Microsoft is in the process of -- and has to a small degree-- implemented what they call ADAPTIVE questions on the newer software releases. Adaptive questions differ a bit from their multiple choice counterparts in that they require the test taker to actually use the product during the exam. An example of an Adaptive question might be (just an example of the top of my head): Microsoft might ask the test taker to implement a security policy with the specified rights for a certain user. In a multiple choice question, the test taker will be presented with choices A, B, C and D. However, the same question using the Adaptive style, Microsoft will actually show the test taker the Windows NT GUI, just like the real thing, and the user has to implement the security policy as if he/she were actually doing it in real life. With the Adaptive questions, there are no choices to choose from; you must know how to use the product in order to pass, and guessing is hard since you're not presented with any choices.
Some say the new Adaptive questions are harder than the old multiple choice ones, and others say they're easier since Microsoft exam writers can't mince words to confuse the test taker. Microsoft's purpose in implementing the Adaptive questions was mainly to eliminate people who don't have hands-on experience and are passing the certification exams using straight memorization.
You don't have to worry about running across too many Adaptive questions with the old exams. But expect to run across a few Adaptive questions on any software that's been released within the last 4 or so months, such as Internet Information Server 4.0. Even with the new Adaptive questions in place, there will still be quite a few multiple choice questions on all the exams.
Windows 98 was released in late June and here is Microsoft's stance on the Windows 3.x and Windows 9x exams:
70-063: This was the first Windows 95 exam released. It has been retired, since late April. This exam has been replaced by exam 70-064, which is the new Windows 95 exam. If you've passed the first Windows 95 exam (70-063), then you do NOT have to take the new Windows 95 (70-064) exam. Your certification status will NOT be affected if you've already passed the old Windows 95 exam.
70-064: This is the new Windows 95 exam. This exam replaces the one listed above. However, there are currently no study guides available for this new exam and Microsoft suggests that the study guides for the old Windows 95 will suffice. The new Windows 95 exam will ask questions more relavent in the workplace. Whereby the old exam asked a lot of questions that were arcane and based on memorization.
