Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Developer Assessment Test

A Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Developer Assessment Test evaluates individuals on their proficiency in designing, developing, and optimizing databases using Microsoft SQL Server 2012. This includes understanding SQL Server’s features for database development, performance tuning, data management, and integration with applications.

A Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Developer Assessment Test evaluates candidates for:

• Familiarity with database design and development, including creating and managing schemas, tables, views, indexes, stored procedures, functions, and triggers. Understanding normalization and denormalization techniques for performance optimization.
• Proficiency in writing complex SQL queries, using SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements. Skills in using JOINs (INNER, OUTER, LEFT, RIGHT), subqueries, common table expressions (CTEs), and window functions like ROW_NUMBER and RANK.
• Skills in writing aggregate queries, using functions like SUM, AVG, COUNT, GROUP BY, and understanding how to use HAVING for filtering grouped data.
• Proficiency in creating stored procedures and user-defined functions (UDFs), developing reusable business logic. Skills in passing parameters, managing transactions, and handling errors within stored procedures.
• Skills in query performance tuning, using execution plans, query hints, and tools like SQL Profiler and Database Engine Tuning Advisor to analyze and optimize query performance. Understanding how to create and manage indexes to optimize read and write performance.
• Proficiency in managing transactions, using BEGIN TRANSACTION, COMMIT, and ROLLBACK for maintaining data consistency, and configuring transaction isolation levels to manage concurrency issues like dirty reads or phantom reads.
• Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), developing ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes for data integration from various sources. Configuring data flows, control flows, and automating SSIS package execution for data transformation and migration.
• Skills in managing database security, including creating and managing logins, users, roles, and permissions to secure data access. Proficiency in implementing encryption methods, such as Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) or column-level encryption.
• Proficiency in using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for database development within Visual Studio, managing database schema projects, version-controlling SQL scripts, and deploying database changes efficiently.
• Experience in configuring database backup strategies, managing full, differential, and transaction log backups, and restoring databases to ensure data durability and recovery in the event of failure.
• Skills in implementing data partitioning, partitioning large tables to improve query performance and manage large datasets more efficiently.
• Proficiency in using advanced SQL Server features, such as window functions, MERGE statements, dynamic SQL, and Common Table Expressions (CTEs) to solve complex data problems.
• Experience with full-text search, configuring and using Full-Text Search (FTS) to optimize searching capabilities within SQL Server for large datasets with complex text search requirements.
• Proficiency in working with temporal tables and Change Data Capture (CDC), enabling tracking of changes in table data over time, and implementing solutions for auditing and versioning data changes.

Overall, a Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Developer Assessment Test evaluates candidates' abilities to design, implement, and optimize SQL Server databases.

It assesses both technical skills (such as query writing, stored procedures, and indexing) and practical expertise (such as performance tuning, security management, and backup strategies), ensuring that candidates can effectively manage and develop robust, scalable SQL Server solutions.

This evaluation is essential for identifying individuals who can leverage SQL Server 2012’s features to build high-performance, secure, and reliable databases that meet business requirements.