Two to eight hours of sitting nonetheless—generally utterly 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 form 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 considering all of the learning you must do previous to the precise examination day. The place do you begin? How do you maximize your odds of passing the examination? If in case you have take a look at anxiousness or want lodging, what are you able to do?
This weblog is right here that will help you plan for Cisco certification examination success. I’ll let you know methods to use the assets inside Cisco U. that will help 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 vital?
First, in case you’re brand-new right here, just a little primer on what certification exams are and why they matter. For practically 40 years, Cisco has been a pacesetter 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 possibly can knock out in a day—it requires a big time dedication with loads of energetic studying, follow, and examine hours. Up to now, learners have put collectively their very own advert hoc examine packages round their chosen certification examination. However it’s troublesome to determine precisely what content material you ought to be learning and perceive whether or not it’s high-quality sufficient that will help you cross.
Beginning your certification research with Cisco U.
That’s the place Cisco U. is available in. The educational platform offers the organized assets you’ll want to efficiently cross your certification examination. The secret’s understanding methods to 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 folks 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., it’s possible you’ll not have but found Studying Paths. That is one of the best place for a newcomer to start out. The Learning Paths inside Cisco U. eradicate the guesswork of learning by placing collectively programs, labs, tutorials, and assessments multi functional place—supplying you with a complete exhaustive Studying Path that teaches you the topic from prime 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, it’s best to do your entire Studying Path,” Anderson recommends. “If you have already got some experience, you possibly can simply examine the topics you’re not as accustomed to.” In spite of everything, the purpose of the certification is that if you cross, you’ll be capable of tackle skilled duties coping with that certification—not have solely partial data.
Studying Paths additionally include assessments and self-tests alongside the best way so you possibly can be sure you actually know the topic in addition to you assume you do. And after you’ve efficiently accomplished the Studying Path, you possibly can transfer on to taking follow exams.
Give your self a aggressive edge with examination blueprints and follow exams
Subsequent, you’ll wish to take a peek on the Cisco certification exam topics on the Cisco Learning Network (and shortly to come back, inside every Cisco U. follow examination overview) to develop a examine plan.
“I like to recommend learners take 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 look at the CCNA topics, 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 practice exams in Cisco U. “If you are able to do properly on a follow examination, you ought to be in fairly good 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 instances,” 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 yr.
The follow exams include the examination goals and a rating report telling you ways properly you probably did in every space. That means, post-practice examination try, you possibly can see what matters you’re scoring low in, swap again to the Studying Path, and redo these areas.
Observe exams may also aid you replicate the examination day—tremendous useful for take a look at anxiousness. Extra on that later.
What to keep away from when prepping for Cisco certification exams
There’s one vital 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 web site, we are able to additionally. We’ve got dedicated security personnel monitoring them for leaked content material.”
“As soon as these examination objects are compromised, we swap them out. Thus, counting on these websites won’t be a shortcut to passing the examination,” says Anderson. As a substitute, sticking with high-quality studying supplies and having a stable 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 degree of competency and that you could carry out in a specified function, which implies they’re troublesome by nature. And this implies even the take a look at taking surroundings itself could be a little intimidating. A certification examination sometimes 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 surroundings is already arrange for you, so all you must do is present up.
Different issues to know:
- You’ll have to depart your telephone, pockets, watch, pen, paper, and calculator at dwelling (carry your ID!). You’ll be able to test 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 checks.
- Toilet 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 will 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 web site. Read more about exam policies.
General, although, the one unhealthy 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 implies 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 also be an choice, however there are extra-strict standards you need to meet.
- You’ll have to point out the proctor your examination surroundings to make sure there aren’t any books, papers, screens, or digital gadgets that would aid you cheat.
- You should be in a walled room with a closed door.
- No person else is allowed within the room.
- You could have water in a transparent glass.
- There aren’t any lavatory breaks, for the reason that proctor can’t see what’s taking place past that room. Should you depart the net digital camera view, your take a look at might be over.
- Your laptop might be operating software program that screens your test-taking, and you need to at all times have the digital camera on you.
- Through the examination, if deemed obligatory, the proctor could ask you to show the digital camera to allow them to see the remainder of the surroundings.
- No paper is allowed, however you’re going to get an digital whiteboard.
Typically it’s best to arrange a unique room for the day as a substitute of utilizing your typical workspace, the place you’ll need to disassemble and put away all of your digital objects. Individuals typically arrange a desk in an empty room.
For a full checklist of at-home testing necessities, check out these online testing FAQs.
Recommendation for certification examination day
It doesn’t matter what, taking the examination might be nerve-wracking. Anderson’s recommendation for the massive day:
- Hydrate beforehand.
- Get a very good night time’s sleep.
- Don’t over-caffeinate.
- Don’t freak out.
Not freaking out is certainly simpler stated than finished. So, irrespective of the place you resolve to take the precise examination, attempt to replicate the take a look at surroundings through the follow exams. Give your self a small whiteboard or digital whiteboard. Eradicate distractions. Do the follow examination with out a beverage or snack. Should you’re profitable sufficient instances, your take a look at anxiousness ought to reduce, if not go away fully.
However what if in case you have a documented anxiousness dysfunction or one other situation, and also you’re undecided you possibly can deal with the take a look at surroundings, 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) if in case you have a situation that falls into one in all these classes:
- Studying/different cognitive problems (LCD)
- Consideration-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADD/ADHD)
- Emotional, psychological, psychiatric problems (EPP)
- Bodily disabilities/persistent 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 comparable to 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 might be able to assist. Visit Pearson VUE to request test accommodations for a Cisco exam.
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 typical is extra like 110 hours,” he notes.
What for those who’ve studied and practiced as a lot as you possibly can—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’ll get a report with particulars on what areas you didn’t meet the mark on. This can be a good start line for making ready on your second try.”
A last notice: Many individuals taking certification exams are typically perfectionists who fret about not getting the best doable rating. Should you’re amongst these, attempt to calm down, says Anderson. “A cross is a win!” Anderson says. “Have fun! You’ve earned it.”
Prepared to start out learning for a Cisco certification? Depart a remark under and let me know which examination you’re going for. Thanks for studying!
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