Non-Disclosure Agreement

Updated: May 2018

MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION EXAM AGREEMENT
PLEASE READ THIS MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION EXAM AGREEMENT
(“AGREEMENT”) CAREFULLY. BY CLICKING ON THE “YES” BUTTON, YOU
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THIS
AGREEMENT AND YOU AGREE TO ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN
THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, SELECT “NO”. YOU MUST
SELECT “YES” TO TAKE THE MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION EXAM.
This Agreement is entered into as of the date of Your acceptance between you
(“You” or “Your”) and Microsoft Corporation (“Microsoft”).
CONFIDENTIALITY
Keeping Microsoft Certification exams confidential helps maintain the value of
Microsoft Certifications and helps ensure only qualified individuals are certified.
This exam is Microsoft confidential and proprietary information and is protected by
intellectual property laws. It is made available to You solely to test Your knowledge
and competency in the exam subject matter.
Any disclosure of the exam or information related to the exam, including exam
questions, answers, content, computations, diagrams, drawings or worksheets
(“Exam Related Information”) is strictly prohibited. You will not disclose, distribute,
copy, display, publish, summarize, photograph, record, download, transmit or post
the exam or any Exam Related Information, in whole or in part, in any form or by
any means now known or hereafter devised.
CANDIDATE CONDUCT POLICY
You will not participate in any behavior that could compromise the confidentiality or
results of any Microsoft Certification exam. Proctors are authorized to take
immediate and appropriate measures against individuals who violate testing rules.
You may be prohibited from taking any Microsoft Certification exams and your
exam results may be invalidated if Microsoft believes You violated this Agreement
or engaged in any misconduct and no exam refund will be provided. Examples of
misconduct include:
Providing access to, disclosing, distributing, copying, photographing, recording,
downloading, posting, displaying, publishing or transmitting any exam or Exam
Related Information in any form or by any means.
Misrepresenting Your identity or impersonating another individual.
Modifying or altering the exam, exam score or any exam record.
Submitting any work or answers that are not entirely Your own.
Providing or receiving improper assistance during the exam.
Seeking or obtaining unauthorized access to Microsoft Certification exams or Exam
Related Information (this includes using brain-dump material or unauthorized
publication of exam questions with or without answers).
Possessing non-authorized items while taking an exam, including mobile phones,
electronic devices, laptops, watches, notes, documentation or content.
Misconduct as determined by statistical analysis.
Attempting to reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any exam.
Engaging in any other misconduct that could compromise the confidentiality,
integrity or security of the exam.
Violating any Microsoft or exam delivery provider’s policy, requirement or rule.
Microsoft reserves the right to invalidate your exam score if Microsoft determines
you were not compliant with this section.
EXAM POLICIES
You are solely responsible for understanding and complying with Microsoft
Certification exam policies and procedures located
at https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/certifications/certification-exam-policies, as well
as the exam delivery provider’s policies and procedures.
You can review the Microsoft Exam Retake Policy as well as other Microsoft exam
and testing procedures
at https://docs.microsoft.com/learn/certifications/certification-exam-policies. You
can learn more about the exam provider’s policies and procedures at the exam
provider’s website.
You have thirty (30) days after taking an exam to challenge your exam score for
that exam.
ACADEMIC EXAM
If You registered to take an academic exam, You must provide the exam provider
with documentation that verifies You are currently enrolled as a student at or a
faculty member of an accredited academic institution before You can take the
exam.
By taking an academic exam, You acknowledge that You are either a student or
faculty member of an accredited academic institution. If it is determined You were
not a Student or a Faculty member at the time You took an academic exam,
Microsoft reserves the right to invalidate Your exam results, and no exam refund
will be provided.
IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE AND CONSENT
By taking this exam, You agree that Microsoft, its affiliates and the exam provider
may:
share Your personal information and exam data with each other to administer the
exam, to improve the testing program and testing experience, to facilitate statistical
analyses, and to determine if You passed the exam;
contact You regarding certificates showing that You passed the exam or
information regarding the Microsoft Certification program;
share Your personal information and exam results with other Microsoft programs,
e.g., the Microsoft Partner Network program, to verify Your or Your employer’s
compliance with the program requirements;
share Your information with standards and certification boards affiliated with the
academic institution, company or government organization that provided You with
an exam voucher; and
share Your exam results and your personal information with the entity that issued
the voucher or that purchased the site license if the exam was made available to
You by one of the following methods:
A company or government organization purchased vouchers and then issued the
vouchers to its employees or contractors,
An academic institution purchased vouchers and then issued the vouchers to its
students or employees, or
An academic institution or government organization operated an exam test center
and did not charge you a standalone fee to take the exam.
A government agency that provides training stipends to be applied based on
completion conditions and subject to Microsoft’s identified verification process.
Share your exam results and your personal information with an entity that funded
your exam if the funding was made available through a government agency that
provides training stipends to be applied based on completion conditions and
subject to Microsoft’s identified verification process.
To learn more about the data collection and use practices of Microsoft, please
visit https://privacy.microsoft.com. To learn more about the data collection and use
practices of the exam provider, please contact the exam provider.
DATA TRANSFER NOTICE
Your personal data, exam information and exam results (including personal data
collected from the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland)
may be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States or any other
country in which Microsoft or its affiliates or subcontractors maintain facilities. You
appoint Microsoft, its affiliates and the exam provider to perform any such transfer
of Your data, exam information and exam results to any such country and to store
and process Your data. Microsoft abides by the EU Safe Harbor, and the Swiss
Safe Harbor frameworks as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce
regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union, the
European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
OWNERSHIP AND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
7.1. Ownership. Microsoft owns and retains all rights, title and interest in and to the
Microsoft Certification exam.
7.2. Remedies. In addition to any other rights and remedies provided by law or this
Agreement, Microsoft hereby expressly reserves all legal and equitable remedies
arising out of a breach of this Agreement and/or the infringement of any of
Microsoft’s intellectual property rights.
Microsoft Certification Program Agreement
This Microsoft Certification Program Agreement ("Agreement") is a legal document
between you ("you" or "your") and Microsoft ("Microsoft") regarding your
participation in the Microsoft Certification Program (“Program”). The terms of this
Agreement apply to (a) any Microsoft Certifications you have attained, and (b) your
participation in the Program, including your access to and use of any Microsoft
Certification Program benefit, and Microsoft Certification credential, that Microsoft
makes available to you as part of the Program. Please read this Agreement
carefully. BY ACCESSING OR USING A MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION
PROGRAM BENEFIT, OR MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION CREDENTIAL, YOU
ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO
NOT ACCEPT THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT ACCESS OR USE ANY
MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM BENEFIT, OR MICROSOFT
CERTIFICATION CREDENTIAL.
DEFINITIONS
“Affiliate” means any legal entity that owns, is owned by, or is commonly owned
with a party. “Own” means having more than 50% ownership or the right to direct
the management of the entity.
"Microsoft Certified Website" means the Microsoft website solely for the Microsoft
Certified Professionals.
“Microsoft” means Microsoft entity identified in Section 12.4.
"Microsoft Certification" means passing the requisite Exams, and meeting and
maintaining compliance with all certification or recertification requirements, to use
the corresponding Credential. The current list of Microsoft Certifications is located
at Microsoft Certifications.
"Microsoft Certification Credential" or "Credential" means the full or abbreviated
title of a specific Microsoft Certification that is used to signify an individual’s
compliance with the requirements for a specific Microsoft Certification.
"Microsoft Certification Exam" or "Exam" means a Microsoft certification exam
designed to help validate an individual’s skills for a particular Microsoft technology,
that is the subject of the Exam.
MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION
To Obtain and Maintain a Microsoft Certification: To obtain and maintain a
Microsoft Certification, you must:
Pass all the required Exams and satisfied all certification and recertification
requirements for the applicable Microsoft Certification,
Accept the terms and conditions in this Agreement,
Comply with the terms and conditions in the current version of this Agreement, all
Program requirements, and,
Comply with all additional requirements for the applicable Microsoft Certification.
Changes to Microsoft Certification Requirements: Microsoft may, at its sole
discretion, change the Microsoft Certification requirements (both initial and
continuing) at any time by posting such changes on the Microsoft Certification
website. You will be allowed three (3) full calendar months from the date Microsoft
posts the changes to comply with any additional requirements. Your right to use a
particular Credential may terminate if you do fail to comply with any additional
certification or recertification requirements associated with a particular Credential.
Violation of Exam Agreement
All Microsoft Certification Exams, including Exam questions and answers,
constitute Microsoft confidential information and are protected by trade secret law
and by the Non-Disclosure Agreement and General Terms of Use for Microsoft
Certification Exams (“Exam Agreement”) and may not be disclosed to or discussed
with others or posted or published in any forum or through any medium.
If Microsoft believes you violated the Exam Agreement, or engaged in any
fraudulent behavior or misconduct that could diminish or compromise the security
or integrity of the Program in any way, you may be decertified and terminated from
the Program and permanently ineligible to participate in the Program.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Program Benefits Provided by Third Parties: Some Program benefits may be
provided by third parties. You understand and agree that your relationship with
respect to those benefits is directly with the third-party and not with Microsoft.
Microsoft is not responsible for any Program benefit provided by a third-party and
Microsoft does not sponsor or endorse the third-party vendors or its services or
products.
Additional Terms: Program benefits may have additional terms, conditions, and
licenses. You must accept and comply with any additional terms associated with a
Program benefit before you can use that benefit. You may not use a Program
benefit if you do not comply with any applicable additional terms, conditions, and
licenses.
USE OF CERTIFICATION CREDENTIALS
Grant of Rights: Subject to, and expressly conditioned upon, (a) your compliance
with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Guidelines, (b) your
successful completion of all current requirements for the Microsoft Certification, (c)
your continued compliance with all current and applicable certification and
recertification requirements, and (d) your acceptance of the Guidelines, Microsoft
hereby grants you the right to use the Credential(s) for which you have obtained
Microsoft Certification as indicated in your current transcript (and not the legacy
transcript) located on the Microsoft Certification website in accordance with the
Guidelines.
Restrictions: You may not use, or reproduce, the Credential in any manner
whatsoever other than as described in this Agreement and the Guidelines, and in
any applicable artwork provided by Microsoft. You will use the Credentials in a
manner that does not derogate from the rights of Microsoft in the Credentials, and
will take no action that may interfere with or diminish the rights of Microsoft in the
Credentials or damage Microsoft’s reputation or goodwill in the Credentials. You
will not use the Credentials in a way that may cause confusion about whether any
products or services you offer are Microsoft products or services.
Ownership: All rights not expressly granted herein are reserved by Microsoft. You
acknowledge Microsoft’s sole ownership of the Credentials, and any associated
goodwill, and that Microsoft retains all right, title, and interest in and to the
Credentials. Microsoft is the sole beneficiary of the goodwill associated with your
use of the Credentials.
MC ID Number: Microsoft will assign a unique Microsoft Certification ID (MC ID)
number that will be used to identify you as a current Program member. This unique
MC ID number belongs to Microsoft, and you may only use the MC ID number
assigned to you if you are a current Microsoft Certification program member.
PRIVACY
Personal Information: You acknowledge and agree that Microsoft collects certain
information about you to run the Program and that the Microsoft Certifications you
have earned, and your Program activities, may be tracked and associated with
your personal information. See the Microsoft Online Privacy Statement for more
information on how we may collect and use your personal information.
Use of Personal Information: You agree that Microsoft may occasionally contact
you to invite you to participate in surveys and research.
Disclosure of Personal Information: You grant Microsoft the right to share your
name, contact information (including email address), employer’s company name,
the Credentials you have earned and your status in the Program with (i) other
Microsoft programs to verify your and your employer’s compliance with other
Microsoft program requirements, and (ii) with Microsoft Affiliates and with the third-
party exam delivery providers and testing centers that deliver Microsoft
Certification Exams in connection with your participation in the Program.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
Business Practices:
You agree that you will (i) refrain from conduct that could harm the reputation of
Microsoft; (ii) avoid deceptive, misleading, or unethical practices; (iii) not make any
representations, warranties, or guarantees to customers on behalf of Microsoft; (iv)
comply with all applicable U.S. export regulations and other applicable
governmental laws and regulations; and (v) comply with copyright and other
intellectual property and proprietary rights protections.
You may not advertise, promote, imply or suggest in any manner that you are
employed by, affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Microsoft except to state
that you have successfully completed all requirements for the particular
Credential(s) you have earned. During the term of this Agreement, you will insert
the following language in each contract under which you provide services involving
Microsoft technologies:
"Microsoft is not a party to this agreement and Microsoft will have no liability
whatsoever with respect to the services that are the subject of this contract. The
Microsoft Certification Credential indicates that I have successfully completed the
requirements for the corresponding Microsoft Certification Credential. The services
I provide are not endorsed or sponsored by Microsoft."
Some states and countries regulate the use of the term "engineer," and you should
comply as applicable with any such laws in the event you attained any Credential
related to Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Transcripts: You are responsible for reviewing your Microsoft Certification
transcript to ensure it accurately reflects the Credentials you currently hold. If you
believe your transcript is inaccurate, you have up to one (1) year from the date you
passed the last Exam necessary to earn or maintain the Credential in question to
submit a request to Microsoft to evaluate the fulfillment of any Credential you
believed you currently hold that does not appear on your transcript.
CHANGES
Microsoft reserves the right to (a) update and change the Agreement and
Guidelines, (b) change the Program or any aspect of it at any time, including the
right to retire Credentials, change certification requirements, and change Program
requirements and benefits, and (c) discontinue the Program. Microsoft will post
changes on the Microsoft Certification website. You are responsible for checking
Microsoft Certified Professional Websites regularly for changes. Changes are
effective on the date the changes are posted. Changes do not apply retroactively.
NO WARRANTIES
MICROSOFT DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOUR SATISFACTION WITH THE
PROGRAM OR YOUR RESULTS. MICROSOFT AND ITS AFFILIATES MAKE NO
WARRANTIES REGARDING THE PROGRAM, CREDENTIALS, AND HEREBY
DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE IMPLIED BY
LAW.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT
WILL MICROSOFT OR ITS AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT,
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL,
OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE
PROGRAM (WHETHER FOR PROGRAM BENEFITS, TERMINATION, OR
OTHERWISE), YOUR MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION, FAILURE TO ACHIEVE A
MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION, OR THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE
CREDENTIALS. THIS EXCLUSION WILL APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL
THEORY UPON WHICH ANY CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES IS BASED, EVEN IF
THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.
INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Microsoft and its Affiliates harmless from
and against any and all third-party claims, demands, costs, liabilities, judgments,
losses, expenses, and damages (“Claim”) (including attorneys' costs and fees)
arising out of, in connection with, or related to (a) your participation in the Program;
(b) your use of any Credential in a manner which is in any way inconsistent with
the terms of this Agreement; (c) the performance, promotion, sale, or distribution of
your services; or (d) the termination of this Agreement by Microsoft pursuant to the
terms in this Agreement. In the event Microsoft seeks indemnification from you
under this provision, Microsoft will promptly notify you in writing of the Claim(s)
brought against Microsoft for which it seeks indemnification and, at Microsoft’s
discretion, permit you, through counsel acceptable to Microsoft to answer and
defend such Claim. You may not settle any Claim on Microsoft’s behalf without first
obtaining Microsoft’s written permission, which will not be unreasonably withheld,
and you will not publicize the settlement without Microsoft’s prior written
permission. Microsoft reserves the right, at its option, to assume full control of the
defense of such Claim with legal counsel of its choice. If it so undertakes, any
settlement of such Claim requiring payment from you will be subject to your prior
written approval. You will reimburse Microsoft upon demand for any expenses
reasonably incurred by Microsoft in defending such a Claim, including, without
limitation, attorneys’ fees and costs, as well as any judgment on or settlement of
the Claim in respect to which the foregoing relates.
TERMINATION
Termination Without Cause: Either party may terminate this Agreement at any
time, without cause, on thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the other party.
Termination for Cause: Microsoft may immediately terminate this Agreement upon
written notice on any of the following events:
You fail to comply with any applicable Certification or recertification requirements,
You fail to comply with any of the terms of the Agreement or the Guidelines,
You misrepresent your Credential(s),
You engage in misappropriation or unauthorized disclosure of any trade secret or
confidential information of Microsoft,
You engage in activities prohibited by law,
A government agency, or court, finds that the services you provided concerning the
Microsoft technologies to which your Microsoft Certification relates are defective in
any way.
You misrepresent your certification status, association to Microsoft Partners, or any
other relationship with Microsoft. Depending on the severity of noncompliance, you
may also be permanently decertified and terminated from the Microsoft
Certification program. If this happens, you will also permanently lose your Microsoft
Certification credentials.
Automatic Termination: This Agreement will automatically terminate if you lose
your status in the Microsoft Certification program, or if Microsoft cancels the
Program.
Effects of Termination: In all events of termination of this Agreement, all rights
granted to you under the Program are immediately terminated. You will
immediately:
Cease all activity relating to the Program,
Stop identifying yourself as a participant in the Program,
Cease all use of any Credential, and Program benefit, and
Destroy any associated materials that you have received as part of the Program.
Survival: Sections 1 and all other definitions in this Agreement, 2.3, 4.3, 4.4, 8, 9,
10, 11.4, 11.5, and 12 will survive termination of this Agreement. You agree that
Microsoft and its Affiliates and subsidiaries will not be liable to you or any third
party for costs or damages of any sort resulting from (a) the termination of this
Agreement in accordance with its terms, and (b) your suspension from or
cancellation of the Program.
MISCELLANEOUS
Notices: Notices may be provided either by electronic or physical mail. All notices
to Microsoft in connection with this Agreement will be sent to the Microsoft
contracting entity identified in Section 12.4 below, to the attention of the Microsoft
Certification Program. All notices to you in connection with this Agreement will be
sent to you at the most recent email address provided by you. It is your
responsibility to keep your contact address (email) information with Microsoft
updated.
No exclusivity: Your participation in this Program is voluntary. Nothing in this
Agreement restricts you from supporting, promoting, distributing, or using non-
Microsoft technology.
Relationship: The parties are independent contractors. This Agreement does not
create an employer-employee relationship, partnership, joint venture, or agency
relationship, and does not create a franchise. You may not make any
representation, warranty, or promise on Microsoft’s behalf.
