Rapid 70-486 Self Test Training: Targeted Drills to Boost Your ScorePreparing for the Microsoft 70-486 exam—Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications—can feel like trying to sprint a marathon: you need both depth of knowledge and the ability to perform under time pressure. Rapid self test training focuses on high-impact, targeted drills that sharpen the specific skills and thinking patterns the exam demands. This article presents a structured, efficient approach to preparing: what to practice, how to design drills, common pitfalls to avoid, and a rigorous 6-week plan you can follow to raise your score.
Why targeted self tests work
The 70-486 exam assesses practical ability to design and develop ASP.NET MVC applications, covering routing, controllers, views, security, data access, web APIs, performance, and deployment. Cramming theory rarely translates to exam success because the exam requires you to apply concepts in realistic scenarios.
- Active retrieval: Short, focused practice tests strengthen recall under pressure.
- Feedback loops: Immediate review of mistakes prevents repeated errors.
- Task-specific drills: Practicing isolated tasks (e.g., implementing authentication) builds fluency for composite exam questions.
Core domains to drill
Focus drills on the high-weight topics and recurring patterns in the exam:
- Routing & URL design
- Controllers, actions, and model binding
- Views, Razor syntax, and partial views
- Authentication & authorization (Forms, OWIN, claims, role-based)
- Data access patterns (Entity Framework, repository/unit-of-work)
- Web API integration and RESTful design
- Performance, caching, and scalability
- Application deployment, configuration, and diagnostics
- Security best practices (XSS, CSRF, injection prevention)
- Testing: unit tests, integration tests, mocking
Concentrate on the tasks that combine multiple domains, such as securing a Web API that accesses EF data and caching results, because many exam items expect integrated solutions.
How to build effective drills
Use the following drill design principles to make practice efficient:
- Timebox each drill (10–45 minutes) to practice speed and focus.
- Make drills task-oriented: “Implement role-based authorization so only Admins may access /admin/*.”
- Start with single-concept drills, then combine concepts into “scenario drills.”
- Simulate real exam constraints: limited time, partial code provided, choose the best option from multiple choices.
- Record results and error patterns; convert recurring errors into micro-drills.
Example drill progression for authentication:
- 10-min: Configure cookie-based authentication using OWIN startup class.
- 20-min: Implement role-based authorization with custom claims transformation.
- 30-min: Secure an API endpoint with token-based authentication and refresh tokens.
- 45-min: End-to-end scenario: register/login, call secured API, handle expired tokens, and log unauthorized attempts.
Sample drills (with expected focus)
- Drill A — Model binding edge cases (15 min): Create a controller action that accepts nested complex types and collection properties; handle missing or malformed fields.
- Focus: binding attributes, validation attributes, ModelState.
- Drill B — Route constraints and attribute routing (10 min): Define routes that map primary key formats and optional segments.
- Focus: route templates, constraints, route order.
- Drill C — EF performance (20 min): Identify and fix N+1 query issues in a repository method.
- Focus: eager loading (Include), projection, AsNoTracking.
- Drill D — CSRF + XSS defense (15 min): Implement anti-forgery tokens in forms and sanitize user output without breaking HTML encoding.
- Focus: ValidateAntiForgeryToken, Html.Raw vs Html.Encode.
- Drill E — Deploy and diagnose (30 min): Configure Web.config transforms for Release, enable remote debugging, and analyze a failing requesttrace for exceptions.
- Focus: config transforms, logging frameworks, ELMAH/App Insights basics.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Mistaking configuration for code: Many exam items evaluate conceptual choices (e.g., correct OWIN middleware order). Practice reading and understanding config and startup sequences.
- Ignoring edge cases: Model binding and validation questions often hinge on how unspecified fields behave. Include null/malformed inputs in drills.
- Overlooking security defaults: Know default behaviors (e.g., Anti-Forgery tokens are not automatic) and how to enable them.
- Weak time management: Practice answering questions within time limits; mark and return to harder items.
Study resources to integrate into drills
Use a mix of hands-on labs, concise documentation, and practice questions:
- Official Microsoft docs and API references for up-to-date syntax and recommended patterns.
- Lightweight code samples and GitHub projects to clone and modify for drills.
- Timed practice exams and question banks to simulate exam format.
- Debugging/logging tools (Visual Studio debugger, browser dev tools, SQL Profiler or EF logging).
6-week rapid training plan (assumes ~8–12 hours/week)
Week 1 — Fundamentals & routing (8–10 hrs)
- Drill core routing and controller basics. Run daily 15–30 min quick tests.
Week 2 — Views, model binding, validation (8–12 hrs)
- Drill Razor syntax, templates, partials, model binding edge cases.
Week 3 — Data access & performance (10–12 hrs)
- EF patterns, N+1, transaction handling, and caching drills.
Week 4 — Security & authentication (10–12 hrs)
- OWIN, claims, role-based auth, CSRF/XSS, token handling drills.
Week 5 — Web API, integration & testing (10–12 hrs)
- Secure APIs, integration scenarios, unit testing controllers/services.
Week 6 — Full-scenario simulations & final practice exams (12+ hrs)
- Combine topics in multi-hour simulated exams, analyze mistakes, run micro-drills.
Daily routine (recommended)
- 10–20 min: warm-up micro-drill (quick concept review).
- 45–90 min: focused drill (implement/fix code).
- 20–40 min: review mistakes and read documentation.
Measuring progress
- Track time-to-complete for each drill and error rates. Aim to reduce both.
- Maintain a “mistake log”: category, root cause, corrective drill assigned.
- Take full-length timed practice exams at the end of Week 3 and Week 6 to measure improvement.
Example error log entry (concise)
- Symptom: ModelState.IsValid true but view shows empty collection.
- Root cause: Missing indexer name in form fields for collections.
- Fix drill: Build form post for collection-binding scenario (10–15 min).
Final tips for exam day
- Read each question carefully; watch for qualifiers like “most efficient,” “least complex,” or “best practice.”
- Eliminate obviously wrong options first, then compare remaining choices.
- Manage time—skip very difficult items and return if time permits.
- If code is shown, look for subtle differences in method signatures, attribute placement, or middleware order.
Rapid targeted drills sharpen the problem-solving habits the 70-486 exam tests: pattern recognition, practical implementation, and quick debugging. Focus on task-oriented practice, keep tight feedback loops, and simulate exam conditions. With disciplined, targeted training over six weeks, you’ll convert weak spots into reliable skills and boost your score.
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