As one of my other activities I “create” items for Microsoft exams and practice tests. For example on the PL-900 exam there are sample questions that you can use to gauge the level of knowledge used in exam item.

Now one thing that annoys me is people who misuse the term “write the exam” when they mean to take or sit the exam. These are the definitions I use for exams:

• Write – the creator of the exam writes the exam.
• Give – the proctor or administrator of the exam gives the exam.
• Take – the student who answers the questions on the exam takes the exam.
• Sit – the student who answers the questions on the exam sits the exam.

Let me explain how exam items are written. For each Microsoft exam e.g., Dynamics 365 Fundamentals MB-910, there is the objective domain which is also known as the exam skills outline. The skills measured has three levels:

• Functional groups
• Objectives
• Tasks

For example for MB-910 there are five functional groups. The functional group for Dynamics 365 Sales has two objectives, the first objective has 4 tasks and the second objective has 2 tasks as shown below.

Describe Dynamics 365 Sales (15–20%)

Describe the Dynamics 365 Sales lifecycle

• describe leads and the process for qualifying leads
• describe the opportunity management process
• describe the quote lifecycle
• describe sales pipeline forecasting concepts

Describe sales-related apps

• describe capabilities of Dynamics 365 Sales Insights
• describe capabilities of LinkedIn Sales Navigator

As an exam writer you are asked to create a number of items for each objective. For example if I was asked to write two items for the Describe the Dynamics 365 Sales lifecycle objective I would select two of the tasks, the bullet points, and write one item for each task.

When taking an exam you will see questions on each objective but not necessarily on each task. However, you do not know which tasks will be included so you need to cover them all.

If you want to understand further how exam items are written watch this recording How to Think Like a Certification Exam by William Assaf.