In my last few blogs I have talked about the different punishment standards recently introduced by Microsoft for individuals and test-centers. A test-center (CPLS) only faces a suspension, where as the individual faced a life-time ban. I think we need to further address the punishment for cheating by CPLSs – uh “test-centers”

If you are remotely curious as to how prevalent cheating is in the IT field – just do a search on the Internet for “braindumps” and you will be surprised at the results. There are dozens – literally dozens of places that will be more than glad to sell you a “study guide” for a test. These study guides are the tests that we all have to pass. The study guides have the test questions and answers. All you have to do is memorize the answers and go take your test and trust that the answers they have presented are the correct ones.
What is more amazing is that there are places that will actually take the test for you – just give them your details and voila! You are now certified (and most likely a “victim” of ID theft as a result – but no sympathy on my part – this is one of those times where justice is served!).

Now let us look at the test-center. Yes, must of these are CPLSs and Microsoft partners. But my question is, where are the braindump sites getting their test questions and how are they able to do this? I find it hard to believe that there are that many people with photographic or near photographic memory taking tests just to turn around and sell the test questions and answers (not to mention how the diagrams and illustration are EXACTLY the ones seen on the tests. Now this is just my opinion, but I believe there must be some collusion between one or more unethical test-centers and the brain dump sites. There almost has to be some collusion occurring to account for the sheer number of tests, test answers and the fact that tests seem to appear on the dump site with amazing rapidity for new releases. Now what should the punishment be for a test center? I think at the very least the test-center (CPLS) should immediately lose their partnership with Microsoft and all access to software, download capabilities, etc. They should also face a three year ban and seek reinstatement. Any individuals at the company who are involved with this cheating scheme (owners, managers, test administrators etc) should also face a three year ban and have to seek reinstatement. Since both the individuals AND the CPLS face the same ban – we adhere to the “cheating is cheating across the board and should be treated the same” – at least that is what one person at Microsoft has espoused as official policy (see my last blog on this statement). Just want to keep an honest field is all…

Now here is a thought – why not post the names of the individuals and CPLSs that have been caught cheating? There might be some merit to have an IT version of the public stockade where people could come by and through virtual rotten tomatoes at offenders…here is one at ya buddy….learn the material AND then test!