I got this for a friend who doesn't know anything about computers but wanted to learn. It's an easy step-by-step guide for the beginner or novice.

The Microsoft Office Specialist Study Guide book was recommended to me by the lady who gives the MOS exams. I bought it and was glad I did. It covers every section that is on the MOS certification test. (If you go to the Microsoft Office MOS exam website, it will tell you what sections are covered for the exams.) Make sure the book you purchase includes the CD for practice material. Also, even though the book cover states "Specialist", the book also covers the "Expert" level too.

I would actually have made this a 3 1/2 stars but it's not an option.

I have been a Microsoft Office Instructor for over 10 years. I've been certified in these programs since the 97 version all the way through the 2007 MCAS. When I took the certification exams I was happy that the test were challenging, user-based exams. They give you tasks to perform, not multiple choice questions which are not a true evaluation of your knowledge of the program.

I am now looking to create my own test prep class and this book is helping me do it. The understanding behind the book, and my class, is that I will not be teaching you this program. You should already know it! This book is meant to prepare you for the test only.

I will say that this book is almost like a watered down version of the inside out books, which gives you all the minutia. But, again, the point is that you should already know how to use the program. This book should be a reference in case there is something you don't know. I like the practice features in each section but I wish they wouldn't tell you the steps... in my mind when I want to practice how to turn on hidden formatting then I want to remember how to do it, not have the step by step in front of me as part of the practice. The exams themselves don't always tell you what dialog box you need to activate so the practices shouldn't either.

I agree with some other reviewers that the Excel exams do expect you to know how to perform some higher end functions that you might not encounter every day. I believe that, especially where Excel and Access are concerned, you really do need hands-on, real life experience with the programs, or at least know how the Functions dialog box works. Know your IF, VLOOKUP, PMT etc... and be able to apply it in any situation. This book will only take you so far with that but (yes, I'm repeating) you should already know how to do this if you are taking the test.

The book comes with one measureup practice test which is great but I wish that the book would have practice tests that can be retaken over and over for each section and then a full practice exam when the student feels ready. I still haven't found a practice test that can do that.

So overall this is a great study guide, with a few shortcomings. I do wish there were individual books instead of a book with all the exams, as some folks might just want to take one or two tests instead of all five.

As someone who has had multiple years of experience in a classroom teaching software topics, I found this book to be well organized and filled with the kind of knowledge that someone looking to get certified on MS Office 2003 will need. The exercises are clear and structured well so that learning is easy. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming certified on Office 2003.

I have not had time to study the guide and will not read study guide until late 2009. From what I can tell, this guide should help me with MOUS 2003 certification.