The Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 (exam code 070-457) is the exam you pass to earn the MCSA: SQL Server 2012 certification, a credential at the Associate level. It is also connected with related credentials such as MCSA: SQL Server 2012, MCSE: Data Platform, MCSE: Business Intelligence. If you are mapping out a certification path with Microsoft, this exam is a milestone worth planning around.

The 070-457 exam includes 40-60 questions, and you have 170 minutes to complete them. With that many questions on the clock, pacing is part of the challenge: divide your time into rough blocks as you go, and flag the items that stall you so you can circle back at the end instead of burning minutes on a single question. A week or two before your exam date, sit at least one full timed session in the 2Pass4sure test engine under the same time limit, so the pace feels familiar rather than frantic on the day.

You need 700 to pass the 070-457 exam, and the official registration fee is $150-$165 USD. That fee is due again in full for every retake, which makes thorough preparation the cheaper investment by far. Before you book your seat, test yourself with the 2Pass4sure practice questions until you are scoring comfortably above the passing mark on a consistent basis — it is the simplest way to avoid paying for the same exam twice.

Hold any valid MCTS certification on SQL Server 2008

Eligibility rules can be adjusted by Microsoft over time, so before you register, confirm the current requirements on the official exam page: view the official 070-457 exam information.

You can book the 070-457 exam through the official registration channels below:

• Pearson VUE Microsoft Portal
• Microsoft Learn Exam Page

How the exam is taken: Proctored exam at Pearson VUE test centers or online via OnVUE; retired and no longer available for registration.

Microsoft lists the following official training options for candidates preparing for this exam:

• Microsoft Official Curriculum
• SQL Server 2012 Transition Training

Once you have worked through the training, measure your readiness with the 172 practice questions from 2Pass4sure — they show you exactly which topics still need attention before you book the exam.

Yes. 2Pass4sure offers a free PDF demo of the 070-457 practice questions, so you can judge the quality of the material firsthand before paying anything. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates — if Microsoft changes the exam during that year, your material changes with it. And when the free update period expires, you can extend it at a 50% discount from within your member zone.

Every 070-457 purchase at 2Pass4sure is backed by a 100% Money Back Guarantee: if you take the corresponding exam within 60 days of your purchase and do not pass, you can apply for a full refund. The guarantee has clear conditions — it does not apply if you sit the exam within 3 days of purchase, if you downloaded the material but never actually took the exam, or to free materials and expired orders, and the candidate name must match the payer name. To file a claim, send a scan of your exam enrollment slip together with your official Score Report PDF within 2 days of the exam; claims are processed within 7 days. If you would rather not take a refund, you can exchange the product instead and receive two additional exam preparation products of equal value for free, while your original product keeps its update service. Delivery itself is instant: your material is available for download right after payment and is also sent to your email within one minute — if it has not arrived within 2 hours, contact our customer service. There is no limit on how many computers you can install it on.

The official Microsoft Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1 outline divides the exam content into 4 main domains. The first three are:

• Manage and Maintain Databases — 20-25%
• Work with Data — 28-33%
• Create Database Objects — 27-32%

That is only the headline view — scroll back up to the Exam Topics section on this page for the complete domain-by-domain breakdown before you plan your study schedule.