VCP Help

What it’s like to take the VCP 4 exam

by VCPHelp on 27/02/11 at 1:57 pm

Since I have taken both the VCP 3 and VCP 4, I thought I’d let you know about some of the differences I experienced. I took the exams at different locations, where the setup and protocols were slightly different, so hopefully that will aid you in understanding what it will be like at your testing center.

I arrived at the small testing center, which was part of a larger office building. If I didn’t know the address and that there was a Pearson Vue testing center inside the building, I would have driven right by. This was the same as my VCP 3. It seems that the testing centers like to rent excess space in office buildings, probably to save on costs, so when you go to take your test, make sure you have an accurate address, an idea of where you’re going, and allow plenty of time to find these tiny offices.

Opening the door to the PV office, there was a receptionist who wanted to see two forms of ID — one photo and one NON photo. I have no clue why or how they think having an ID without photo is more secure, but they would not even accept a card I had with my photo on it. Instead, I gave them a credit card (they did not note the number — just the name on the card).

After this strange IDing process, I had to have my photo taken. VMware is including photos on the certification numbers these days, I guess to prevent you from paying someone to take the test for you, or to prevent someone else from masquerading as you and using your certification number. Anyway, if you’re the type that’s worried about appearance, be sure you dress nicely and comb your hair in preparation for the photo as that’s what people will see if they ever look-up your certification number for verification.

With my photo taken, I was asked to leave *everything* at the reception desk — even the single sheet of paper I was carrying with nothing but the address of the center on it. In return, the proctor gave me a laminated piece of paper and a dry-erase marker in case I needed to take notes. I knew they wouldn’t let me bring much stuff in, thanks to my previous VCP 3 experience, but the level of strictness was turned-up a notch for the VCP 4. Do yourself a favor and leave everything but your two forms of ID in the car when you go for your testing.

The proctor lead me to a room with small study carrols, like what you’d remember as a kid from the library at school. In each little cubby hole, was an ancient computer complete with CRT screen and a ball mouse!!! The mouse I had to use made an odd squeaking sound every time I moved it, which the rest of the room could hear. I’m pretty sure that the PV center I went to this time got their computers from a thrift shop or something, but that’s another story.

The test itself was administered on the computer, just as with previous VCP versions, and I used the mouse to select the various answers for each question. I could flag any question with a “come back later” flag, so at the end of the test, I could re-visit any answers I may have been uncertain about and change them. Thankfully, as I had used a VCP4 exam preparation kit, I knew I had answered all the right questions correctly, and all the wrong questions correctly (yes, there are quite a few questions on the VCP exam where the answers are just plain wrong, but you must answer them that way to pass…)

After I did the final submission of my answers, I stopped by the front desk, and received my score. Pearson Vue prints a page out with your photo, certification ID number, and whether you passed or not. Oh yeah, and I also got my 8×11 page back which they confiscated earlier, but I told them to recycle it since I didn’t need the testing center address any longer.

At this point, I was VCP 4 certified!

About 3-4 weeks later, I got a cardboard mailer from VMware with my certificate in full color, suitable for framing or whatever else you do with such things. Mine went into my folder of certifications which I pull-out for job interviews — and I think the VCP 4 cert will be one of the first I show prospective employers due to the high value of being a certified VMware certified professional!