Planning for Cisco Certification Examination Success

Two to eight hours of sitting nonetheless—typically fully alone. No breaks. Somebody watching your each transfer. No snacks, no drinks, no paper, no watch, no pockets—simply a pc.

What’s the exercise? Some type of spy coaching train? Nope. It’s a Cisco certification examination.

It’s no surprise Cisco certification exams are nerve-wracking, particularly if it’s your first one. That’s not even taking into consideration all of the learning it’s important to do previous to the precise examination day. The place do you begin? How do you maximize your odds of passing the examination? You probably have take a look at nervousness or want lodging, what are you able to do?

This weblog is right here that can assist you plan for Cisco certification examination success. I’ll inform you how you can use the assets inside Cisco U. that can assist you cross, and share insights from two individuals who set examination parameters: Coaching Content material Product Supervisor Geoff Anderson and Studying Path Creator and Engineering Chief Mubasher Nawaz.

Why are Cisco certification exams necessary?

First, in case you’re brand-new right here, a little bit primer on what certification exams are and why they matter. For practically 40 years, Cisco has been a frontrunner in networking and communications options. As a networking skilled, getting a Cisco certification serves as a stamp of experience and competency in your chosen space.

Getting Cisco Licensed isn’t one thing you may knock out in a day—it requires a major time dedication with loads of lively studying, follow, and examine hours. Prior to now, learners have put collectively their very own advert hoc examine applications round their chosen certification examination. But it surely’s troublesome to determine precisely what content material try to be learning and perceive whether or not it’s high-quality sufficient that can assist you cross.

Beginning your certification research with Cisco U.

That’s the place Cisco U. is available in. The training platform supplies the organized assets it’s essential to efficiently cross your certification examination. The bottom line is realizing how you can make the most of all of the options and content material inside Cisco U. to make your path to certification simpler.

Even with all these assets, you’ll have to determine what examine strategies and content material varieties work finest for you.

“Keep in mind, all people learns in another way,” Anderson factors out. “Some individuals like to make use of flashcards, some love to do hands-on workout routines. Experiment.” That’s why Cisco U. contains labs, follow exams, podcasts, tutorials, programs, and movies to cater to your studying temper or wants.

What are Cisco U. Studying Paths and the way do you utilize them?

Should you’re new to Cisco U., chances are you’ll not have but found Studying Paths. That is the perfect place for a newcomer to begin. The Studying Paths inside Cisco U. eradicate the guesswork of learning by placing collectively programs, labs, tutorials, and assessments multi function place—providing you with a whole exhaustive Studying Path that teaches you the topic from high to backside.

Can I skip across the Studying Paths in Cisco U.?

Lots of people ask whether or not they can skip round Studying Paths. The reply is…it relies upon. “Should you’re new to the topic, you must do the complete Studying Path,” Anderson recommends. “If you have already got some experience, you may simply examine the themes you’re not as conversant in.” In any case, the purpose of the certification is that once you cross, you’ll have the ability to tackle skilled duties coping with that certification—not have solely partial data.

Studying Paths additionally comprise assessments and self-tests alongside the way in which so you may be sure to actually know the topic in addition to you suppose you do. And after you’ve efficiently accomplished the Studying Path, you may transfer on to taking follow exams.

Give your self a aggressive edge with examination blueprints and follow exams

Subsequent, you’ll need to take a peek on the Cisco certification examination matters on the Cisco Studying Community (and shortly to return, inside every Cisco U. follow examination overview) to develop a examine plan.

“I like to recommend learners have a look at the examination blueprint and see what matters it covers and the way they’re weighted,” says Nawaz. “For instance, for those who have a look at the CCNA matters, you’ll see the primary three depend for 65% of your rating. I’d spend most of my time learning these.”

Cisco U. follow exams for the win

One of the best ways to make sure you’re effectively hitting these weighted matters is by using the follow exams in Cisco U. “If you are able to do nicely on a follow examination, try to be in fairly fine condition to cross the certification examination,” says Anderson.

Every entry right into a follow examination presents the candidate with 75 objects that change with each try. “I like to recommend taking the follow examination a number of occasions,” Anderson says. Observe exams might be bought individually or come as a part of a Cisco U. subscription; if bought as a person title, they’re good for 180 days (about six months). Subscriptions to Cisco U. are legitimate for a 12 months.

The follow exams comprise the examination aims and a rating report telling you the way nicely you probably did in every space. That approach, post-practice examination try, you may see what matters you’re scoring low in, change again to the Studying Path, and redo these areas.

Observe exams may even assist you to replicate the examination day—tremendous useful for take a look at nervousness. Extra on that later.

What to keep away from when prepping for Cisco certification exams

There’s one necessary factor each Anderson and Nawaz need you to keep away from as you put together: mind dumps. “Mind dump websites are web sites the place somebody takes an examination and memorizes what’s on there, then uploads it as a listing of take a look at objects and sells it,” Anderson says.

Nawaz notes, “Should you can entry a mind dump website, we are able to additionally. Now we have devoted safety personnel monitoring them for leaked content material.”

“As soon as these examination objects are compromised, we change them out. Thus, counting on these websites is not going to be a shortcut to passing the examination,” says Anderson. As a substitute, sticking with high-quality studying supplies and having a strong examine plan are the keys to certification examination success.

