I’ve taken many certification exams from Microsoft over the years (plus a few from other vendors), and have passed 88 of them so far. These cover everything from beginner-level certifications through to expert-level exams, along with several of the master-level certifications that existed in earlier Microsoft programs. I’ve also worked on writing many of these exams. 

After taking so many, you notice patterns in how they are structured and what types of preparation tend to work best. In this article I’ll share some of the approaches I use when preparing for Microsoft certification exams. And, in a later article, I’ll focus on the techniques I use when taking the exams. 

Decide on your pace

The first step is deciding that you genuinely want to take the exam. Preparing well requires time and consistent effort. I’m passionate about learning and make a point of studying something every day. That daily habit adds up quickly – I’m often surprised by how much material I’ve covered over the course of a few months.

One advantage of this approach is that it removes much of the pressure, because I’m rarely working toward a fixed exam deadline. Of course, not everyone has that flexibility, and many people need to prepare for an exam within a much shorter timeframe. 

Start by using pathways in Microsoft Learn

In recent years, Microsoft has invested heavily in creating structured learning pathways for most of its certification exams. These learning paths are available on the Microsoft Learn site and should be the first resources you work through when preparing for an exam. It’s important to follow them carefully and make sure you understand the material in each module. 

The content on Microsoft Learn is often summarized, and many modules include links to more detailed documentation. When preparing for an exam, assume that any material linked from a learning path is within scope for the exam writers. The main exception tends to be beginner-level exams, where the questions are usually based directly on the content provided in the Learn modules themselves. 

The importance of hands-on experience

Make sure you complete every hands-on lab exercise provided in the Microsoft Learn content. However, don’t simply follow the instructions step-by-step. When the labs guide you to a particular screen or configuration page, take the time to explore the other options available there as well. 

The goal should be to become familiar with the product or service itself, not just with the specific steps shown in the lab instructions. Exploring the surrounding features helps build a deeper understanding and better prepares you for questions that test how the technology works in practice. 

I’m often surprised by how many people believe they can pass a certification exam simply by reading the material, without gaining any hands-on experience. That approach rarely works. As the certification level increases, practical experience with the product or service becomes increasingly important for success. 

Fully utilize the exam study guide

This is by far the most important resource when preparing for an exam. Work through each item in the exam skills outline and honestly assess whether you truly understand it. If there are topics where your understanding is weak or incomplete, take the time to research them and build your knowledge before moving on. 

Exam writers are required to base their questions on the topics listed in the exam skills outline. The number of questions for each major topic is generally aligned with the percentage ranges shown in that outline. For example, the DP-700 exam currently lists the following main areas: 

These percentages provide a good indication of how the exam is balanced. However, when preparing, I don’t try to allocate my study time according to those proportions. Instead, I focus on the individual bullet-point skills and determine which ones I understand well, and which ones require further study. 

Exam preparation mistakes I’ve made in the past

I mentioned earlier that I’ve passed 88 Microsoft certification exams so far, but that’s taken 91 attempts. I’ve failed three along the way. 

The first failure didn’t bother me too much. Many years ago, Microsoft had some trainer-only exams that instructors needed to pass at a high score before they were allowed to teach a course. Because only trainers took these exams, the question quality was not always at the same level as the regular certification exams.

In one exam, for example, a question asked you to select two items but provided radio buttons, making it possible to choose only one. I failed that exam by a single question. When I retook it, the exam was identical, so I simply changed my answer on the question I thought was most likely to be misinterpreted. That was enough to pass. Fortunately, you are unlikely to encounter issues like that today. 

My second and third failures, however, were entirely my fault. At the time, exam study guides were not as clear as they are now. In a Microsoft Exchange exam, I ignored the material on migrating from Microsoft Mail because I assumed it wouldn’t be very important. Unfortunately, about a third of the exam focused on that topic. In a Windows 95 client exam, I made a similar mistake by ignoring the NetWare networking content, assuming it wouldn’t matter for a Microsoft exam. Again, that assumption was wrong. 

Knowledge-check and practice exam questions 

As you work through the Microsoft Learn content, you’ll encounter knowledge-check questions. These were originally simple checks designed to confirm you understood the material you’d just read. More recently, they appear to be AI-generated versions of the same concept. Either way, they’re not intended to resemble the questions you’ll encounter in the actual exams.

Many certifications also have practice exams available. These are useful but quite different from the real exams. Some practice exams include only true/false questions, and most rely on straightforward multiple-choice questions. The more complex question types that appear in real Microsoft exams generally aren’t included, so these practice exams sometimes give candidates a false sense of preparedness. They’re still worth completing, but passing them shouldn’t be taken as proof that you’re ready for the real thing.

It’s also worth noting that many practice exams draw from a larger pool of questions than the number presented in a single attempt. For example, there might be 100 questions in the bank, but each practice exam session may present only 25 of them. Retaking the practice exam several times can therefore expose you to a wider range of questions and help reinforce your preparation. 

Exam dump websites 

You’ll find many sites claiming to provide dumps of real exam questions. Using these materials clearly violates Microsoft’s exam policies and is not necessary for passing the exams. 

Microsoft invests significant effort in protecting the integrity of its certification program and uses technology to identify patterns that suggest exam dumps have been used. In an era where analytical tools and AI make pattern detection easier, identifying candidates whose answer patterns closely match known dump content isn’t difficult. 

The consequences of being caught can be serious. Microsoft can revoke certifications if it determines that exam policies have been violated. This can affect all of your certifications – not just the exam in question. It simply is not worth the risk. 

I’d also suggest reading Common Misconceptions About Microsoft Certification Exams for further insight.