Are you looking to pass Microsoft certification exams like the PL-100, PL-900, and MB-230? With the increasing demand for Microsoft certifications in the tech industry, having the right exam preparation method can make all the difference. In this post, I’ll share my proven, fail-proof method to conquer any Microsoft exam, backed by my own success in earning multiple certifications. By following these three essential steps—completing Microsoft Learning Modules, gaining hands-on experience in a trial environment, and tackling practice problems—you’ll be well on your way to achieving your certification goals. Let’s dive into how you can effectively prepare for your exams and boost your confidence on test day!
I passed the PL 100 and I want to share what I did so that you can do the same. There are three simple steps that I always follow, and when I do, I have not failed an exam when I follow them. Not to trick you in staying to the end of the post, but the third step is what I think is the biggest difference maker and my personal favorite in studying. Let’s get into it.
Microsoft certifications are credentials that demonstrate your knowledge and skills in various areas of technology. They are offered at different levels, from Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) to Microsoft Solutions Developer (MCSD). Microsoft certifications are a great way to show your proficiency in technology and stand out from the crowd. They can help you acquire the technical skills you will need to perform industry roles. You can take certification exams at a discounted academic price if you are eligible.
How to Pass Any Microsoft Certification
So the first step and what I recommend for everyone is doing the Microsoft Learning Modules.
#1 Complete Microsoft Learning Modules
If you go back to the web page where you booked your exam on the same page you can scroll down and this is going to give you different modules that are fundamental to the exam’s content. These are handpicked by Microsoft to guide you through what the exam covers. Microsoft is nice enough to give you a ton of information at your fingertips and these modules and articles have a lot of really good information that tend to have more of a beginner language.
Additionally, I have noticed that Microsoft provides time estimates for their pages and modules. However, in my experience, these estimates are often longer than necessary. I find that I can read the modules, work through them, and take notes in about half the time suggested. So don’t be intimidated. It goes faster than it may sound.
Then after you work through each section, make sure you do the 3-4 practice problems at the end and review your answers. Reviewing your answers is going to give you a ton of good feedback on why an answer was either right or wrong and in my opinion provides a much broader context as opposed to just reading the articles. This is going to be important because on exam day you’re answering problems, you’re not reading articles.
However, I would like to mention that in my opinion, these modules alone are insufficient to fully prepare you for your exam. Thankfully, this is just the first step. The next step will provide you with hands-on experience and practice in the specific area of your certification.
This second step involves gaining real experience in a simulated environment.
#2 Gain experience configuring the components the exam covers in a Trial Environment
A trial environment offers the opportunity to create and activate a tenant environment. This allows you to install various D365 applications and explore and experiment with a playground setup. It is a great way to learn and gain a better understanding of building and configuring different components.
Several exams, such as PL 100, PL 200, 900, MB 210, 220, and 230, are available but it would have been impossible for me to pass without having any hands-on experience in dynamics or in the power platform.
Feel free to create a trial environment and proceed to create a canvas app. You can create multiple screens and establish a global variable before attempting the PL 100. For the PL 200, you should generate a power automate and develop several business rules and a business process flow. Additionally, create a model-driven app and gain a comprehensive understanding of the various components of the power platform and their interconnectedness.
Gaining experience, either through a project or in a trial environment, is the only way to truly achieve true knowledge of the topic. You can access a detailed tutorial on how to create a trial environment here. If you are unsure how to do so, be sure to check out the post linked.
#3 Complete Practice Problems
Look, exams are hard and we are all hunting this infamous 700 passing score.
Everyone is aware that these exams often include tricky questions or unclear instructions that make it difficult to understand what they are asking. The third step in our fail-proof exam preparation method is to complete practice problems.
This is the last step and has proven to be the most crucial for my success on exam day. Although it may be tempting to skip ahead to step three and start practicing right away, I must admit that doing a thousand practice problems without following the previous steps would not be effective.
Microsoft frequently updates the exam questions, adding new ones and removing some. As a result, you may encounter unfamiliar questions during your exam. It is crucial to rely on the experience and knowledge gained from the learning modules to answer these questions.
Where do you find good practice problems?
There are a ton of different resources out there for you to use. There are both free and paid resources available. However, it is important to be cautious when using non-official Microsoft resources, as there are many unreliable sources. There are many individuals who confidently claim that the answer is X, but they are wrong. Therefore, it is your responsibility to ensure that you thoroughly investigate and verify any practice problems from sources other than Microsoft. This way, you can avoid blindly accepting someone else’s word and instead conduct your own research to gain a better understanding on the topic.
Although it may seem challenging, make an effort to complete a significant number of practice problems. If you can manage to solve 300 or 400 practice problems, or even do a set of 200 practice problems twice, you will increase your chances of success on the exam day. This level of preparation will leave you feeling confident and well-prepared, enabling you to excel in your exam. Therefore, I encourage you all to go out there and conquer your certifications
In Conclusion
It’s great that you’re interested in Microsoft certifications! They are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in various areas of technology. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry! Take the study process one step at a time and i can promise you, after following these three simple steps you will be more than prepared on test day.
Remember that passing a certification exam requires hard work and dedication. It’s important to set aside time to study and practice regularly. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it! There are many resources available to help you prepare for your exam, such as online courses, study guides, and practice tests.
You got this! Keep pushing yourself and stay motivated. Remember that every step counts towards your goal. Good luck on your certification journey and Happy Testing! 🚀