Getting certified...
So how did you prepare to take a certification test? Did you use the MS Press study guides? Exam Cram series? Other non-study-guide books? Hands-on experience? Sample exams? Newsgroups? MSDN? GotDotNet? Quickstarts? WWW.ASP.NET? Other? Did you buddy-up with anyone or go it alone?
What worked for you? What didn't work for you?
Just curious...
Follow up: So far, the comments I've received all say that practical experience beats the study guides every time. I found that to be true, too. I opened one Exam Cram book for about 15 minutes before I re-took 70-300. The other tests I took to pass the MCSD .NET I did without specific studying for the tests. (There was plenty of time in MSDN Library, newsgroups, and getting my hands dirty in code, though.)
I do think the study aids do have their place, though… if nothing than to help focus your studies before taking a test.
What do you think?