Can Practice Tests Help You Go Through Your Preparation Process?
Microsoft 98-364 is designed for students looking to validate their introductory skills and knowledge of databases, which include relational databases such as Microsoft SQL Server. The individuals planning to take this exam should be familiar with the concepts of technologies covered under the certification content. In addition to the knowledge, they should also have hands-on experience working with these technologies. As this is an introductory test, it is recommended that the candidates take the relevant training courses to prepare for it. They may also work with samples and tutorials available on Microsoft Visual Studio and on MSDN. The candidates may also train using other platforms such as Exam-Labs to be adequately prepared for the actual exam. Although hands-on experience with technologies is recommended, it is not a prerequisite for taking it.
The Microsoft 98-364 exam is available in a variety of languages, including English, French, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Russian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish, (Latin America), Japanese, Russian, German, and Korean. The target of the test is majorly academic, and the technology covered under the exam is Microsoft SQL Server 2008. After passing this test, the applicants will be awarded the MTA certificate here.
Depending on your current academic or professional level, there are two different ways you can register for this certification test. If you are currently a student or an instructor, you should register for your exam with Certiport. However, if you are no longer in school but want to earn the MTA credential, you should register with Pearson VUE. To register for the Microsoft 98-364 exam, the learners have to pay the fee of $127. If you are not a resident of the United States, you should check the certification page to know the fee that is applicable to your country of residence. It is also important to mention that this test may be available for online proctored delivery in your country. You should check the official website to know if this is applicable to your location.
Overview of Microsoft 98-364 exam format question types
As part of its strategy to curb exam malpractices and protect the security of the test as well as the value of the credential offered by the vendor, Microsoft doesn’t reveal the specific question types and formats of its certification exams. The vendor regularly incorporates new and innovative testing methodologies, technologies, and question types into its framework of exam delivery. It also reserves the right to incorporate any format or question types into the test without prior notice. When you are taking anyMicrosoft exam, including 98-364, the question types that may be expected include active screen, build list, best answer, case studies, hot areas, drag and drop, repeated answer choices, multiple choice, review screen, short answer, and mark review. Please note that you are unlikely to come across all these types in the delivery of a single test but you can expect any of them in your actual exam.
Overview of Microsoft 98-364 exam objectives
Like in all other IT exams, there are specific skills that will be measured in Microsoft 98-364. These tasks make up the topics of the certification test. Let’s look at these objectives in detail.
- Understanding core database concepts: 20-25%
This topic covers specific components of the technology of the exam, and the candidates are expected to fully understand them. They should understand the process involved in data storage in tables, including the definition of a table and how it relates to the specific data that needs to be stored in a database; records/rows; fields/columns. The students should also understand relational database concepts, which include understanding the relational database, the ways of establishing relations, and the requirement for RDBMS (Relational Database Management Systems).
The test takers need to understand DML (Data Manipulation Language), including what it is all about and its role in the framework of databases. The understanding of DDL (data definition language) is also critical. This means you need to understand the usage of T-SQL in creating database objects such as views and tables.
- Creating a database object: 20-25%
The learners should be able to choose data types, including the understanding of different types of data and the reason of their importance. They should also know their effects on storage requirements. You also need to understand all about tables and how they can be created. This includes an understanding of the purpose of tables and the creation of them in the database using appropriate ANSI SQL syntax.
Additionally, examinees should be able to create views, which cover the understanding of the best time to use views and how to create a view with T-SQL or with the help of a graphic designer. The candidates should also be able to create stored procedures and their functions. In other words, they need to be able to select, update, delete, or insert data.
- Manipulating data: 25-30%
The applicants are required to know how to select data. This includes using SELECT queries to mine data from a table, mine data by utilizing joins, and combine the result sets using INTERSECT & UNION. The topic also expects that the candidates will be able to insert data, which entails knowing how to insert it into the database and how to utilize INSERT statements. Another ability that you consider to obtain is updating and deleting data.
- Understanding data storage: 15-20%
The test takers should understand normalization. This means they need to know the reasons for normalization, the process of normalizing database to the 3rd normal form, and five basic levels of normalization. They should also understand primary, foreign, as well as composite keys, which include the understanding of the reason for keys in the database; choosing the right primary keys; selecting the right type of data for keys; and selecting the right fields for composite keys, among others. The individuals should also understand indexes, including clustered and non-clustered ones.
- Administering database: 10-15%
This topic requires the students to understand the concepts of database security. This means they should know why it is important to secure the database and specific objects that can be secured. They also need to know the areas that should be secured, roles, and user accounts. Finally, the learners should understand database restore and backup, which include the various types of backup, including incremental and full; the process involved in restoring a database; the importance of backups.
Conclusion
If you are going to pass the Microsoft 98-364 exam, you need to master the topics we mentioned above. To do so, use reliable sources with valid study materials. Exam-Labs has a variety of tools that can cover these objectives in-depth. The Microsoft Learning platform is also an excellent place for your learning.