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Microsoft’s Born to Learn Blog reports a new item typed, called “extended matching”, will soon appear on Microsoft’s certification exams. While still in the process of phasing in this new question type, exactly which Microsoft exams will use extended matching is yet to be determined. And although extended matching is new to Microsoft, it is frequently seen on medical licensure exams. Here’s how extended matching item types work, as explained in the Born to Learn Blog:

Several questions are written using the same set of answer choices, but the list of answer choices is “extended” to include more options than you would see for a typical multiple choice question. In other words, more than four answer choices are presented for each question. The most important piece of information that you need to know about these items is that the same answer choice could be correct for more than one question in the set, and some answer choices may not be the correct answer for any of the questions.

These items appear together on certification exams. They are preceded by a brief introduction and instructions reminding you that an answer might be correct for more than one question or not correct for any. In some ways, this experience is similar to the experience you have when answering case study items–extended matching items with the same set of answer choices appear together on the exam because they are related to each other (i.e., they have the same set of answer choices); however, unlike case study items, these items are not timed separately, and you can return to these items at any point until you submit the exam for scoring.

Microsoft is adding the extended matching item type in order to better assess a candidate’s skills and abilities.  Extended matching requires candidates to understand under what conditions certain actions are correct and when they are not (similar to how a person’s skill would be tested in the real-world). Opposed to traditional multiple choice questions that do not test a candidate’s skill in such a rigorous or practical manner.

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Some Microsoft PRO level exams will now incorporate “best” answer type multiple choice questions as part of Microsoft’s Certification Development department’s continuing effort to improve the rigor, quality and real-world relevance of their certification exam questions. Microsoft’s Born to Learn Blog says the difference between a “correct” answer question and a “best” answer question is:

“In a ‘correct’ answer item, only one answer is correct; in a ‘best’ answer item, more than one answer might solve the problem but there is one best solution. “

Here’s what to expect:

• Best answer items will only appear on PRO level exams where being able to identify the best solution given a set of specific environmental characteristics or constraints is critical to planning, designing, and managing Microsoft technologies in organizations.
• The best answer will be the solution that takes the least effort, requires the fewest steps, and/or is least costly AND solves the problem. Remember with a best answer choice item, more than one answer will likely solve the problem (others might not), but one answer will be the best solution from a resource (budget, time, people) perspective in that particular situation.
• The best answer will be the best answer GIVEN THE SITUATION DESCRIBED IN THE QUESTION. It may not be how you would do it in your organization, but it’s how it should be solved given the situation.
• At this time, only a small proportion of items on any exam will be best answer choice items; although this proportion is likely to increase over time, we are not to the point where every question on a particular exam will be a “best answer” question. Not all PRO exams have best answer questions yet, but we’re working on it.
• You will know these items when you see them. The question statement will include words such as “best” or “most” (depending what is being asked) that make it clear that the question requires a deeper evaluation to determine the best answer. In addition, the following statement appears following the question: “(More than one answer choice may achieve the goal. Select the BEST answer.)”
• Most important, the best answer has been vetted by many SMEs who agreed on what the best answer is. The best answer isn’t what Microsoft thinks is the best answer; the best answer is what many SMEs have agreed is the best answer.

- Microsoft Born to Learn Blog

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Soon to graduate students from Canada, South Africa and the United States discuss how certifications distinguish you from the many others out there all applying for the same jobs in this slow-to-hire economy. Hear what these students have to say about the importance of Microsoft certifications:

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