UPDATE: (5th August 2016): So today I went and took the Microsoft Exam I’ve been studying for. I felt pretty confident given that MeasureUp was giving passing scores generally and I knew where I was going wrong on incorrect questions, etc. Unfortunately, the content of the MeasureUp Mock Exams is nothing like the real ones. Barely any of the same areas came up at all, despite my having been through ALL of the sample questions multiple times. It was so way off the mark that it could have been for an entirely different exam (and yes – I checked I was taking the right exam and that I’d purchased the right test from MeasureUp). In light of this, all I can say is that while MeasureUp may be useful to some extent, do not use it to measure your chances of passing or even as a resource for revising.
I recently signed up for a Microsoft Certification exam and decided to try out the learning / test exam platform offered as an extra.
It’s not cheap at £60 for one module for one month but I had a very short time span to learn so needed all the help I could get so signed up.
Upon logging in to the platform for the first time, I was struck by how sparse it was. Sometimes that’s a good thing but in this case, it looks as though they have purchased a HTML5/CCS/JS theme and are slowly fleshing it out.
I got a popup message when I first logged in discussing a re-design of the front-end which seems to support this theory.
Test Interface Functionality & Features
Test Types
After selecting my course, I began a test and was presented with two options:
Certification
Just like the actual Certification Exam
Practice
Request the correct answers and change the testing environment
(I opted for the latter)
Test Options
You have various options for the test, allowing you to customize it to suit your learning style and/or needs, for example:
- Randomize the order of the questions
- Set a specific test duration
- Include XX of the pool of questions (in my case there was a pool of 175 questions for the subject I had chosen)
- Show me questions I missed from the last [ x ] tests
- Show me questions not displayed from the last [ x ] tests
- Do not include complex questions
- Do not include simulation questions
- Only show questions from Show Objectives
The last item in the list is a really nice feature that allows you to tailor the questions to a specific area defined within this module. This is really useful if you know you are particularly weak in an area (or want to practice in a more subject specific manner). To give you an idea of what ‘Objectives’ a course might be broken in to, my Microsoft Server 2012 test had the following objective groups within it:
- Install and Configure Servers
- Configure Server Roles and Features
- Configure Hyper-V
- Deploy and Configure Core Network Services
- Install and Administer Active Directory
- Create and Manage Group Policy
Test Interface Design
The actual test interface design is very plain and simple and while I understand the idea is to not distract from the content (and presumably a monochrome palette means is equally good for partial sighted users, etc.), I believe it could benefit from a little colour:
Obviously I’ve changed the text due to copyright concerns
Test Interface: Intro Screen
Unfortunately the very beginning of the test falls flat because the ‘next’ button on the opening screen is hidden under the Windows 8 task bar (because the developers have used JavaScript to make the popup windows the same height/width as the screen – they need to deduct the height of the windows task bar!):
Content Quality
They definitely need to ‘get their grammar check on’ as the very first question out of the box is a multiple choice with a typo!:
You have a several firewall rules configured
Wait – what?
Tech Support
As with so many things, the measure of a company is how they respond when there is a problem. Unfortunately in this regard, I’m not hugely impressed with MeasureUps support platform – there’s no ticketing, no forum, etc. If you want to report a bug, the only way to do so is to use ‘Feedback’ button during a test. I emailed them offering to provide feedback (as I have experience as a beta tester) and asking where I could submit more detailed information to and got this underwhelming response:
Dear Robert,
Thank you for contacting MeasureUp.
I am afraid that we have no other way of reporting issues than the contact form or the “feedback” button in the bottom left corner of your screen when you have a test running. We are always happy to receive feedback from our clients to help us improve our products.If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,Charlie by Sitel
MeasureUp Customer Support
We’ll see how they do when I start sending the bugs over!
Tablet Support
The usability of the test interface on mobile devices is excellent and to a certain extent, feels more natural than on a desktop browser. This is a huge plus because people studying/preparing for exams tend to busy and want to grab a little study time whenver and wherever they can.
Problems & Downsides
Settings & Defaults
My biggest bug-bear with the platform so far is that the developers don’t seem to realise that ‘With great options comes great responsibility’ – please remember my options! I repeatedly find myself having to cancel and re-start tests because I assumed it would remember my previous selections for testing instead of having to re-select every. single. time!