Microsoft Contracting Entity: The Microsoft contracting entity for this Agreement is
determined by the country or region where you are located. See details below:
The Microsoft entity for the following countries or regions is indicated below:
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana,
Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique,
Mexico, Montserrat, former Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay,
Peru, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon,
Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and
Caicos Islands, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Virgin Islands (British) and
Virgin Islands (U.S.):
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052 USA
The Microsoft entity for the following countries or regions is indicated below:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet
Island, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic,
Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faeroe Islands, Finland,
France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland,
Guadeloupe, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Caledonia,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of
Cape Verde, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Guinea, Republic of
Senegal, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwandese Republic, Saint
Helena, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican City
State, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia and Zimbabwe:
Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited
The Atrium, Block B, Carmenhall Road
Sandyford Industrial Estate
Dublin, 18, Ireland
The Microsoft entity for the following countries or regions is indicated below:
Australia and its external territories, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam,
Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Hong
Kong, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao,
Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, New
Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines;
Pitcairn, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste,
Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Vanuatu and Vietnam:
Microsoft Regional Sales Corporation
438B Alexandra Road #04-09/12
Block B, Alexandra Technopark
Singapore 119968
The Microsoft entity for Japan is:
Microsoft Japan Company, Limited
Shinagawa Grand Central Tower
2-16-3, 2 Konan, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 108-0075
Japan
The Microsoft entity for Taiwan is:
Microsoft Taiwan Corporation
8F, No 7, Sungren Rd.
Shinyi Chiu, Taipei
Taiwan 110
The Microsoft entity for the People’s Republic of China is:
Microsoft (China) Company Limited6F Sigma Center
No. 49 Zhichun Road Haidian District
Beijing 100080, P.R.C
The Microsoft entity for the Republic of Korea is:
Microsoft Korea, Inc.
5th Floor, West Wing
POSCO Center
892 Daechi-Dong Gangnam-Gu
Seoul, 135-777, Korea
Applicable law. Applicable law, jurisdiction and venue for this Agreement are
identified below. This choice of jurisdiction and venue does not prevent either party
from seeking injunctive relief for a violation of intellectual property rights,
confidentiality obligations or enforcement of recognition of any award or order.
Injunctive relief or enforcement of recognition may be sought in any appropriate
jurisdiction.
Generally: Except as provided in Section 12.5(b), the laws of the State of
Washington govern this Agreement. If federal jurisdiction exists, the parties'
consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the federal courts in King County,
Washington. If not, the parties’ consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the
Superior Court of King County, Washington.
Other terms: If your principal place of business is in one of the countries or regions
listed below, the corresponding provision applies and supersedes Section 12.5(a)
to the extent that it is inconsistent:
If your principal place of business is in Australia and its external territories,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Fiji, French
Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Kiribati,
Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall
Islands, Mayotte, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana
Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines; Pitcairn, Samoa, Singapore,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis
and Futuna Islands, Vanuatu and Vietnam, this Agreement is construed and
controlled by the laws of Singapore.
If your principal place of business is in Australia or its external territories, Brunei,
Malaysia, New Zealand, or Singapore, you consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of the Singapore courts.
If your principal place of business is in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cook
Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Hong Kong SAR,
India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao SAR,
Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mayotte, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Northern
Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines; Pitcairn, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis
and Futuna Islands, Vanuatu and Vietnam, any dispute related to this Agreement,
including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, will be
referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in Singapore according to the
Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”). The
SIAC Arbitration Rules are incorporated by this reference into the Agreement. The
Tribunal will consist of one arbitrator appointed by the Chairman of SIAC. The
language of the arbitration will be English. The arbitrator’s decision will be final,
binding and incontestable and may be used as a basis for judgment thereon in
Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand or Vietnam (as
appropriate), or elsewhere.
If your principal place of business is in Japan, the following applies: The
Agreement will be construed and controlled by the laws of Japan. You consent to
exclusive original jurisdiction and venue in the Tokyo District Court. The prevailing
party in any action related to this Agreement may recover its reasonable attorneys'
fees, costs, and other expenses.
If your principal place of business is in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra,
Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe,
Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Faeroe Islands, Finland, France,
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland,
Guadeloupe, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan,
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia,
Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Caledonia,
Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of
Cape Verde, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Guinea, Republic of
Senegal, Reunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwandese Republic, Saint
Helena, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan,
Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Vatican City
State, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the following applies:
The Agreement is governed by and construed according to the laws of Ireland. You
consent to the jurisdiction of and venue in the Irish courts in all disputes relating to
this Agreement.
If your principal place of business is in the People’s Republic of China, the
following applies. For purpose of this Agreement, the People’s Republic of China
does not include Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, or Taiwan:
The Agreement will be construed and controlled by the laws of the People’s
Republic of China. You consent to submit any dispute relating to the Agreement
and any addendum to binding arbitration. The arbitration will be at the China
International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission in Beijing (“CIETAC”)
according to its then current rules.
If your principal place of business is in Colombia or Uruguay, the following applies:
All disputes, claims, or proceedings between the parties relating to the validity,
construction or performance of this Agreement will be settled by arbitration. The
arbitration will be according to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules as presently in
force. The appointing authority will be the International Chamber of Commerce
(“ICC”) acting according to the rules adopted by the ICC for this purpose. The
place of arbitration will be Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. There will only be one
arbitrator. The award will be in law and not in equity and will be final and binding on
the parties. The parties hereto irrevocably agree to submit all matters and disputes
arising in connection with this Agreement to arbitration in Seattle, Washington,
U.S.A.
If your principal place of business is in Republic of Korea, the following applies:
The Agreement will be construed and controlled by the laws of Republic of Korea.
You consent to the exclusive original jurisdiction and venue in the Seoul Central
District Court. The prevailing party in any action to enforce a right or remedy under
this Agreement or to interpret a provision of this Agreement will be entitled to
recover its reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and other expenses.
If your principal place of business is in Taiwan, the following applies:
The terms of this Agreement will be governed by and construed according to the
laws of Taiwan. The parties hereby designate the Taipei District Court as the court
of first instance having jurisdiction over any disputes arising out of or in connection
with this Agreement.
Attorneys’ fees: If either party employs attorneys to enforce any rights arising out of
or relating to this Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover its
reasonable attorney’s fees, costs, and other expenses, including the costs and
fees incurred on appeal or in a bankruptcy or similar action.
Severability: If any court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of
this Agreement is illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will
remain in full force and effect.
No Waiver: Any delay or failure by Microsoft to exercise a right or remedy will not
result in a waiver of that, or any other, right or remedy.
Assignment: You will not assign, transfer, or sublicense this Agreement, or any
right granted under this Agreement, in any manner and any attempted assignment,
transfer, or sublicense, by operation of law or otherwise, will be null and void.
Updated: December 2013
How to Request College Credit for Certain Certifications and Professional
Programs
You may be eligible to receive college credit through Excelsior College, a
regionally accredited institution. The National College Credit Recommendation
Service (NCCRS) has establish credit recommendations for the following Microsoft
Certification exams:
Microsoft Certification Exams
AZ-100: Microsoft Azure Infrastructure and Deployment
AZ-101: Microsoft Azure Integration and Security
AZ-103: Microsoft Azure Administrator
AZ-200: Microsoft Azure Developer Core Solutions
AZ-201: Microsoft Azure Developer Advanced Solutions
AZ-203: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
AZ-300: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies
AZ-301: Microsoft Azure Architect Design
AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
Process for Requesting Credit
To request credit, do the following:
Step 1: Complete the application and email it to Excelsior with the verification of
your credential (options are provided below). Do NOT send the application or email
to Microsoft.
Verification of Certification Option 1 - Share a Badge:
Step 2: Sign in on your Microsoft Certification Dashboard
Step 3: Go to Badge section of dashboard and follow the steps to claim your badge
(if you haven’t already done so)
Step 4: Follow the steps to share your badge via email
with [email protected]
For further information see: Microsoft Exam and Certification Badges
Verification of Certification Option 2 – Share a Transcript:
Step 2: Sign in on your Microsoft Certification Dashboard
Step 3: Go to Transcript section and select ‘Share or download’
Step 4: Select ‘Share’ Option; Enter a personal access code and turn on ‘Include
Address Details’; Select ‘Share’
Step 5: Copy and paste the following information provided on the site:
Transcript ID
Access Code
Transcript Viewing Page:
Step 6: Paste the information in an email and send to [email protected]
See “Course Credit” FAQ section on this page if you have questions about this
process for Microsoft Certifications.
For more information, visit: NCCRS credit for Microsoft certifications.
Download: Transcript Service Application
Challenging a Microsoft Certification exam item
Microsoft certification exams are designed to ensure that candidates who pass
exams and earn our certifications have demonstrated the required proficiency
level(s) across the skill domain(s). Each Microsoft Certification exam question is
carefully reviewed by a panel of technical and job-function experts for technical
accuracy, clarity, and relevance. If you believe that a question on a Microsoft
Certification exam is inaccurate, you may request an evaluation of the question via
the exam item challenge process, designed to help identify and correct problematic
questions. However, even if a question is flawed in some way we cannot assume
that you would have answered it correctly if it had not been, therefore most exams
are not rescored. In these cases, we provide learners with the opportunity to retake
the exam free of charge.
Criteria for accepting an Exam Item Challenge:
Exam must have been taken within the last 30 calendar days (not business days).
Requests for score reviews.
Challenge on a specific item on the exam.
Exam Item Challenges will not be accepted for the following criteria:
Challenges to the entire exam.
Challenges based on study materials (practice tests, study guides, training
materials, etc.)
