the quote about the journey of a thousand miles (or whatever.) When I first decided to get off the mainframe platforms I bought one of those simplistic "Learn VB 3.0 in 21 days" books and started working thru the exercises. You've got to start somewhere. So I would squeeze all the learning you can out of the books you already have - - and if you're still interested - - move on to more sources - - be they web sites, books, or maybe a night class at your local community college.

Best of Luck.

[phillip]

I find the self-paced training kits (i.e. books) published by Microsoft press are ideal for studying at home for the MCP exams that make up the MCAD qualification.

They come with very good practice exam application on CD that emulates the actual app you use to sit the exams at the test centres and also a 60 day trial version of Visual Studio.net so you can get some actual practice in before taking the exam.

The books are seperated into chapters that have 3 or 4 lessons, then at the end of each chapter there is a practical lab. I tend to read through the entire books, then go through the labs, then take the practice exam, then if I feel ready for the real thing I make a date with a test centre and skim through the chapters for revision.

The books are generally about 600 pages and to read through once at a pace where you can absorb the information, I would give yourself at least 3 months. Based on your experience I would say that you would need to go through your first MCAD exam book twice before sitting the real thing.

One bonus is if you do the windows app exam and the web app exam a large proportion (possibly 40%) of the work is duplicated (inheritance, data access etc).

Hope this info is helpful