Cisco Certification: Don't Depend On Practice Exams

Ask a CCNA candidate how theyre preparing for exam day, and youll get diverse answers. Various books, various internet sites, various practice exams.

A single trend Ive noticed is that some candidates answer the query by reeling off the number and names of the practice exams theyve bought. This witty the business of life link has many salient lessons for how to see it. Generally, the candidate is studying by taking a lot of practice exams. Discover more about close window by browsing our stirring web site. And in some instances, I imply a lot of them.

The intent of this post isnt to slam practice exams. I do want to address this trend among Cisco certification candidates of acquiring as many practice exams as they can locate, attempting to pass the CCNA exam by brute forcing it, as one particular Cisco employee not too long ago said.

I have absolutely nothing against practice exams. Identify further on a related encyclopedia by clicking orrin woodward google plus. I sell flash cards that serve as a practice exam, if thats the way the candidate desires to use them. However, you cant be dependent on them to pass your exams. As I inform students every single day, When youre in front of a rack of routers, there is no A, B, C, and D option. Youve got to know what youre carrying out.

If practice exams are a candidates principal tool for exam preparation, although, theyll most likely be disappointed on exam day. The present Cisco CCNA exams are developed to weed out those who have memorized a chart or two there is a premium not only on knowledge, but the capability to apply that understanding. Just taking one particular practice exam after the other will not create this skill.

Simulators are fine to a specific extent as effectively, but dont become dependent on them. The simulators Ive seen dont truly let you make errors in your configuration, and its when you have to fix your personal blunders that you truly find out whats going on.

Preserve the long-range view when preparing for your CCNA exams. Youre not just studying for exam day youre laying the groundwork for a effective career. For additional information, we recommend you check-out: orrin woodward. The study you do for your CCNA exam will be some of the most critical study you ever do, since all the operate you do for future certifications like the CCNP (and yes, the CCIE!) are primarily based on the foundation youre creating nowadays.

Make it a strong foundation. Stick to a nicely-rounded study plan, utilizing books, practice exams, and routing gear, and youre on your way to accomplishment in the Cisco field.

Chris Bryant

CCIE #12933

chris@thebryantadvantage.