Reading about the exam and sitting the exam are different skills. The Test4Cram test engines simulate the Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 environment closely enough that by exam day, the 70-457 format feels like a routine you have already rehearsed.
Microsoft 70-457 Exam Overview:
| Certification Vendor: | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Exam Name: | Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 |
| Exam Number: | 70-457 |
| Passing Score: | 700 |
| Available Languages: | German, Portuguese (Brazil), Chinese (Simplified), French, Japanese, English |
| Exam Duration: | 170 minutes |
| Exam Format: | Active screen, Case studies, Drag and drop, Multiple choice, Build list |
| Related Certifications: | MCSE: Business Intelligence MCSE: Data Platform MCSA: SQL Server 2012 |
| Exam Price: | $150-$165 USD |
| Real Exam Qty: | 40-60 |
| Certificate Validity Period: | Retired (Jan 31, 2021); MCSA certification valid for lifetime once earned |
| Recommended Training: | SQL Server 2012 Transition Training Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Exam Registration: | Microsoft Learn Exam Page Pearson VUE Microsoft Portal |
| Sample Questions: |  |
| Exam Way: | Proctored exam at Pearson VUE test centers or online via OnVUE; retired and no longer available for registration |
| Pre Condition: | Hold any valid MCTS certification on SQL Server 2008 |
| Official Syllabus URL: | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/credentials/certifications/exams/70-457 |
Microsoft 70-457 Exam Syllabus Topics:
| Section | Weight | Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Topic 1: Create Database Objects | 27-32% | - Design and implement tables - Create stored procedures - Create and modify views - Create functions and triggers - Create and alter indexes |
| Topic 2: Work with Data | 28-33% | - Manage transactions and error handling - Query data using SELECT statements - Apply built-in functions and aggregate functions - Modify data using INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE - Implement subqueries and joins |
| Topic 3: Troubleshoot and Optimize Queries | 15-20% | - Use query hints and execution plans - Identify and resolve performance issues - Analyze execution plans - Optimize indexes and statistics |
| Topic 4: Manage and Maintain Databases | 20-25% | - Configure SQL Server instances - Monitor SQL Server activity - Implement high availability features - Manage backups and restores - Implement security principles |
70-457 Exam Essentials: Frequently Asked Questions
Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 is an official Microsoft certification exam, listed under the code 70-457. Clearing it earns the MCSA: SQL Server 2012 certification, a Associate-level credential. It also ties into MCSA: SQL Server 2012, MCSE: Data Platform, MCSE: Business Intelligence, which makes it a useful anchor for a longer certification plan. For employers, the value is simple: the vendor itself has verified what you know.
You will work through 40-60 questions in 170 minutes on the Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 exam. The content is only half the battle; the clock is the other half. Train both at once: set the Test4Cram test engine to full timed mode, practice skipping and returning to stubborn items, and repeat until finishing with minutes to spare feels normal rather than lucky.
Passing Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 requires 700, and the official registration fee is $150-$165 USD. Remember that a retake bills the same $150-$165 USD all over again, so winging it is the most expensive strategy on the table. A better approach: benchmark yourself with the Test4Cram practice tests first, and schedule the real exam only once your scores sit comfortably and consistently above the requirement.
Hold any valid MCTS certification on SQL Server 2008
Requirements do evolve, so before you spend a registration fee, verify the current conditions on the official exam page.
Registration for Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 is handled through the vendor's official channels below.
One more detail for your planning: the exam is delivered Proctored exam at Pearson VUE test centers or online via OnVUE; retired and no longer available for registration.
Microsoft recommends the following training resources for the Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 exam.
Training tells you what to learn; practice questions teach you how the exam asks it. Pair either with the 172 items in the Test4Cram 70-457 package and you cover both halves.
Yes. The free demo on this page contains a portion of the complete Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 question set, enough to judge the accuracy and the clarity of the explanations for yourself. After purchase, updates are free for 365 days, and once your product expires you can extend the update service at a 50% discount.
Test4Cram provides a 100% money-back guarantee with clearly stated conditions. Take the Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 exam within 60 days of purchase; if you fail, you may claim a full refund, as long as the exam matches your product. Exams taken within 3 days of purchase are not eligible, and neither are products that were downloaded but never used, free materials, or expired orders; the candidate name must match the payer name. File the claim with a scanned enrollment slip and the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of the exam, and it is processed within 7 days. If you would rather exchange than refund, you can receive two other exam products of equal value free of charge and keep the update service on your original purchase.
Delivery is immediate: your purchase is downloadable right away and automatically emailed to you within one minute of successful payment. If nothing arrives within 2 hours, check your spam folder and contact customer service. You may install the software on as many computers as you wish.
The official Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 syllabus comprises 4 domains. The heaviest hitters are Work with Data (28-33%), Manage and Maintain Databases (20-25%), and Create Database Objects (27-32%). The complete outline sits above on this page; walk it top to bottom and mark every line you could not teach to someone else.
Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 Sample Questions:
You are a database developer at an independent software vendor. You create stored procedures that contain proprietary code. You need to protect the code from being viewed by your customers. Which stored procedure option should you use?
