Today I took and passed the VCP5 exam. I can’t say I passed with flying colours or in an exemplary manner. In fact I would say I scraped through. Why is that is what I’ve been thinking about, and what are the consequences has been on my mind since I saw the score.
Anyway, before that let me talk about the test – without giving away any questions or answers. [And anyway, why would want to take such advice from someone who scrapped in the skin of his teeth! 
]
As I expected the test now longer interrogates you on configurable maximums. That’s to be welcomed as by dispensing with stuff that can memorize and regurgitated on demand it makes the exam tougher, and defeats mere “book learners”.
With that said there’s a still a sizable portion of questions which are susceptible to “interpretation” – as with all certification style exams that are dependent on text & multiple choice – much of the time is spent reading the question slow and deliberately – and if your a Brit like me thinking “Well, it depends what you mean by that…”. English is a deliberately slippery language beloved of the law – as you can spend most of your time arguing what something means….
Of course, strategies such as process of illumination (AKA removing the obvious “only an freaking idiot would select that” options) can and does help. Despite the removal of memorizing configuring maximums there’s plenty other numb-nut stuff such as being asked if a particular object status is either offline, online, connected, disconnected… I mean who actually gives a [expletive deleted]? Since when does knowing such stuff actually account for or meaning anything?
I was asked one question about cloud – and the answers available were risible.
……………………….
This isn’t a criticism of the VCP Eggzam per se – its a criticism you could apply to any test of this type. Remember the “advanced” eggzams especially the “admin” DCAP are hands on and practical. Incidentally, I don’t see “advanced” as meaning “harder” but meaning more stuff, and more rigorous set of questions or tasks.
As for the subject matter – I seemed to get significant number of SIOC, vApp, Storage Profiles and SDRS questions. There’s was other stuff, but these seemed more noticeable. The last VCP exam I took was for vSphere4.0, and whilst I’ve kept up with the changes in vSphere4.1 – this release co-coincided with my ceasing to be a VMware Certified Instructor. That turns me to question of why didn’t shine in the exam.
It was me, not the exam.
Firstly, I’m no longer a practicing instructor delivering the vSphere track on a weekly basis. As consequence things I used to have “instant recall” off are now feeling decidedly fuzzy. That’s not a problem. My current role doesn’t require instant recall. And what I can’t remember I can always Google or crowd-source via Twitter. A technology that exam questioners should bear in mind. Studies are showing that with ubiquitous access to the internet student no longer expend the effort memorizing things. Indeed as I continue in my inexorable decline into becoming an “Old Gimmer” I can see Google will become an invaluable resource. You might not like this fact. But it is a reality worth accepting, and perhaps embracing. Shouldn’t your capacity to be a good admin be based on your capacity to research and solve problems – not memorize stuff?
Secondly, I haven’t (and won’t) write a book on vSphere5. Normally, my close interaction with the platform begins with the beta, and writing a book about ESX/vCenter during that time. By the time the Beta exam comes up I normally take it without study and pass first time with flying colours. I didn’t this time because I was too busy with the VMware Site Recovery Manager book, and quite honestly I don’t feel motivated to do a JAVSB (Just-Another-VSphere-Book). That’s not to stay that vSphere5 isn’t a bundle of wonderfulness – I just didn’t feel inspired to put finger to keyboard, given I’ve written about Vi2, Vi3, VS4… Perhaps with vSphere6 I will be inspired to do so, from what I hear there are some major changes coming through the pipeline – that if delivered might warrant it…
So I was trading on my knowledge of vSphere4 backed up with some quick study of the “What’s New” content that’s available online. Clearly, when VCP6 rolls around the corner – this strategy won’t have any legs. I will either have to be working with the platform much more closely, or devote a LOT more study to core features than I have done with the VCP5.
To that point, I will be working on a series of blogpost sharing my own “What’s New” guide with my readership. It certainly helped. Once I’ve completed the series I will compile it into a PDF guide. But one word of warning. If you are like me, simply reading a “What’s New” guide might not be enough. You might have to spend sometime getting up to speed in detail with the vSphere4.1 features, as well as refreshing your braincells on the vSphere4.0 material.
As the saying goes, if you don’t use it – you loose it…
[Oh, and unless your taking the exam tommorow - you will have to do attend the two-day "What's New" course if your an existing VCP4.]
RSS
iTunes