Challenges to the appropriateness of a question.
Submission is more than 30 calendar days (not business days) after the exam was
taken.
Challenges based on technical issues experienced at a testing center.
Challenges that are not submitted via this form.
Challenges to the scoring methodologies (e.g., The bar graph does not represent
my actual score.)
Challenges to the exam format (standard, sort, adaptive).
Challenges to beta exams. If you have additional feedback about a Beta exam that
you were unable to provide during the comment period, please send your feedback
to [email protected].
Exam item challenge process:
Review our criteria for accepting and not accepting an exam item challenge.
Complete and submit the exam item challenge form.
The Microsoft Certification team will review your submission for completeness.
a. If incomplete, you will be asked to provide more information.
b. If complete, the Microsoft Certification team will review. A review takes
approximately two weeks.
Once the review is complete your will be notified of the outcome.
Thank you for your interest to help make Microsoft Certification exams as valid,
and relevant, at possible.
Special Accommodations when Taking Exams
For exams delivered through Pearson VUE:
If you need additional time because the exam is not available in your native
language, you may request this by submitting the English as a Second Language
form. Follow the instructions on the form.
If you require special equipment or any other accommodation when you take an
exam, you may request an accommodation through Pearson VUE using their
“Reasonable Adjustments Request System” https://rs.hgportal.net/amer/candidate.
The Reasonable Adjustments Request System is a secure, on-line system for
requesting accommodations and submitting supporting documentation.
If you are a first-time user to the request system, you will need to create a
username and password. To create a username, click on the “Register” link at the
log-in screen. Please note that the system requires that you have an active email
account.
Pearson VUE uses this secure system because you will be required to upload
supporting documentation. If you haven’t already done so, give your evaluator
(doctor, psychologist) a copy of the Guidelines for Evaluators for your disability.
Your evaluator should make sure that the documentation he/she provides meets
our guidelines. In most cases, your evaluator will be a psychologist or doctor who
administered a series of psychological, educational or medical tests, and provided
you with a copy of a diagnostic report or a detailed letter.
Please allow 10 business days for Pearson VUE to review your materials. Please
plan your request accordingly.
After your request has been reviewed, you will receive an email that a
determination has been made. The determination letter will appear in the “My
Documents” section in the “Reasonable Adjustments Request System.” If
approved, the determination letter will provide instructions for scheduling your
accommodated exam.
If you are not satisfied with the test accommodations decision, you may appeal the
decision by clicking on the “Request an Appeal” button in the same section as the
determination letter appears in the “Reasonable Adjustments Request System.”
Please complete and upload the appeals form that appears after clicking the
button. Disability experts review all appeal requests.
For exams delivered through Certiport:
If you need additional time because the exam is not available in your native
language, require special equipment, or would like to request any other
accommodation when you take an exam, you may request an accommodation
through Certiport following the process described here.
Cancellation and Reschedule Policy:
Microsoft will be temporarily waiving the reschedule and cancellation fee as long as
you cancel your exams within 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment.
There is no charge if you reschedule or cancel an exam appointment at least 6
business days prior to your appointment.
If you cancel or reschedule your exam within 5 business days of your registered
exam time, a fee will be applied.
If you fail to show up for your exam appointment or you don’t reschedule or cancel
your appointment at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment, you forfeit
your entire exam fee. Business days are Monday-Friday, not including global
holidays.
Rescheduling or cancelling your scheduled exam appointment can be done
through the Certification Dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about Microsoft Certification exams.
Exam basics
Exam specifics
Scoring and results
Exam security and integrity policies
Performance-based Testing
Role-Based Certifications
Academic pricing on exams
Accommodation Requests
Exam basics
How many questions will there be on the exam?
The number of questions on an exam is subject to change as we update it over
time to keep current changes in the technology and job role. Most Microsoft
Certification exams contain between 40-60 questions; however, the number can
vary depending on the exam.
Which testing formats and question types will be used in the exam I'm taking?
Because Microsoft continually introduces innovative testing technologies and
question types, we do not provide for the specific item types that will appear on a
given exam. To get a feel for what you might see on an exam, we encourage you
to review some possible exam formats and question types.
How much time will I have to complete the exam?
Exam time varies based on the type of exam you take.
TABLE 1
Exam time* Seat time*

Associate and expert job role exams 180 minutes 210 minutes

Job role fundamentals exams 60 minutes 90 minutes

Associate and expert job role exams that contain labs 180 minutes 210 minutes

MTA exams delivered through academic channels 45 minutes 50 minutes

MTA exams delivered through commercial channels 45 minutes 80 minutes

Dynamics exams with (with MB#-nnn numbering) 120 minutes 150 minutes

All other 70-nnn exams 150 minutes 180 minutes

MCSA exams 120 minutes 150 minutes

MCSE exams 150 minutes 180 minutes

*Note Exam time refers to the amount of time that you have to complete the exam.
Seat time refers to the amount of time that you should allocate for the exam. It
includes the time needed to review the instructions, read and accept the NDA,
complete the exam questions, and provide comments after completing it (if you
choose to do so).
How does Microsoft decide how many questions on a particular subject to include
on the exam?
The skills measured on an exam are identified by subject-matter experts external
to Microsoft (in other words, they are not Microsoft employees). This list of skills,
called the “objective domain,” is the basis for exam development. The number of
questions that measure each skill area is determined through the blueprinting
process; sections of the exam measuring critical and/or more frequently performed
skills will contain more questions than those that assess less important or less
frequently performed skills.
Will the exam cover material that is not covered in the Microsoft training or
Microsoft Press book I am using to prepare for the exam?
All learning materials related to a given job role are built from the same job task
analysis. As a result, the learning content should be closely aligned to the exams.
Keep in mind, however, that the learning materials are developed independently of
exam content because the exams are intended to assess competence in the job
role, not the effectiveness of training materials or learning. Because the exams are
designed to assess your ability to apply skills beyond what was explicitly covered in
the learning, the skills will be assessed at a higher level than was taught in the
training. For some candidates, this can give the impression that the skill was not
taught in the associated learning; however, all skills assessed on the exam are
included in our learning options.
How should I prepare for an exam?
The best way to prepare for an exam is to practice the skills listed on the Exam
Details page. Browse all exams to find the exam that interests you. Hands-on
experience with the technology is required to successfully pass Microsoft
Certification exams. The associated microlearning, online courses, and instructor-
led courses are intended to train the skills needed to be successful in the job role,
a subset of which will be assessed on the exam. However, because the exam
focuses on application of those skills beyond what was taught in these courses,
experience or practice in addition to training is strongly recommended prior to
taking the exam. To start preparing, review the “Skills measured” section of the
Exam Details page and evaluate your skills against what is being assessed on the
exam. The best way to do this is to actually perform the tasks listed and note any
challenges that you encountered. Practice until you no longer experience those
challenges.
Microsoft Certified Trainers work with many candidates as they prepare for
certifications. They often recommend the following steps to help candidates focus
their studies:
Browse all exams to find the exam that interests you.
Print the Skills Measured section of the page.
Review the entire list. Think about each topic. If you are very knowledgeable on a
specific topic, highlight the topic or cross it out.
Look at what is left. Now, start some targeted research. For each topic that you did
not highlight, search the web for specific articles.
Use authoritative sources such as docs.microsoft.com, msdn.microsoft.com,
technet.microsoft.com, and the Office 365 support center
You might also want to ask others how they perform those tasks, read white
papers, MSDN, or TechNet to get additional information about the tasks that are
included on the exam, and/or explore the resources provided in the “Preparation
materials” section on the Exam Details page which will link to any available online
courses, microlearning, options and a portal where you can find instructor-led
training options in your area.
Additionally, Microsoft Official Practice Tests are available for some of our
certification exams. These may provide more information about your specific
strengths and weaknesses. However, passing a practice test is not a guarantee
that you will pass the certification exam.
If you have taken the exam and not passed, prioritize the skills that you should
practice by focusing on the content areas where your exam performance was the
weakest and the content areas that have the highest percentage of questions.
How do I register for a Microsoft Certification exam?
Visit the exam registration page to find complete instructions.
Am I required to take an exam in English?
Microsoft Certification exams are available in several languages. However,
candidates who must take the exam in English rather than in their native language
can request an accommodation for additional time. Approval for extra time is
provided on a case-by-case basis and needs to be requested in advance of the
exam. This should be requested through the accommodations process.
What disability accommodations are available?
Microsoft is dedicated to ensuring our exams are accessible to everyone, including
people with disabilities. For a list of available accommodations, please visit
the accommodations section.
How much do exams cost?
Expert and Associate exams typically cost US$165 but are priced according to
currency values in specific countries and regions. Exam prices are subject to
change. In some countries and regions, additional taxes may apply.
For exact pricing for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS), contact Certiport.
For all other exams, browse all exams to find the exam page, which includes the
price of the exam.
How can I provide feedback about study materials or training for the exam?
If you have feedback about an instructor-led Microsoft training course, provide it
directly to the instructor. If you have feedback about a Microsoft online course,
complete the feedback form that appears when you finish the course. Microsoft
does not review study materials developed by third parties and is not responsible
for their content. If you have questions or comments about exam preparation
materials developed by third parties, please contact the publishers directly.
How can I submit feedback about an exam question or exam experience?
If you have a concern about the technical accuracy of a particular item, please
follow the Exam Item Challenge process.