- A. ENCRYPTBYCERT
- B. ENCRYPTBYKEY
- C. ENCRYPTBYPASSPHRASE
- D. ENCRYPTION
Correct Answer: D 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Test4Cram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
You create a table that has the StudentCode, SubjectCode, and Marks columns to record mid-year marks for students. The table has marks obtained by 50 students for various subjects. You need to ensure that the following requirements are met:
Students must be ranked based on their average marks.
If one or more students have the same average, the same rank must be given to these students.
Consecutive ranks must be skipped when the same rank is assigned.
Which Transact-SQL query should you use?
- A. SELECT StudentCode as Code,
DENSE_RANK() OVER(ORDER BY AVG (Marks) DESC) AS Value
FROM StudentMarks
GROUP BY StudentCode - B. SELECT StudentCode AS Code,Marks AS Value FROM ( SELECT StudentCode, Marks AS Marks, RANK() OVER(PARTITION BY SubjectCode ORDER BY Marks DESC) AS Rank
FROM StudentMarks) tmp
WHERE Rank = 1 - C. SELECT Id, Name, Marks,
DENSE_RANK() OVER(ORDER BY Marks DESC) AS Rank
FROM StudentMarks - D. SELECT StudentCode AS Code,Marks AS Value FROM ( SELECT StudentCode, Marks AS Marks, RANXO OVER(PARTITION BY StudentCode ORDER BY Marks DESC) AS Rank
FROM StudentMarks) tmp
WHERE Rank = 1 - E. SELECT StudentCode AS Code,Marks AS Value FROM ( SELECT StudentCode, Marks AS Marks, RANK() OVER(PARTITION BY SubjectCode ORDER BY Marks ASC) AS Rank
FROM StudentMarks) tmp
WHERE Rank = 1 - F. SELECT StudentCode AS Code,Marks AS Value FROM ( SELECT StudentCode, Marks AS Marks, RANK() OVER(PARTITION BY StudentCode ORDER BY Marks ASC) AS Rank
FROM StudentMarks) tmp
WHERE Rank = 1 - G. SELECT StudentCode as Code,
NTILE(2) OVER(ORDER BY AVG (Marks) DESC) AS Value
FROM StudentMarks
GROUP BY StudentCode - H. SELECT StudentCode as Code,
RANK() OVER(ORDER BY AVG (Marks) DESC) AS Value
FROM StudentMarks
GROUP BY StudentCode
Correct Answer: H 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Test4Cram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
You administer a Microsoft SQL Server 2012 server that hosts a transactional database and a reporting database. The transactional database is updated through a web application and is operational throughout the day. The reporting database is only updated from the transactional database. The recovery model and backup schedule are configured as shown in the following table:
The differential backup of the reporting database fails. Then, the reporting database fails at 14:00 hours.
You need to ensure that the reporting database is restored. You also need to ensure that data loss is minimal. What should you do?
- A. Perform a page restore.
- B. Restore the latest full backup, and restore the latest differential backup. Then, restore each log backup taken before the time of failure from the most recent differential backup.
- C. Perform a point-in-time restore.
- D. Restore the latest full backup. Then, restore each differential backup taken before the time of failure from the most recent full backup.
- E. Restore the latest full backup. Then, restore the latest differential backup.
- F. Restore the latest full backup.
- G. Restore the latest full backup, and restore the latest differential backup. Then, restore the latest log backup.
- H. Perform a partial restore.
Correct Answer: F 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Test4Cram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
Your application contains a stored procedure for each country. Each stored procedure accepts an employee identification number through the @EmpID parameter. You plan to build a single process for each employee that will execute the stored procedure based on the country of residence. Which approach should you use?
- A. The foreach SQLCLR statement
- B. An UPDATE statement that includes CASE
- C. a recursive stored procedure
- D. Trigger
- E. Cursor
Correct Answer: E 🗳️
Explanation: Only visible for Test4Cram members. You can sign-up / login (it's free).
You administer a database that includes a table named Customers that contains more than 750 rows. You create a new column named PartitionNumber of the int type in the table. You need to assign a PartitionNumber for each record in the Customers table. You also need to ensure that the PartitionNumber satisfies the following conditions:
Always starts with 1.
Starts again from 1 after it reaches 100. Which Transact-SQL statement should you use?
- A. CREATE SEQUENCE CustomerSequence AS int START WITH 1 INCREMENT BY 1 MINVALUE 0 MAXVALUE 100 CYCLE UPTATE Customers SET PartitionNumber = NEXT VALUE FOR CustomerSequence DROP SEQUENCE CustomerSequence
- B. CREATE SEQUENCE CustomerSequence AS int START WITH 0 INCREMENT BY 1 MINVALUE 1 MAXVALUE 100 UPDATE Customers SET PartitionNumber = NEXT VALUE FOR CustomerSequence DROP SEQUENCE CustomerSequence
- C. CREATE SEQUENCE CustomerSequence AS int START WITH 1 INCREMENT BY 1 MINVALUE 1 MAXVALUE 100 CYCLE UPDATE Customers SET PartitionNumber = NEXT VALUE FOR CustomerSequence
DROP SEQUENCE CustomerSequence - D. CREATE SEQUENCE CustomerSequence AS int START WITH 1 INCREMENT BY 1 MINVALUE 1 MAXVALUE 100 UPDATE Customers SET PartitionNumber = NEXT VALUE FOR CustomerSequence + 1 DROP SEQUENCE CustomerSequence
Correct Answer: C 🗳️
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