Sorry to hear you did not pass. However, so what, you are not the first and not the last. By knowing what is wrong in the Bill Ferguson books clearly shows that you understand that portion. I have taken many many many exams over my career, 26+ years from Cisco to Microsoft to .... The one thing I have learned over this time is, you learn more by failing more than you ever do by passing. What do I mean, if you fail an exam you study more, if you pass you quit studying and move on to other interests. The ones that continue to study because it helps them with all aspects of what they do and more than what they even care to dream about. So you did not pass, but you did get a lot of questions correct. Here is my approach to all of these type of exams.
1. Read the guidelines of what can be covered. For VMware, read the blue print, read every link from that blue print.
2. Practice with your lab...
3. From your initial exam attempt, write down everything you say on the exam. If VMware provides you with areas and your score, pay attention to the lowest scores and work from there. Study that material. Ask questions, challenge people with their answers and hope that they will continue to explain. (this forum may not be the best for the later. If it goes past the basics, or too basic, seems like questions go on without answers.
4. Find someone at VMware to become your mentor. Not only mentor for this exam but mentor for what you currently do, where you want to go and understanding of where VMware is going.
5. Stay positive, your score was not 60, it was 279, so you are close. Hang in there, work to improve and things in the end will work out.