Problem
I would like to pass the Microsoft 70-461 exam. Can you give me links, books and recommendations for the exam?
Solution
Yes. In this tip, we will answer some typical questions, give links, books and training exams to pass the 70-461 exam.
What is the 70-461 certification exam?
This is the Exam related to SQL Server 2012 and 2014 focused on SQL Server Querying.
Is this exam about ANSI SQL?
ANSI SQL is an standard for several Databases like Oracle, DB2, SQL Server, etc. This exam is about Transact SQL or T-SQL.
What is the difference between ANSI SQL and T-SQL?
ANSI SQL is a standard for relational databases. T-SQL is an extension of ANSI SQL created for Microsoft in SQL Server. The exam contains some sections on ANSI SQL and other sections on T-SQL.
It is my first exam about SQL Server. Do you recommend taking this exam first?
Yes. If you already have some experience with other databases, this exam is a good first step for SQL Server. If you do not have any experience on other databases, another starting point would be the MTA Database Fundamentals.
Is this exam focused on SQL Server 2014?
Yes, SQL Server 2012 and 2014.
Which books would you recommend for this exam?
There are thousands of books in the market, but these ones we know and recommend:
1. The official book is the Training Kit (Exam 70-461) Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012. It is a good book, however it will be not be enough to pass the exam. The CD with questions that comes with the book is very simple compared to the real exam.
2. Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals (Developer Reference). This is a good complementary book of the first one.
3. T-SQL Querying (Developer Reference) is another great book to learn T-SQL.
4. Beginning T-SQL 3rd ed. Edition. This is another option. It is similar to other books mentioned before, but it is a different author.
5. Pro T-SQL Programmer’s Guide is an advanced book about T-SQL. It does not cover most of the exam chapters, but it has nice examples about XML, Triggers and other topics.
6. SQL Server Concurrency: Locking, Blocking and Row Versioning is a great book to study the locking sections in the exam.
Which courses would you recommend?
Can you recommended some courses:
- Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases Jump Start
- T-SQL Fundamentals 2016
- Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning for SQL Server 2012, 2014 and 2016
- SQL Server 2012 Optimization, Performance Tuning and Troubleshooting
- T-SQL Fundamentals
- SQL Server – TSQL
Which simulation exams would you recommend?
- 70-461 Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Microsoft Official Practice Test
- Practice Lab for Microsoft 70-461
- Practice Exam for Microsoft 70-461
- Microsoft Practice Exam for 70-461 MSCert: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014
What is the passing score?
700/1000
Do you recommend any links to continue my learning?
Yes. Here are some recommended links:
Create database objects
- Create and alter tables using T-SQL syntax (simple statements)
- Create and alter views (simple statements)
- Design views
- Create and modify constraints (simple statements)
- Create and alter DML triggers
Work with data
- Query data by using SELECT statements
- SELECT Clause (Transact-SQL)
- SQL Server Ranking Functions Row_Number and Rank
- SQL Server Synonyms Tips
- FROM (Joins, Apply, OPENXML)
- Compare SQL Server Datasets with INTERSECT and EXCEPT
- Information Schema Views (Transact-SQL)
- INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES
- COALESCE vs. ISNULL
- Writing efficient queries
- T-SQL Code review: How MS can support customers requests for code review/improvement
- SQL Server T-SQL Tips
- Advanced T-SQL Querying, Programming and Tuning for SQL Server 2012, 2014 and 2016
- Different Options for Importing Data into SQL Server
- SQL Server Query Performance Guidelines Tutorial
- Implement sub-queries
- SQL Server Execution Plans
- Use SQL Server’s UNPIVOT operator to help normalize output
- Script to create dynamic PIVOT queries in SQL Server
- Using PIVOT and UNPIVOT
- SQL Server CROSS APPLY and OUTER APPLY
- WITH common_table_expression (Transact-SQL)
- Recursive Queries using Common Table Expressions (CTE) in SQL Server
- Implement data types
- Implement aggregate queries
- Query and manage XML data
Modify data
- Create and alter stored procedures (simple statements)
- Modify data by using INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements
- INSERT (Transact-SQL)
- UPDATE (Transact-SQL)
- DELETE (Transact-SQL)
- DISABLE TRIGGER (Transact-SQL)
- Testing SQL Server Performance of Database Inserts and Updates
- OUTPUT Clause (Transact-SQL)
- Techniques For Improving SQL Query Performance – Indexing, Parameterization and Partitioning
- SQL Server Optimizing Update Queries for Large Data Volumes
- Combine datasets
- Work with functions
Troubleshoot and optimize
- Optimize queries
- Manage transactions
- Evaluate the use of row-based operations vs. set-based operations
- Implement error handling
Next Steps
There are several links that will be useful to you:
