Last Spring, I took and passed exams 70-687 and 70-688 to become Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate for Windows 8. A generous offer from Microsoft gave those that became Windows 8 MCSAs, a free voucher to take exam 70-697. This was originally announces as a Windows 10 MCSA but was changed before the exam was published to a Specialist certificate of Configuring Windows Devices. Microsoft has since changed their minds again and passing exams 70-697, combined with 70-687 and 70-688 will make you a Windows 10 MCSA after all. (Those with out 687/688 may take those exams until they are retired or will have to wait for exam 70-698 to be released for the Windows 10 equivalent.)
I took exam 70-697 on the very last day of the free exam offer. (Hey, things have been busy around here!). I prepared for the exam by using Windows 10 at home and work, watching some Windows 10 training videos on PluralSight (thanks to a 6-month free offer, again, from Microsoft), and reading the book from Microsoft Press: Exam Ref 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices.
I was not the biggest fan of the Exam Ref books for 70-687 or 70-688. I made many contributions to the errata of those two books and the obvious mistakes certainly lead to questioning its authority, not to mention just being distracting. With different authors penning Exam Ref 70-697 and having few other options published at the time, I purchased the book and I am glad I did.
Exam Ref 70-697 gives an overview of the objectives listed for exam 70-697 and covers each topic well. Each subject received an explanation, little notes to be aware of, practice self-quizzing questions, and thought experiments that allowed you to see context for when you might use the different technologies covered. The summaries of each objective were also very helpful in reviewing all of the topics to focus on areas for additional study. The book recommends spending additional time in TechNet to learn the topics more in-depth and getting a lot of hands-on experiment with Windows 10, PowerShell, and Microsoft InTune.
When I took the exam, I felt like my preparation for the Windows 8 exams provided me a lot of knowledge for InTune and even being comfortable with the exam format. With a minor cold, I took and passed 70-697 on my first try. I am now a Specialist in configuring Windows devices and combined with my previous exams, I am also a Windows 10 MCSA.
You can pick up Exam Ref 70-697 Configuring Windows Devices by Andrew Bettany and Jason Kellington for around $30 on Amazon.com (as of publishing).