To report a concern about a testing center or technical difficulties experienced
during your exam, please contact customer service at the appropriate exam
delivery provider.
To offer other types of feedback, please contact Certification Support.
To report a security concern, please contact [email protected].
Exam specifics
What types of questions appear on Microsoft Certification exams?
Because Microsoft continually introduces innovative testing technologies and
question types, we do not provide for the specific item types that will appear on a
given exam. To get a feel for what you might see on an exam, we encourage you
to review some possible exam formats and question types.
Why is the case study exam format used?
The case study exam format uses complex scenarios that more accurately
simulate what professionals do on the job. Scenario-based questions included in
the case studies are designed to test your ability to identify the critical information
needed to solve a problem and then analyze and synthesize it to make decisions.
You can refer to scenario details as often as you’d like while you are working on
questions in a case study.
After I complete a case study, will I be able to review the questions?
You may review the questions in a case study until you move to the next case or
section of the exam. Once you leave a case study, however, you will not be able to
review the questions associated with that case. When you complete a case study
and its associated questions, a review screen will appear. This screen lets you
review your answers and make changes before you move to the next case study.
Case studies are not timed separately from the rest of the exam. The number of
case studies in an exam is noted on the exam introduction screen. Manage your
exam time accordingly so that you can complete all case studies and all other
sections of your exam.
What is the process for determining if an exam has been updated when a new
feature or function is added or when something has changed in the associated
technology?
We review our cloud-based exams every two months. Any changes that affect the
objective domain and the existing questions are incorporated into the exam.
Specifically, technically inaccurate questions are removed from the exam; some
items are modified, and new items may be created to assess new, but related,
skills.
Microsoft reserves the right to update content for any reason at any time to
maintain the validity and relevance of our certifications. This includes, but is not
limited to, incorporating functionality and features related to technology changes,
changing skills needed for success within a job role, etc.
NOTE: Unless otherwise noted on the skills measured or in the exam description,
exams do not cover preview features. In most cases, features will only be added to
exams when they are GA (general availability).
How will I know if exam has been updated when a new feature or function is added
or when something has changed in the associated technology?
We update the exam details page to notify candidates if/when this occurs. We also
include information about such updates in our newsletters, blogs, and through
other appropriate communication channels, and we encourage you to sign up for
such communications if you would like to know about these types of changes to the
exam content.
Because our primary communication with candidates about exam content is
through the exam details page, we will update it as soon as we know that exam
content will be updated for any reason; we strongly recommend that you review the
exam details regularly as you prepare to take an exam.
If you are preparing for cloud-based exam, we strongly recommend that you
regularly check the Exam Details page because we review these exams every two
months and updates can happen as frequently as that.
Microsoft reserves the right to update content for any reason at any time to
maintain the validity and relevance of our certifications. This includes, but is not
limited to, incorporating functionality and features related to technology changes,
changing skills needed for success within a job role, etc.
NOTE: Unless otherwise noted on the skills measured or in the exam description,
exams do not cover preview features. In most cases, features will only be added to
exams when they are GA (general availability).
Will the training kits, books, courseware, and other exam preparation materials be
updated when the exam changes?
Microsoft makes every attempt possible to keep the training and exam aligned
when changes occur; however, that is not always possible. Keep in mind that
Microsoft exams are not intended as post-tests of any preparation or training
product created by Microsoft or any third-party provider. Our certifications are
designed to measure experience-based skills without bias regarding the way
candidates obtain these skills.
The best way to prepare for an exam is to practice the skills listed in the “Skills
measured” section of the exam details page. Hands-on experience with the
technology is required to successfully pass Microsoft Certification exams.
Microsoft does not review study materials developed by third parties and is not
responsible for their content or for ensuring that they are updated to reflect product
updates. If you have questions or comments about exam preparation materials
developed by third parties, please contact the publishers directly.
Why did an exam include material that was not covered in the Microsoft training or
Microsoft Press book?
All learning materials related to a given job role are built from the same job task
analysis. As a result, the learning content should be closely aligned to the exams.
Keep in mind, however, that the learning materials are developed independently of
exam content because the exams are intended to assess competence in the job
role, not the effectiveness of training materials or learning. Because the exams are
designed to assess your ability to apply skills beyond what was explicitly covered in
the learning, the skills will be assessed at a higher level than was taught in the
training. For some candidates, this can give the impression that the skill was not
taught in the associated learning; however, all skills assessed on the exam are
included in our learning options.
Microsoft works hard to ensure that some form of training material exists for all
skills that will be measured on an exam. A list of these resources can be found on
the exam details page.
What is a short answer question?
In the short answer question type, you solve a situation by writing several lines of
code in the available text-entry area. You can choose from key word options which
are provided for you to use in the code you write. Note that this is a general list and
not specific to the commands required to solve the problem presented in the
question. When you're done entering your code, you can check your syntax. The
syntax checker validates your code entry for syntax errors but does not validate
that your entry is correct.
How are the short answer questions scored?
We use exact string matches. Although we try to include all variations of formatting
and code usage that could be considered correct, it’s possible that some are not
included. This is why we include several ways to check your syntax.
We provide a syntax checker that you can use to validate the syntax of your code
(e.g., SQL commands) and values (e.g., table names and variable names) used in
your solution. Any syntax errors appear in the window next to the Check
Syntax button. You may change your code and re-validate the syntax as many
times as you want. Note that the syntax checker does not validate whether you
have answered the question correctly; it simply validates the accuracy of your
syntax.
We include a list of common command key words so that you can easily check
your spelling. This is a general list provided for reference and is not limited to
commands used in the question.
We designed the questions to minimize the amount of syntax that you must
duplicate from the syntax already provided in the questions themselves
How many points are short answer questions worth?
Most of the short answer questions are worth one point. If the question is worth
more than one point, we indicate the number of points that it is worth in the
question itself.
Am I penalized for answering incorrectly?
No, you are not penalized for answering incorrectly. You simply don’t earn some or
all of the possible points. For single-point items, you need to answer completely
and correctly to be awarded the point. For multi-point items, you earn points for the
parts of your response that are correct, and you don’t earn points for the parts of
your response that are incorrect. We don’t deduct points from your score for
incorrect answers.
Am I able to review all of my answers before leaving a section or completing the
exam?
Before leaving a section or completing the exam, you can review your answers to
most questions. However, there is a series of yes/no questions that describe a
problem and a possible solution and then ask whether the solution solves the
problem. Given the nature of these questions, you are not able to review your
answers. In addition, after you move to the next question in this set, you are not
able to change your answer. These questions are preceded by an overview screen
that provides this information, and each question includes a reminder that you
cannot return to the question or change your answer after leaving it.
Because you are not penalized for wrong answers and exams contain some items
you cannot review or change your answer to, a good best practice is to answer
every question before moving to the next one. Mark questions for review to return
to them if you can.
Can I use the same exam to satisfy the core requirement for a MCSA and as an
elective for the associated MCSE or MCSD?
No. The same exam cannot be used to satisfy the requirements for both an MCSA
and an elective in the same MCSE or MCSD path.
Scoring and results
How and when will I get my exam results?
You will receive notification of your pass or fail status within a few minutes of
completing your exam. In addition, you will receive a printed report that provides
your exam score and feedback on your performance on the skill areas measured.
The exam delivery provider will forward your score to Microsoft within five business
days.
Beta exam results: Results for beta exams should be visible on your Microsoft
transcript (if you’ve received a passing score) and on the exam delivery provider’s
site within two weeks after the live exam is published.
If you pass the beta exam, you earn credit for that exam and any resulting
certification. You do not need to retake the exam in its live version if you pass the
beta version.
Who should I contact if I have questions concerning beta exam results?
If you do not see your score report online or receive your score report within two
weeks after the date when the final exam is published, contact the exam delivery
provider for more information on when your results will be processed. If you have
questions about your transcript, please contact Certification Support.
Who should I contact if I do not receive my 25% voucher for taking a beta exam?
These vouchers are provided by the exam delivery provider and are sent to the
email address that you used when you registered for the exam. They are sent
approximately about 4 weeks after the exam goes live. If you do not receive your
25% discount voucher within 4 weeks of the exam live date, please contact the
exam delivery provider’s customer service support team.
What does the score report look like?
The score report provides a numeric score for overall exam performance, pass/fail
status, a bar chart showing performance on each skill area assessed on the exam,
and details on how to interpret your results and next steps. Using this information,
candidates can determine areas of strength and weakness.
What do the bars on the score report mean?
The bar chart shows your performance on each section, or skill area, assessed on
the exam. On the left of the graph, each section of the exam is listed along with the
percentage of the exam that was devoted to it. The lengths of the bars provide
information regarding your section-level performance and map to the percentage of
items that you answered correctly in that content area. Bars that are further to the
left reflect weaker performance, and bars that are further to the right reflect
stronger performance.
Because each section may contain a different number of questions, as represented
by the percentages provided after the section name, the length of the bars cannot
be used to calculate the number of questions answered correctly in that section or
on the exam, nor can the bars be combined to determine the percent of questions
that you answered correctly on the exam. This information is intended to help you
understand areas of strength and weakness in the skill domain measured by the
exam and to prioritize those skills that need improvement.
Can I find out whether I answered a specific question correctly or whether how I
answered a specific question affected my pass/fail status?
