Microsoft Ramp Up

Just wondered if anyone here has joined the Microsoft Ramp Up program. If so, has anyone finished it without any problems?

I started a few months back. Have been playing with C# for nearly a year. Have been a VC++ programmer for over 10 years. Chose the Aspiring Developer track (C#) as I don't have VB or Java background and thought it'd be better if I started at the beginning. I want to go ahead and take my MCTS so I'm taking this as a familiarisation exercise with the way Microsoft structure their exams, learning etc.

Anyways, I completed the first 2 assessments ok and came to take my 3rd one a couple of weeks ago. However, the first question had code samples in VB. As I stepped through more and more of them I found all the code questions were VB (although the page title is C# track) and most of the questions were todo with modules that I'd not progressed to yet (ASP and data tables which I think are level 5).

I emailed Microsoft about this but it takes 5 days for that section to reply everytime I point out what the problem is and that it is nothing to do with what they suggested.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

I recommend the book for 70-536 (Foundations of .NET) from MS Press. It is very well written and if you do all the assignments in it you will pass with flying colors. Can't speak to the ramp up since I was already past needing to look at that when it was released.

odujosh wrote:

I recommend the book for 70-536 (Foundations of .NET) from MS Press.

Yeah, I do had that book a while before I started the Ramp Up series. I just thought that Ramp Up would aid me in the learning process. I did find that some of the answers to the sample questions in the book contradicted the text though.

Its a shame really. Ramp Up gives you 50% off the MCTS exam if you pass the online assessment but it seems they still have issues with the service.

The waiting 5 days for an email reply is a bit much too.

andy_hanger18 wrote:

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

Yep, just duplicated your problem...that's annoying. Of course, as .NET developers it's important be multi-lingual; but still.