I passed the MCTS Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuring (83-640) exam today (08-06-09). This exam has just become available in the UK as of 01-06-09 and is exactly the same exam skills wise as the 70-640 exam (no longer available in the UK). The difference is the format in which you are tested.

In the 83-640 exam you are tested in 2 virtual labs with up to 10 non-related tasks you have to perform in real virtual machines (65 minutes per virtual lab). Then to finish off there are 30 traditional style questions (60 minutes).

Overall after getting 900/1000 I am quite impressed with the new exam format. It prevents people from using brain dumps and requires you to actually act out what you will have to do in the real world. Which is ideal for me because I do this stuff everyday and is the point of the certification.

I look forward to more 83 series exams coming out, hopefully Microsoft will do the 70-642 (83-642) exam next which id like to take moving to the MCITP certification.