No. Microsoft Certification exams are designed to measure candidates’ skills and
abilities related to a given job role, not their ability to study or memorize specific
questions that were on the exam. Qualified candidates will be able to pass this
exam regardless of the questions asked. As a result, to protect the integrity of the
certification process, Microsoft does not share information about the specific
questions that were missed.
Does the score report show a numerical score for each section?
The score reports do not show a numerical score for each section. The score
reports provide an overall numerical score to reflect pass/fail status only. As an
alternative to providing a numerical score for each section, we provide score bars
to show subject areas of strength and weakness.
Can I see a lower level of detail on my performance on transition or upgrade
exams?
No, we do not provide a lower level of detail on your performance on transition or
upgrade exams. We don't ask enough questions at the objective level to provide a
reliable estimate of your ability for each of those skills. Providing this level of
information would be a disservice to you because the result may indicate that you
should work on skills that don't need improvement, or worse, suggest skills are
strengths when they are not.
The bars on the score report show that I have scored more than 70 percent. Why
didn’t I pass the exam?
Each section of the exam contains a different number of questions; therefore,
combining the results across individual exam sections will not reflect your final
exam result. In other words, there is no one-to-one relationship between the length
of the bars and your pass/fail status.
Further, a common misperception is that you must answer 70 percent of the
questions correctly to pass the exam because the passing score is 700; however,
this is a scaled score. The actual percentage of questions that you must answer
correctly varies from exam to exam and may be more or less than 70 percent,
depending on the input provided by the subject-matter experts who helped us set
the cut score during exam development and ongoing sustainment and the difficulty
of the questions delivered when you take exam.
How are questions scored? How many points is each question worth? Will I be
penalized for answering a question incorrectly?
Here is some general information about exam scoring:
Most questions are worth one point, regardless of what you must do to answer the
question. If a question is worth more than one point, this information will be stated
in the question.
There is no penalty for guessing. If you choose an incorrect answer, you simply do
not earn the point(s) for that item. No points are deducted for incorrect answers.
Some questions on the exam may not be included in the calculation of your score.
To gather data to update and improve the quality of each exam, we present new
content to candidates without counting the results toward their score. However, as
soon as we have the necessary data to evaluate the quality of the question, items
that meet Microsoft’s psychometric standards will be scored. Microsoft will not
inform candidates which questions are unscored; as a result, you should answer
every question as if it will be scored.
Note that this scoring system is subject to change as Microsoft continues to
introduce new and innovative question types. Microsoft will indicate if a question is
scored differently in the text of the question.
How are exam scores calculated?
After you complete your exam, the points you earned on each question are
summed and then compared with the cut score to determine whether the result is
pass or fail.
What score do I need to pass an exam?
Technical exams: All technical exams are scaled such that the passing score is
700. Any score of 700 or greater is a "pass." Any score below 700 is a "fail." The
actual number of items you need to answer correctly to pass is determined by a
group of subject matter experts in conjunction with the Microsoft psychometrician
during the development and sustainment of the exam. The passing score is based
on the knowledge and skills needed to demonstrate competence in the skill domain
and the difficulty of the questions that are delivered to a candidate.
Microsoft Office exams: All Microsoft Office exam scores are reported on a scale of
1 to 1,000. The passing score varies from exam to exam and is provided on the
score report. The actual cut score percentage is determined by a group of subject
matter experts using a process like that used to set the cut score for Microsoft’s
technical exams.
Why does Microsoft report scaled scores?
Microsoft reports scaled scores so that candidates who have to retake a
certification exam can determine if their performance is improving. The actual cut
score (the number of items you need to answer correctly) is based on input from a
group of subject-matter experts who review the difficulty of the questions in relation
to the expected skills of the target audience. As a result, the number of items that
you have to answer correctly varies depending on the difficulty of the questions
delivered when you take the exam; this ensures that regardless of the difficulty of
items you see, the evaluation of skills is fair—if you see a more difficult set of
questions during one administration, the number of correct answers needed to
pass is less than if you see an easier set of questions. As a result, providing a
simple percent correct wouldn't provide useful information to someone who had to
take the exam multiple times and saw different combinations of questions with
different levels of difficulty.
Here’s an example of why scaled scores are a better indicator of how your
performance is improving (or not) from one exam attempt to another. Imagine that
the first time you take an exam, you see a set of easy items; unfortunately, you fail
with a scaled score of 600, which is equivalent to a score of 65% correct. The next
time you take the exam, you see a set of more difficult items. This time you pass
the exam with a scaled score of 750, which is equivalent to answering 50% of the
questions correctly. If we provided the percent you answered correctly, you would
think your performance had gotten worse, not better, but it is, in fact, better
because you answered a higher percentage of more difficult questions correctly
than you did the first time.
Scaled scores simplify your ability to evaluate improvements in your performance
over time. This is a standard practice across the certification and licensure
industry.
What does my score mean?
If you pass an exam, it simply means that you have demonstrated competence in
the skill domain. In addition, scores of candidates who pass cannot be compared to
determine if one candidate is more competent than another; higher passing scores
do not mean higher levels of competence. The same is true of failing scores; lower
failing scores do not mean lower levels of competence. If you pass the exam, you
have demonstrated competence regardless of your score; if you fail, you have not
demonstrated competence.
Microsoft exams are designed so that the total test score can be used to make a
pass/fail decision (in other words, to show whether the candidate has
demonstrated competence in the skill domain measured by the exam). Our exams
are not designed with the intent to provide diagnostic feedback about your skills,
and steps are not taken during the exam development process to support that level
of reporting.
If I receive the same score each time I retake the same exam, does this imply an
error in the results computation?
No. Receiving the same score on multiple attempts does not indicate that the
program computing the results is in error. It is not uncommon for candidates to
obtain similar or identical scores on multiple attempts of an exam. This consistent
result demonstrates the reliability of the exam in evaluating skills in this content
domain. If this happens on multiple attempts, you may want to reconsider how
you’re preparing for the exam and seek other opportunities to learn and practice
the skills measured by the exam.
I scored zero in one of the sections. How is this possible?
The number of questions that measure each skill area is determined through the
blueprinting process; sections of the exam measuring critical and/or more
frequently performed skills will contain more questions than those that assess less
important or less frequently performed skills. Given that the number of questions
varies based on the criticality of skills measured, it is entirely possible for a
candidate to answer all questions in a section with fewer questions incorrectly.
I experienced significant delays between some of the questions. Was my response
recorded? Was it scored correctly?
A delay between questions does not impact the responses, scoring, or the time
remaining to finish the exam. You should expect to experience a delay of up to a
minute while your next question loads. The exam delivery provider’s software is
designed to accommodate this. Your answers are recorded, and the exam will be
scored correctly regardless of delays between questions.
Do the responses that I provide to the survey at the beginning of the exam impact
the questions that I see during the exam or how my exam is scored?
No. The survey that you take at the beginning of the exam has no impact on the
exam content or scoring. This is purely an evaluation tool that our exam
psychometricians use to ensure the quality, validity, and rigor of the exam over its
lifecycle.
I passed my first Microsoft Certification exam. Now what do I do?
Congratulations! To explore next steps and available benefits, see your benefits
and exams dashboard. Sign in using the same Microsoft account you used to
register for your exam. Please note that Certiport certification badges currently do
not appear on the dashboard.
If I do not pass, what can I do?
Prioritize the skills that you should practice by focusing on the content areas where
your exam performance was the weakest and in the content areas that have the
highest percentage of questions. Additionally, you may want to review the
resources provided on the exam details page, and our Study Groups, which can be
found at the bottom of the individual exam details page.
When you are ready to retake the exam, schedule an appointment as you normally
would. Note that you must pay for each exam you retake and follow Microsoft’s
retake policy.
Where can I find additional information about my areas of weakness?
Although Microsoft Certification exams provide feedback about the areas where
examinees need to develop their skills further, the exams are not designed to
provide detailed or diagnostic feedback. We encourage you to review the “Skills
measured” section of the exam details page, and honestly evaluate your skills
against what is being assessed on the exam. The best way to do this is to actually
perform the tasks listed; note any challenges that you encountered. Practice until
you no longer experience those challenges. You may also want to ask others how
they perform those tasks. Do they perform the task differently? Understand why
they do. Read white papers, visit docs, etc. to get additional information about the
tasks that are included on the exam. Explore the resources provided in the
“Preparation options” on the exam details page and Study Groups, which can be
found at the bottom of the individual exam details page.
Finally, Microsoft Official Practice Tests are available for some of our certification
exams. These may provide more information about your specific strengths and
weaknesses. However, passing a practice test is not a guarantee that you will pass
the certification exam.
What is the exam retake policy?
Please refer to the Security and retake policies to view the exam retake policy.
Can I request a re-evaluation of my score?
A re-evaluation of your score is unlikely to change your pass/fail status. Because
Microsoft must ensure that candidates who pass exams and earn our certifications
have demonstrated the required proficiency level(s) across the skill domain(s), the
final result of an exam is rarely changed based on a re-evaluation of your exam
results. Even if a question is flawed in some way, we cannot assume that you
would have answered it correctly if it had not been. In these cases, we provide
candidates with the opportunity to retake the exam free of charge. If you have a
concern about the technical accuracy of a particular item, please submit an online
request. An Item Challenge form will be sent to you.
How can I challenge an exam question?
If you believe a question on a Microsoft Certification exam is inaccurate, you can
request an evaluation of that question using the Exam Item Challenge
process within 30 calendar days of taking the exam. The evaluation process helps
us identify and correct problematic questions and to update exams accordingly.
