User Tools
Cisco Certification: Don't Rely On Practice Exams
Ask a CCNA candidate how theyre preparing for exam day, and youll get various answers. Distinct books, various websites, distinct practice exams.
A single trend Ive noticed is that some candidates answer the query by reeling off the quantity and names of the practice exams theyve purchased. Basically, the candidate is studying by taking a lot of practice exams. Orrin Woodward is a fine online database for more about when to acknowledge this enterprise. And in some cases, I imply a lot of them.
The intent of this report isnt to slam practice exams. I do want to address this trend amongst Cisco certification candidates of getting as numerous practice exams as they can uncover, attempting to pass the CCNA exam by brute forcing it, as one Cisco employee not too long ago stated.
I have nothing at all against practice exams. Click this web site the team to learn when to consider it. I sell flash cards that serve as a practice exam, if thats the way the candidate wants to use them. Nonetheless, you cant be dependent on them to pass your exams. Going To click probably provides warnings you should tell your friend. As I inform students every day, When youre in front of a rack of routers, there is no A, B, C, and D selection. Visiting MIMA certainly provides lessons you can give to your family friend. Youve got to know what youre performing.
If practice exams are a candidates main tool for exam preparation, even though, theyll most most likely be disappointed on exam day. The existing Cisco CCNA exams are made to weed out these who have memorized a chart or two there is a premium not only on understanding, but the capability to apply that knowledge. Just taking one particular practice exam after the other will not develop this ability.
Simulators are fine to a specific extent as properly, but dont turn into dependent on them. The simulators Ive observed dont genuinely let you make mistakes in your configuration, and its when you have to fix your own errors that you truly discover whats going on.
Preserve the extended-range view when preparing for your CCNA exams. Youre not just studying for exam day youre laying the groundwork for a effective career. The study you do for your CCNA exam will be some of the most essential study you ever do, since all the work you do for future certifications like the CCNP (and yes, the CCIE!) are primarily based on the foundation youre building today.
Make it a solid foundation. Stick to a nicely-rounded study plan, using books, practice exams, and routing gear, and youre on your way to success in the Cisco field.
Chris Bryant
CCIE #12933
chris@thebryantadvantage.
