SQL Server 6.5 Implementation [With Contains Test Engine with Hundreds of Questions]

The book provides a good overview of SQL Implementation, but is not enough. Read the book (skip it's questions and CD), then study the Transcender exams. Assuming you are not a novice, you should pass. I passed on the first attempt using these two resources.

The overall concept and presentation of the book is excellent. Don't be fooled by the test prep software however, it was extremely buggy and very week in scope. Combine this book with Transcender softare and you have a sure fire pass. The coverage of triggers and defaults/rules could have been stronger and programmability was not as up to speed as a few other guides, but overall it prepares you for the exam on a timely basis.I highly recommend the New Riders series.

I believe that the level of the text is reasonably geared for the intended audience. (If you're an old SQL pro, you probably don't really need a book like this and if you're a complete novice, you're probably not ready to think about taking the exam) This series uses the framework of the published Microsoft Exam topics to arrange the material covered. Despite the constraint, this book does a rather decent job of actually teaching one to use SQL Server. The authors frequently reference outside material, often the online docs, for further study. There are extensive exercises and question sets at the end of each chapter, though the questions are not "exam sound alikes". In any case I would suggest that someone hitting SQL cold, would do well to first spend some time with MS Access to learn the fundamentals of Relational Data Base Design (Teach Yourself Access 97 in 14 Days from Sams might be a good choice). Follow up with this book, and then the SQL Server online docs.

Provides good overview of topics covered in examNot extremely detailed or thorough in all topicsReview questions at end of each chapter are too easy and sometimes down-right wrong or contradict the text itselfExercises are too easy.Overall, good review for exam; should complement another study guide.