Beta Exams

Beta Exams

Note

Have a chance to score an 80% voucher for your beta exam and get a 25% exam voucher as a reward for a future exam.

Every once in a while Microsoft creates a new exam, either for a new certification or to update an existing one, and needs to test it out before releasing it into General Availability.

The 80% beta discount

The first and most important incentive is that Microsoft offers 80% off to the first 300 people who order the beta exam. This discount is first-come, first-served, and the voucher code is shared publicly on the Microsoft Learn Blog.

You can generally only use this code to take the exam within 3-4 weeks of the beta launch.

Get early access to codes

Note

If you are here after the exam launches into beta, the email in mailing list was probably already sent out so if you are looking for the closed-access 80% off voucher code, you want to primarily want to join the LinkedIn group.

You can also join the mailing list or the LinkedIn group for more active participation opportunities, including access to closed-access beta vouchers. These codes are functionally identical to the ones posted publicly, but since they aren’t public, they tend to last a lot longer.

Mailing List

LinkedIn Group

After you take the exam

You’ll also receive a 25% off voucher code for any future exam. This voucher can be combined with the ESI voucher, but you’re only allowed to use one voucher per exam order.

Recently there was a situation where a beta exam was more complicated and took longer than usual to score. Because of this, early beta exam takers were given a 100% off exam voucher as compensation. This isn’t likely to happen again, but it’s not impossible.

Should you take a beta exam?

Beta exams can take a long time to be scored, so this isn’t the right path if you need your certification quickly. You should also avoid beta exams if you don’t have hands-on experience with the tools and products being tested — aside from the study guide, there are usually next to no materials to prepare with, so you’ll have to do the preparation yourself.

Beta exams are also more difficult than regular exams. On average they contain 25% more questions than regular exams in the same amount of time, and since the questions haven’t been tested yet, some may be very difficult or potentially incorrect.

Generally, only experienced professionals should take beta exams. If you’re new to the field, it’s better to wait for the exam to reach General Availability before taking it.

Still, at 80% off, it’s a great opportunity to preview the exam and get a feel for it without spending much, even if you don’t pass.