What’s the precise Cisco certification examination expertise like?

Certification exams are supposed to present you’ve attained a stage of competency and that you may carry out in a specified position, which suggests they’re troublesome by nature. And this implies even the take a look at taking atmosphere itself could be a little intimidating. A certification examination usually lasts for 2 to 3 hours, however a lab take a look at for a CCIE might last as long as eight hours.

You’ll be able to take a certification examination both at dwelling or in a take a look at middle. “If there’s a take a look at middle in your space, I like to recommend going there,” says Anderson.

Taking a certification examination at a take a look at middle

At a take a look at middle, the atmosphere is already arrange for you, so all it’s important to do is present up.

Different issues to know:

• You’ll have to depart your cellphone, pockets, watch, pen, paper, and calculator at dwelling (deliver your ID!). You’ll be able to examine with the take a look at middle on whether or not they have lockers.
• You’ll be noticed by a proctor and take the take a look at alongside others taking non-Cisco exams.
• Rest room breaks can final not more than 10 minutes.
• There aren’t any drinks or snacks permitted within the examination room.
• The CCIE Lab exams embody a 20-minute break and should embody lunch.
• You’ll be supplied with a small whiteboard and marker to work out issues like subnetting.

You’ll be given extra particular directions that rely upon the examination you’re taking and the precise take a look at website. Learn extra about examination insurance policies.

Total, although, the one dangerous factor about an in-person take a look at, based on Anderson, is that you could be be jealous of the particular person subsequent to you who’s not taking a Cisco examination—which suggests they’ve totally different testing parameters. “The contractor taking a take a look at subsequent to me was allowed a calculator,” Anderson notes drily. Cisco exams have a calculator constructed into them.

Taking a certification examination on-line

Taking a certification examination remotely can be an possibility, however there are extra-strict standards you have to meet.

• You’ll have to indicate the proctor your examination atmosphere to make sure there aren’t any books, papers, screens, or digital units that would assist you to cheat.
• You have to be in a walled room with a closed door.
• No person else is allowed within the room.
• You might have water in a transparent glass.
• There aren’t any lavatory breaks, because the proctor can’t see what’s taking place past that room. Should you go away the net digital camera view, your take a look at might be over.
• Your pc might be operating software program that displays your test-taking, and you have to all the time have the digital camera on you.
• Throughout the examination, if deemed essential, the proctor might ask you to show the digital camera to allow them to see the remainder of the atmosphere.
• No paper is allowed, however you’ll get an digital whiteboard.

Typically it’s best to arrange a distinct room for the day as a substitute of utilizing your typical workspace, the place you’ll must disassemble and put away all of your digital objects. Folks typically arrange a desk in an empty room.

For a full checklist of at-home testing necessities, try these on-line testing FAQs.

Recommendation for certification examination day

It doesn’t matter what, taking the examination might be nerve-wracking. Anderson’s recommendation for the large day:

• Hydrate beforehand.
• Get night time’s sleep.
• Don’t over-caffeinate.
• Don’t freak out.

Not freaking out is certainly simpler stated than achieved. So, irrespective of the place you determine to take the precise examination, attempt to replicate the take a look at atmosphere through the follow exams. Give your self a small whiteboard or digital whiteboard. Remove distractions. Do the follow examination with out a beverage or snack. Should you’re profitable sufficient occasions, your take a look at nervousness ought to reduce, if not go away totally.

However what in case you have a documented nervousness dysfunction or one other situation, and also you’re unsure you may deal with the take a look at atmosphere, even with all this follow? Set your worries apart—there are lodging out there.

Making use of for certification examination lodging

You’ll be able to qualify for a Cisco certification examination lodging by way of Pearson VUE (the take a look at administrator) in case you have a situation that falls into one in all these classes:

• Studying/different cognitive issues (LCD)
• Consideration-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADD/ADHD)
• Emotional, psychological, psychiatric issues (EPP)
• Bodily disabilities/continual well being situations (PCH)
  • Listening to
  • Wheelchair entry
  • Bodily impairments

You’ll have to use BEFORE you schedule the take a look at and supply documentation about your situation.

Check lodging embody:

• Textual content magnifiers resembling Zoom Textual content
• A separate testing room
• Further testing time
• A reader or scribe

Should you want different lodging, the take a look at administrator could possibly assist. Go to Pearson VUE to request take a look at lodging for a Cisco examination.

Remaining suggestions for Cisco certification examination success

As you begin learning, Anderson needs you to recollect this: “Don’t be discouraged if it takes you longer than what the coaching says. Although it says to spend 30-40 hours coaching, the common is extra like 110 hours,” he notes.

What for those who’ve studied and practiced as a lot as you may—and you continue to don’t cross? Regroup and take a look at once more.

“If you don’t cross, don’t despair,” Anderson says. “You’re going to get a report with particulars on what areas you didn’t meet the mark on. It is a good start line for getting ready to your second try.”

A closing observe: Many individuals taking certification exams are usually perfectionists who fret about not getting the very best attainable rating. Should you’re amongst these, attempt to loosen up, says Anderson. “A cross is a win!” Anderson says. “Rejoice! You’ve earned it.”

Prepared to begin learning for a Cisco certification? Depart a remark beneath and let me know which examination you’re going for. Thanks for studying!

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