Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Applications Exam (MB2-632)

If you have ever worked for an Information Technology organization, chances are that you have had to get “certified” in a particular application or software suite. Depending on the application, this can sometimes be an intimidating task. I am currently working to become a Microsoft Certified IT Professional for Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The first step will be completing the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Applications Exam MB2-632. For more information on the various types of Microsoft Professional certifications for Dynamics, please visit here. The purpose of this blog is to outline my experience in preparing for this exam and provide readers with some helpful tips, training methods and resources for the MB2-632 exam.

Everyone prepares for exams differently. Some people respond better to hearing training, in the form of speaking trainers/presenters. Some people like to watch training in the form of videos. Still others like to have a training document/book, complete with highlighters and notes. As this is my first Microsoft Exam, I wasn’t sure which avenue would prove most successful for me – so I explored a lot of them! Here’s a recap of some of the types of training I utilized:

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Books:

• Positives: One-stop shop for content. A used copy of most of the books runs about $20.
• Negatives: The book is very large and weighs about 3 pounds. Carrying it around is cumbersome if you are used to having a computer bag with your files and laptop. Bulky.
• Some Example Books

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Online Training:

• Positives: The training has multiple modules. During the module, there are visual walkthroughs for many of the tasks and activities. Each module has mini-exams at the end to test your knowledge.
• Negatives: The speaker begins to get monotonous after a few modules. If you are not a Microsoft Customer or Partner and do not have access to the “free” training, it can be expensive. Online training for this course is $349.
• The online Collection 8913: Applications in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 can be found here.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Application:

• Positives: Nothing can help a person learn and application faster than actually practicing in the application. The free trial was fast and easy to install.
• Negatives: The trial period lasts 30 days.
• The signup is located here.

Personally, I found that the book, along with using the installed online application was sufficient to get a good working knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. By “reading and practicing”, I was able to read through a few chapters of content and then go through some of the exercises in the book. The default data in the installed trial application is rather deficient. I would suggest creating a sample fictional company and then taking the time to populate the “company” with some default information, including price lists, products, customers, accounts, contacts, etc. It will help immensely in working through the various activities and tasks in the training – whatever format you choose.

Taking the Exam:

I’ve done some preliminary research on the exam itself. On the surface, the exam consists of 100 multiple choice questions. You have 50 minutes to complete the questions. The passing score is 70% or higher. There are a lot of mixed comments on the test itself. After reviewing some of the sample questions available throughout the web, I tend to agree. The questions are very picky, testing your knowledge of very tiny minutia around system navigation, processes and Microsoft nomenclature. It’s the kind of question where you read the four answers and all four of them look possibly correct.

With this said, there are a number of ways to get in some “practice” before the actual examination. Most of the training books, courses and materials I previously mentioned have practice questions. There are some organizations that offer sample questions and testing. Feedback on these has been fairly good, even if it helps familiarize you with the test taking methodology.

Once you are ready to sit for the exam, contact Prometrics for testing times and locations.

Good Luck!

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Additional information can be found on the following websites:

Microsoft Dynamics Website

Microsoft Dynamics Training Website

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Training

Collection 8913: Applications in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Comments

[Patrick Picklesimer]

Just an update. I took the exam today and passed!

Onto the next one.............

:c)