It seems my 'perfect record' of passing Microsoft exams has finally come to an end.

During August and September a large number of new exams were made available for 'beta' testing before their public release. Somehow I managed to take 7 exams over this time – most relating to developing Windows 8 applications.

The final results are now published I've passed:

  • 70-483: Programming in C#
  • 70-485: Advanced Windows Store App Development using C#
  • 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC 4 Web Applications
  • 70-487: Developing Windows Azure and Web Services

But unfortunately I didn't do so well for the remainder:

  • 70-481: Essentials of Developing Windows Store Apps using HTML5 and JavaScript
  • 70-482: Advanced Windows Store App Development using HTML5 and JavaScript
  • 70-484: Essentials of Developing Windows Store Apps using C#

Failing the HTML5 exams wasn't much of a surprise. I really didn't know the technology very well at all, so it was reasonable that I didn't pass. I figured that it would still be a good learning experience to do the exams, and hopefully I'd pick up a few concepts along the way.

70-484 was a bit more disappointing, but I'm pleased that by the time I took 70-485 I'd had a chance to spend a bit more time playing around with developing for Windows 8 – and that obviously paid off. I think I would like to do that one again in a few months, most likely after I've published some apps to the Windows 8 Store – that should then qualify me for the MCSD Windows Store Apps.

Another exam that I wasn't offered in beta was 70-480 – "Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3". That may be another one to do in the future, as then I'd also add MCSD Web Applications.

One side-benefit of passing 70-483 means that I achieved the following certification: Programming in C# Specialist