The 71-687 exam, officially known as Microsoft Windows 8 Beta, is the Microsoft test that leads to the MCSA: Windows 8 certification at the Associate level. Passing it validates the skills employers expect from a certified professional. It is also associated with related credentials such as MCSA: Windows 8, MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure.

The 71-687 exam contains 49-60 questions, and you have 120-150 to complete them. Work out your per-question pace before test day, and flag slow items instead of stalling on them — time pressure, not knowledge, sinks many first attempts. Timed mock exams in the Lead2PassExam test engines are the most reliable way to build that rhythm.

The passing score for the 71-687 exam is 700 / 1000, and the official registration fee is Beta: Free / Standard: $165 USD. If you miss the mark, a retake means paying the full fee again, so book your seat only when you are ready. A practical benchmark: score consistently above the passing line on timed practice tests before scheduling the real exam.

No formal prerequisites; intended for IT professionals configuring Windows 8 clients

Entry requirements can change, so confirm the latest conditions on the official exam page: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/kumppaniblogi/windows-8-exam-team-is-pleased-to-announce-publication-of-the-first-beta-exams-71-410-and-71-687.

You can book the 71-687 exam through the official registration channels below:

• Microsoft Beta Exam Announcement
• Prometric (historical)

Exam delivery: Onsite proctored at Prometric centers; Beta period May–July 2012. Seats at popular test centers fill quickly, so schedule early once your preparation is on track.

Microsoft recommends the following training options for Microsoft Windows 8 Beta candidates:

• Course 20687A: Configuring Windows 8

Pair any course with the 49 practice questions from Lead2PassExam to measure how ready you really are before paying the exam fee.

Yes. A free PDF demo of the Microsoft Windows 8 Beta questions is available, so you can check the question style and answer quality before you pay. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates, and if the product expires you can renew the update service at a 50% discount from your member zone.

If you take the corresponding 71-687 exam within 60 days of purchase and do not pass, you can apply for a full refund under the 100% Money Back Guarantee: submit a scan of your enrollment slip and your official Score Report (PDF) within 2 days of the exam date, and the claim is processed within 7 days. Attempts made within 3 days of purchase, downloads without an actual exam attempt, free materials, and expired orders are not eligible, and the candidate name must match the payer name. Prefer new material instead of a refund? You can exchange your purchase for two free products of equal value and keep the update service on your original product. As for delivery, the files are available for instant download and are also emailed to you within one minute of payment — if nothing arrives within 2 hours, contact customer service. There is no limit on how many computers you can install the product on.

The official Microsoft Windows 8 Beta outline is organized into 6 domains. The first three are:

• Configure Network Connectivity — 15% of the exam
• Configure Access to Resources — 15% of the exam
• Monitor and Maintain Windows Clients — 20% of the exam

See the complete exam topics section above for the full outline and the weighting of every domain.