Session Continuity
The ability to use the platform via tablet, phone and desktop is fantastic but there seems to be a lack of continuity and I regularly go to pick up a test where I left off to find I have to restart. Again this seems to stem from the idea that the developers don’t realise that people will be using this as a study tool – not purely for sitting down for a full test in one sitting.
Summary
So far, despite the odd quirk I’m very impressed with the platform. It does what it says it does and no more. I do think that they need to improve how they handle support requests but this wouldn’t stop me from recommending it to others.
20 comments on «Review: MeasureUp Learning Platform (Learning Locker)»
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I should listen to my instructor not to waste money on Measureup A+ practice tests. I spend $120 and there no simulation questions using the command line. It is a waste of money. It won’t help you. I should stay to the free test.
I read your comments regarding Measureup and agree that they are not typical of the real exam. I am new to IT at a mature age I might add so I depend on these test exams to set me straight. I found that you would need to be getting 100% several times on Measureup to be anyway prepared for real exam. Also I find it annoying that I can not review my failed questions without going through the whole question list. I have done Network Fundementals and the ComTIT A+ and am now doing Network +. I am doing it all through online coarse\’s which has the drawback of not being able to interact with other people in my position but on the other hand I do it at my own pace.
I read this post with some interest. I picked up the Cisco 300-101 Route 2.0 Measureup mock exam – same story as yourself, 1 month’s access to the test. I truly have been hard pressed to find a worse test than the one they present, and when I say worst I mean poorly constructed and a very sorry exercise in scripting. The router simulators are nothing more than prompts that appear to look for a perfect match with a text string by way of config. No abbreviations. No use of diagnostic commands to verify the device state, Absolutely no intelligence at all. And since the Measureup simulator looks for little other than the exact match of a text string the commands entered must be provided in the exact order that their text engine / word processor (since that is what it is) looks for answers. Save yourself the trouble and do not invest in this extremely poor representation of a mock exam. The actual simulator offered in the Cisco test offers support for the question mark (providing immediate help), support for abbrevated commands, and allows configuration show/diagnostic commands. Measureup appears to make a big case out of the fact that their test is for sale online at Cisco, and of the length of time that they have been established as a company. With regard to the former I will be getting back directly to Cisco in my capacity as an instructor regarding their alleged endorsement of this vendor. Their are other test companies that have been established longer with much better test engines.
I picked up MeasureUP at checkout when registering for CCNP Switch 300-115. I found the same as the people above. For a Cisco exam claiming this product is helpful would be a blatant lie. Additionally – Reference Links to supposedly let you do more reading on the topic returned 404’s or at times – deprecated supervisor engines running Deprecated CatOS rather than Cisco IOS. Literally the worst steaming pile of dog doo you could consider purchasing. The other “claim” is that they are going to train you by forcing you to type out the entire command syntax. This was not just a distraction but was implemented so horrid that on one question it would be “interface fastEthernet0/1” or go Windows Boing. On the next, “interface Fastethernet0/1” On the next question it might be “interface fa0/1” On the next you might have to put a space between ethernet and the 0/1. It was also inconsistent between times you ran through their exam. Someone at Cisco got a Ferrari to recommend MeasureUp as their preferred training platform. Thankfully – similar to Boson and PCPT – the content they provided in no way matched Cisco’s actual test. The good news is that after taking MeasureUp you were prepared for the real exam’s simulations to crash and refuse to accept correct command syntax. You were also ready to be required to enter commands that would in no way match the switch that you were supposed to be entering them on. You know – because it makes perfect sense to tell you you have to do something on a switch that doesn’t have that in the featureset and never has.
I wasted my money and my time. Total disaster. In the real exam, I felt totally lost. Different questions, differents topics. Don’t lost your money. Never buy this test.
I purchased the 70-410 virtual labs about a month ago. I’m still not close to getting through all the content because the VM’s never stay operational. They’ll crash in middle of performing the labs and most of the time I have to wait until the following day for them to work again. Support never responds in a timely manner. Another problem with having to wait until the next day is that is the VM’s go back to their original configuration. So, the next day you’ll have to start from the beginning (assuming the latter part of the lab is dependent on configuration done in the first part of the lab). Money out the window 🙁
I agree with you on MeasureUp. NOWHERE near the level of difficulty on the real 70-480 exam. I just walked out of the testing center an hour ago and passed with a 701, but no thanks to MeasureUp. Mesaureup content was just plain weak. Have you found any other prep vendor that is worthy? How about Transcender?
I took the 70-461 MS T-SQL querying exam. To prepare for it I purchased access to measure up mock exam advertised in the official MS book for this exam.
Got three 100% scores on measure Up that day yet failed on the real exam (560 points where pass mark is 700). No representation of the real exam. On the real one 25% questions were where you type your code. None of those on measure up at all.
Difficulty level not comparable to the real exam.
Feel … stupid.
Never more.
HI,
I bought an Measure Up practice test a few hours ago and I haven’t received any Registration Key yet.
I’m affraid that the Registration Key was displayed on the page when the payment was done successfully, but to be honest I haven’t seen any Registration Key there. Just saw my receipt for printing. Should Measure Up email us with the Key?
I also email Measure Up support, but I don’t know how long they will take to text me back, or if they will text me back.
Any help?
Thanks
Purchased exam through their website, no key on purchase, no indication of purchase on the website login, no key sent through email and no answer from support. Credit card billed, looks like the site is a complete scam, now have to charge back through my credit card company.
Today is my exam on MS 98-364 , I bought the practice test , it is not working with me now, not support online now, and I’m trying from 8.00 am to go to my account but kept telling me the info is not correct , reset my password many time, and open my account , but not able to get the test.. It just west money… nothing work with this website so far …
I gave my Microsoft examination today and followed Measure up religiously.
I failed miserably and am so FRUSTRATED.
All my time wasted on understanding the questions went waste.
UGGHHHHH !
They are a complete waste!
I purchased exam 70-461 from Pearson Vue, and at checkout, was asked if I would like to add on the Practice Exam for an additional $80. I thought, what the heck, can’t hurt, right? So, I get my key to unlock the practice exams, and I couldn’t believe there were only four (4) questions, period. No matter how many times I take the practice exam, the same four questions are presented. I felt like I was robbed. I went to their website, and the same exact questions are on the free demo exam. Now, I know I was robbed. Steer clear of the so-called practice test when checking out. The actual practice test consists of 164 questions for $119. At the very least, I should be able to apply my $80 towards the full practice test, or get my money back.
I used them for Sec+ but it was free from DOD. I failed miserably. Their stuff is pure garbage. I ended up passing using online free stuff and Google Apps.
MeasureUP or Messed Up? Garbage platform. Customer Service is bs. I have to inform a new Password every time that I have to login within the bs fk platform
****STAY CLEAR FROM MEASUREUP IT IS A SCAM**** i bought this simulation exam when checking out for my CCNA on pearson vue. Studied hard for 30 days just to enter the exam hall and realize that not even a single question will show up. SOOOOOOOOO Dissapinted Cisco reference this as CERTIFIED LAB. what a waste 🙁
Just wanted to share my experience with Measureup. While the test questions are very likely not to be the same as the real exam, they do prepare you for the content that appears on the VMware VCP certifications. The key for me was going to the articles that explained the answers and making sure everything in those articles was understood throughly. This is the only tool that I used for studying for 2V0-602 and 2V0-622 and passed both with scores of 430 out of 500. Measureup is not an exam dump which would give the exact same questions that were on the exam but why would someone want to take the risk as I’m fairly certain certifications can be revoked for using these. The purpose of these study materials is to lead you to the content to learn the objectives just not memorize answers which I found this program to do a good job doing.
That’s not my experience at all. I took (and failed) the vcp exam today and found the type of questions to be way off the mark. I would never expect the same questions but I would expect a similar level of difficulty and also a similar ‘type’ of questions.
My experience of measure up VCP was very much focused on actual knowledge (so probably a better exam in fact) but the real vcp was more about memorising raw figures and content.
So for someone who’s worked with VMware products for 12 years, got every VCP since VI2.5 and several VCAPs, the current VCP is a useless representation of actually working with VMware vsphere. And while measure up is probably a better measure of your true knowledge, it in now way reflects the actual VMware exam.
I bought 30 days access to a practise exam. Used it it for one day.
The next day, I am thrown out of my account. Logging back in doesn’t work. When I set a new password, it says “Something went wrong while saving the new password.” Weak infrastructure.
I wish I would have thought to look for reviews of MeasureUp BEFORE using them. It is the most worthless training I have EVER experienced. Buggy. Unclear. Useless. I was in contact with their “customer service” from the beginning. That should have been a clue. Do not waste your time or money.
I have had great luck and experience with Udemy. I have taken two of their training courses and have no complaints.