Will a Microsoft employee review and evaluate the exam question I am
challenging?
A Microsoft employee will conduct an initial evaluation. If additional evaluation is
needed, an independent subject-matter expert (technical and job-function expert)
will also review and evaluate the challenge.
What if I don't agree with the evaluator's decision? Can I appeal it?
No. Microsoft applies a rigorous exam development process to ensure the
technical accuracy, clarity, relevance, and objectivity of our exams. Furthermore,
given the credentials of the independent subject-matter experts and the respect
they garner from the IT community, we consider their evaluation final.
Can I learn about the rationale for the decision?
To help protect exam security, we keep the rationale for challenge decisions
confidential although we will provide a general overview of the result. The
evaluation remains a part of Microsoft records until the exam is retired. All
feedback is compiled and carefully considered as Microsoft makes decisions on
how to improve the overall quality of the exam.
If I do not pass an exam, can I have a refund?
No. Microsoft does not offer refunds for exams you do not pass or exam
appointments you miss.
Exam security and integrity policies
Why am I required to accept a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before I take an
exam?
The Microsoft Certification Program requires candidates to accept the terms of an
NDA before taking an exam. The NDA legally requires candidates to keep
information related to exam content confidential. Requiring the acceptance of the
NDA helps protect the security of Microsoft Certification exams and the integrity of
the Microsoft Certification Program by legally discouraging piracy and/or
unauthorized use of exam content.
What is cheating?
Cheating is any fraudulent activity that enables an unqualified candidate to pass an
exam. This type of egregious misconduct negatively affects the integrity of the
Microsoft Certification Program.
What are falsified score reports?
Falsified score reports are reports that Microsoft deems to be unauthentic or that
deceive or defraud the Microsoft Certified Professional program in any way.
What happens if a candidate falsifies a score report?
If Microsoft determines that a candidate has falsified a score report, the candidate
will be ineligible to take any future Microsoft exams and his or her certifications
may be revoked.
What is proxy testing?
Proxy testing occurs when someone takes an exam for another candidate. In other
words, the candidate has passed an exam without actually taking it. Engaging in
proxy testing as either the test taker or the person who hired the test taker is a form
of misconduct and fraud.
How can I identify a proxy testing website or organization?
The primary warning sign of a proxy testing website or organization is any
guarantee that you will pass the exam without having to take it. Proxy testing sites
indicate that they will provide a full credential if you send them your credit card
information.
Why should I avoid proxy testing?
If a candidate engages in proxy testing, that candidate will be permanently banned
or prohibited from taking any future Microsoft Certification exams and may be
decertified from the Microsoft Certification Program. Additionally, test scores and
certifications, if applicable, may be revoked. These actions may be taken even if
the candidate did not intend to defraud the Microsoft Certification Program.
If you believe that a website or company provides proxy test-taking services,
please inform Microsoft immediately by sending an email message
to [email protected]
What are "brain dumps," and are they legal?
A "brain dump," as it relates to the certification exams, is a source, such as a
website, that contains certification exam content that has been fraudulently
obtained with the intention to share it with or sell it to exam candidates. The
content included in brain dumps is exactly the same or substantially similar to items
appearing on the exam. Because the exam content was fraudulently obtained,
using this type of material to prepare for or during an exam constitutes cheating.
"Brain dump" providers are in violation of Microsoft intellectual property rights and
nondisclosure agreements.
Why should I be concerned about "brain dump" sites and material?
If a candidate knowingly or unknowingly memorizes unauthorized content found in
“brain dumps” in order to pass an exam, clearly, he or she will not have the
requisite skills to effectively use and manage Microsoft software or systems.
Eventually, his or her manager will identify this lack of technical knowledge and
skill and take appropriate action. If Microsoft learns that a candidate used a “brain
dump” site to prepare for an exam, this candidate will be permanently banned or
prohibited from taking any future Microsoft Certification exams and may be
decertified from the Microsoft Certification Program. In addition, test scores and
certifications, if applicable, may be revoked. These actions may be taken even if
the candidate did not intend to defraud the Microsoft Certification Program.
Many "brain dump" providers are fairly blatant in their messaging, descriptions of
their products, and the intended uses, while others are much more subtle in their
messaging and practices. As a result, candidates should be cautious about using
exam preparation material that seems too good to be true.
If you think you have discovered a “brain dump” site with Microsoft content, please
inform Microsoft by sending an email message to [email protected].
What kind of security should be at a testing center?
The testing centers are provided with security policies that must be enforced in
order to acquire and maintain testing center status. Ongoing inspections ensure
that each testing center maintains the security outlined by Microsoft and the exam
delivery provider. In addition, proctors at testing centers are authorized to
immediately take appropriate measures against candidates who violate testing
rules. For specific information about the expectations for candidates, please
contact the exam delivery provider. If you have a concern about the security of
your exam experience, please send an email message
to [email protected].
What kinds of impropriety can occur on the part of the testing center?
Testing center administrators act inappropriately when they fail to follow any
security policies of Microsoft or the exam delivery provider. Examples could
include, but are not limited to, overlooking inappropriate candidate identification;
failing to ask for an ID from each candidate; failing to conduct periodic
walkthroughs; failing to keep partitions between testing stations; overlooking the
presence of crib sheets or electronic devices; providing answers or aid in any form
with regard to any exam item; and allowing the release of Microsoft intellectual
property in any form.
What happens to a testing center that participates in fraudulent behavior?
If Microsoft determines that a testing center has acted improperly or fraudulently,
Microsoft has the right to cease delivery of all exams at that center.
Whom should I contact if I find a website that discloses Microsoft Certification
exam information, or if I discover an individual who cheats on or sells exam
questions and answers?
Send an email message to [email protected], and include as much
information as possible about the situation and the persons involved. Although we
appreciate anonymous tips, we often need more information to conduct a thorough
investigation; if you are willing, please include your full contact information so that
someone from Microsoft can contact you to discuss the details, if necessary.
Microsoft has dedicated staff that investigates these tips. Because of tips from
individuals like you, several websites have been terminated. Due to the volume of
email we receive, you may not always receive a personal response.
If I report a security concern, can I remain anonymous?
Yes. All correspondence to [email protected] can remain anonymous and
we will not share your contact information with anyone. If you wish to include your
contact information so that we can follow up for more information we will ensure it
remains secure.
Performance-based Testing
What is performance-based testing (PBT)?
Performance based testing gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills by
completing tasks in the technology. Today, this means completing tasks in a
graded lab, but in the future, PBT may take a different form. For example, for those
of you who are currently performing the job role, Microsoft is exploring ways to
incorporate the work that you do every day into our certification requirements. For
those of you who are not in the job role yet, we’ll continue to have other ways for
you to demonstrate your skills through portfolios and graded labs. Microsoft is
constantly innovating to ensure that we assess your skills and abilities in ways that
align to how you actually get your work done. To view the PBT tutorial video, click
here.
What can I expect when I complete the labs?
This type of question asks you to perform tasks in a virtual environment. You will
see a screen that includes a virtual machine window and a Tasks pane. The virtual
machine window is a remotely connected live environment where you perform
tasks on real software and applications.
The Tasks pane lists the tasks you need to perform in the lab. You can expand or
collapse each task with the + or - symbols. For your convenience, each task has a
checkbox so you can mark tasks as you complete them. Doing this won’t affect
anything in the lab or scoring. Nothing in the lab will indicate if you did not complete
a required task, so you may want to keep track of the tasks that you have
completed by checking the boxes.
After you leave a lab, you will not be able to return to it because scoring starts (in
the background) as soon as you leave a lab. When you click Next, you will be
asked to confirm that you really want to leave the lab. Clicking Yes will end the lab
section, and the tasks will be scored.
How is the exam structured when it has labs?
When you launch the exam, you will see a screen that tells you how many items,
case studies, and labs, including the number of tasks, that will be on the exam.
Please make note of this information so that you can plan your exam time
accordingly.
After you launch the exam, you will answer all of the traditional questions (for
example, multiple choice, drag and drop, build list, etc.) on the exam as the labs
load. The lab(s) will be the last section of the exam. Please note the following:
After you leave any section of the exam (e.g., case study or labs), you cannot
return to it. However, at the end of most sections, you have the opportunity to
review your answers (your exam may include a section that cannot be reviewed;
this is noted at the beginning of the section). Exam time does NOT stop while you
are reviewing your answers. Make sure you manage your time; pay attention to the
time AND number of questions remaining.
Each exam contains one or two performance sections/labs with multiple tasks that
you must complete. Research shows that tasks take approximately 4 times longer
to complete than a traditional item. Please manage your time so that you have
sufficient time left to complete the labs. We have ensured that candidates who
manage their time wisely will have more than enough time to complete the lab(s).
The number of labs and tasks on the exam is provided on the overview page
preceding the first lab. Read it! And then, manage your time accordingly.
Do NOT wait for tasks to execute before moving onto another task. In some cases,
you need something to execute before you can complete another task, but this will
be noted in the task, and there will be other tasks that you can be working on while
that task executes. Don't lose time waiting for tasks to run. Move onto something
that is not dependent on that task so you can maximize your exam time. In some
cases, starting a task may be sufficient for scoring (for example, creating a
resource in Azure); you can let the task execute in the background while you work
on other tasks. We include a note in the task list telling you that you only need to
start the task. You can move on to other tasks or even leave the section (move to
the next lab if applicable or end the exam) without being penalized. Read the task
carefully. Do what’s required to solve the problem posed in the task.
Why does an exam with labs contain traditional question types (for example,
multiple choice, drag and drop, build list, etc.)?
For a variety of reasons, we cannot assess all critical skills with labs. For example,
we can’t ask you to complete tasks that take more than a few minutes to run or that
require significant resources; as a result, we will continue to assess those skills
using question types that are more appropriate to the exam experience.
How many labs are on an exam? How many tasks are in each lab?
If an exam contains labs, it will have at least 1 lab. Each lab contains between 7–
15 tasks. One of the introductory pages of the exam will show the number of labs
and tasks.
How are tasks scored?
The tasks are scored on the end result. We do not care how you accomplish the
tasks (for example, through the UI or using PowerShell commands)—only that you
successfully accomplished the task. Complete the task as you normally would; the
scoring script evaluates the end result on the key characteristics to determine if it
was done correctly. For example, if the task was to add a user, the scoring script
ensures that you added that user.
We do NOT require you to use a specific method to perform tasks. If you are more
comfortable using PowerShell or CLI, instead of a GUI, that’s what we want you to
use. We test you on the end result of your task—did you perform it correctly?—not
on the method that you use to perform a task.
How many points is each task worth?
Most tasks are worth one point; if the task is worth more than one point, that
information is provided in the task description.
How much time do I have to complete the labs?
Labs are not timed separately from the exam. At the beginning of the exam, the
number of labs, case studies, and questions as well as the exam time will be
provided. You must answer all questions, including completing tasks associated
with any labs, in the time provided. Manage your time accordingly so that you can
complete all activities that must be done.
Will I have enough time to complete the labs?
The labs are designed to be completed within the exam time provided. You will not
be asked to perform tasks that execute long running operations or tasks that have
many dependencies. If important skills need to be assessed that are based on
tasks that require long running operations or have many dependencies, we will
either assess them with traditional items, or, if possible, set up the labs so that
these operations have already taken place, and then you will perform tasks that
logically build on the outcomes of those operations.
How do you determine which tasks to include in the labs?
Like all questions on the exam, lab tasks map to the objective domain. We select
the tasks that best lend themselves to lab-based assessment, that do not require
long execution times or resources, and that can be completed within the
anticipated time for test takers to complete the exam.
Why did I have to wait before I could start my lab?
It takes time to provision the environment in the cloud, and the environment you
will access to complete the tasks is loaded only when the resources are fully
provisioned. As a result, the exam begins with a series of traditional items (multiple
choice, drag and drop, build list, etc.) that allows time to provision the labs and load
them into the environment. If you answer these questions too quickly, you will have
to wait for the labs to finish loading.
I have heard that labs can launch with a blank white screen. Is there something I
can do to fix this?
If your lab launches with a blank white screen, try opening a new tab and
navigating to https://portal.azure.com. Opening this new tab will resolve the issue
most of the time.
I had some issues with my labs. How do I let Microsoft know?
If you run into issues with labs, please provide your feedback to Certification
Support. Although we won’t be able to provide a specific explanation for your
experience, our investigation will help us identify root causes and identify solutions
that will improve the experience for everyone.
I had some issues with my labs. How do I request a rescore?
If you received a score, it is an accurate reflection of your performance before the
lab issue. If you failed, a rescore will not change that result.
When will I receive my score?
Labs take longer to score than traditional item types. Because the labs appear at
the end of the exam, you may not get your result immediately. It can take 30
minutes or longer to receive a score. You do not have to wait for the score report. It
will be passed automatically to our certification database and will show up in your
MC dashboard. This should occur within 24 hours of the exam delivery. If it does
not appear, please contact Certification Support.
Do exams with performance-based questions take longer to complete?
Yes. These exams may take longer to complete than exams that do not contain
performance-based items; however, our research suggests that most candidates
complete tasks more quickly than they complete other item types. The amount of
time allotted for each exam takes this into account.
Should I prepare for the performance-based exams differently than I prepare for
other exams?
No. The skills measured remain the same regardless of the format of the question.
The knowledge and skills assessed on the exam are listed in the “Skills measured”
section of the exam details page. If you practice the skills, you’ll be prepared for
any item type, including labs.
Are there any specific test center requirements for exams that have labs? Many
test centers are not listed when I try to schedule the exams that have labs, but the
same test centers are listed for exams that do not.
Exams that include labs require testing centers to meet certain internet connectivity
requirements, so a smaller set of testing centers are available. As labs are added
to more of the new role-based exams they will also be subject to the same set of
testing centers. If you have specific testing centers in mind, contact the specific test
center to learn if they can deliver labs; alternately, they will not be listed as
available test centers once you select the exam. If that occurs, we recommend
finding a different test center or taking the exam through online proctoring. Note:
You may be able to take labs through online proctoring; however, that will depend
on your bandwidth and internet connection.
Role-Based Certifications
How will the role-based certifications be named? Will they still be MCSA, MCSD,
and MCSE?
Because we are making a significant shift in our certification program, we are
moving away from the MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD acronyms. The certifications will
clearly state that you are “Microsoft Certified” in the job role, and they will show the
level at which the certification sits in our framework (fundamentals, associate, or
expert).
What happens to the MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certifications that I already have?
Nothing happens to the MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certification that you already
have. They remain on your transcript. The relevance of those certifications
depends on your current (and future) job roles and how valuable that certification is
to your manager and organization and to the work that you do.
Some MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certifications are still available to earn. What will
happen to these?
You can continue earning the MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certifications as long as
the exams are still available. As we retire the exams that are part of those
certification paths, you will no longer be able to earn those certifications.
You’re retiring some exams that lead to MCSA, MCSD, MCSE certifications. What
happens to my certifications when those exams retire?
Before the exams retire, be sure to pass all those which are part of the MCSA,
MCSE, or MCSD certifications that you’re trying to achieve. If you do, you’ll earn
the certification, and it will appear on your transcript. Nothing happens to the
MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certification that you already have. The relevance of this
certification depends on your current (and future) job roles and how valuable that
certification is to your manager and organization and to the work that you do.
With the goal to more closely align training and exams, are you reducing the
amount of experience that people need to pass the exam or earn the certification?
No, we are not reducing the amount of experience that people need to pass the
exams or earn our certifications. Training is designed to prepare people for the
exams, but in of itself is likely to be insufficient. The questions on our role-based
exams require you to apply the skills and knowledge acquired in training real world
problems.
Academic pricing on exams
Can I get a refund if I initially registered and paid for an exam without verifying an
academic discount, but I’m verified now?
No. If you decide to register and pay for an exam before you have verified your
student status, you must pay commercial pricing and will not receive a refund. You
must ensure that you are verified before completing your registration and payment.
Does my academic verification expire?
Yes. Your academic verification is only valid for 12 months. After 12 months, you
need to repeat the verification process.
I’m an educator. Can I still receive an academic discount (in applicable countries)
on my Microsoft Certification exam delivered in the commercial channel?
Yes. You need to follow the same process as a student. In other words, you must
select “Student” as your job function in your Microsoft account profile, and you
must verify your status through the same process as a student.
Who do I contact for questions regarding the academic verification process for
Microsoft Certification exams?
If you have general questions related to exam registration or questions specific to a
new or pending verification request, please contact Certification Support.
Accommodation Requests
How do I request an accommodation?
If you require special equipment or other accommodation when you take an exam,
you may request an accommodation through Pearson VUE using their
“Reasonable Adjustments Request System” https://rs.hgportal.net/amer/candidate.
More details are provided in the Special Accommodations when Taking
Exams section above.
Why do I need to submit documentation?
The documentation that you provide describes your disability to the Pearson
Special Accommodations team. Pearson has experts that determine the
appropriate accommodation Your documentation ensures that the exam
experience is adjusted appropriately. Someone with dyslexia, for example, is
typically on a spectrum of severity and the exam accommodations are therefore
appropriately adjusted for that level of severity as described in the documentation.
This documentation consists of a formal assessment from a medical professional
within the last 5 years. Someone with mild dyslexia may need 1.5 times the exam
length, whereas someone with more severe dyslexia may receive 2 times the exam
length or perhaps even have a reader. The intent is to make the exam session fair
to the candidate considering their need while maintaining the validity and reliability
of the assessment process.
I have documentation that is from more than 5 years ago. Why can’t I use it to
meet the documentation requirements?
Disabilities change over time. They can become more or less severe. As a result,
the accommodation that would be provided based on the outdated documentation
may no longer be appropriate. The goal of the accommodation process is to
ensure that you are given an accommodation that will ensure that your exam
experience is as equivalent as possible to everyone else’s while maintaining the
validity and reliability of the assessment process. The more up to date your
documentation, the more likely VUE will be able to provide an accommodation that
meets your needs.
I have a hearing aid/wheelchair/need an inhaler/etc. Do I need to special
permission to bring that into the testing room?
This is considered a comfort aid and does not require pre-approval. Comfort aids
will be allowed in the testing room upon visual inspection by the Test Center staff.
Visual inspection will be done by examining the item without directly touching it (or
the candidate) and without asking the candidate to remove the item, unless
otherwise noted here.
I have a question that isn’t answered here. Where do I find the answer?
If you cannot find the answer to your question here, contact us via email
at: [email protected].