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- Jan 1, 1970
- 0
I just took the CCDA test today in one of Prometric’s locations. I hope
that what I’m going to tell you here (clearly without breaking any
rules) will help you and will put you on guard; for me it was quite a
surprise to see these new CHANGES.
The exam began with a pre-test, the one that allows you to get used
with the buttons, testing procedures, etc. I think that you can use it
as time to write notes (stop in the middle and write) but no more than
15 minutes. The test started with a message that scared me a lot: “this
test will NOT allow you to return to previous questions”. I thought
that you could but now it seems that they changed it.
The exam was formed of 72 questions, 120 minutes, 755 p. to pass. There
are 4 case scenarios, scattered all over the exam; 2 are quite big, one
medium and one medium-small.
There are probably about 30 regular questions (similar to CCNA’s) and
the rest are scenario related questions. You can find radio buttons
(60%), choose two or all that apply (30%), drag and drop rectangles
(3), write answer (2-4). In the window you can see the remaining time
(counting down), number of question (e.g. 15/72), next, comments and
help button or exhibit. In my case all scenarios were without any
picture.
The worst part was that the description of these scenarios and mostly
the wording in the questions were, for some questions (25%) almost
impossible to understand what they really mean. I was forced to guess
just to go to the next questions. In my personal opinion, this new
“look” of the questions is a stupidity; it has almost nothing to do
with your knowledge or your ability to understand client’s requirements
and the design. I was used to read a scenario, use a paper to write
down significant facts and then use these papers – during the exam it
was different.
I trained myself to be able to see between the lines, write down nicely
all good info; however, during this new “improved” exam, in all these
scenarios (maybe only 3) my papers became almost a mess (I got quite
helpless by not being able to read and understand the description and
questions) but fortunately almost useless in using them to answer the
questions. My advice is to first read the question and then see what’s
NOT related with your case; some answers are identical even if there
are on different scenarios. In 50% of the situations, you do not need
to read the scenario to answer the question.
Well, at the end of the exam I found out that I passed the exam with a
score of about 890! My book used were:
* “CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate Study Guide” by Todd Lammle –
0782125344” (so-so)
** “CCDA Exam Certification Guide by A. Anthony Bruno, Jacqueline Kim”
– 0735700745 (good)
*** “Designing Cisco Networks” Diane Teare – 1578701058 (good)
**** “Inside Scoop to CCDA Certification : Cisco Certified Design
Associate”
by Mark A. Poplar - 0970468407 (this so called “best seller” was quite
out of my exam and it is just a lousy short-copy of the two Cisco books
– waist of money).
I guess that all you need is good luck, a good night sleep and be
prepared for this new “look”!
that what I’m going to tell you here (clearly without breaking any
rules) will help you and will put you on guard; for me it was quite a
surprise to see these new CHANGES.
The exam began with a pre-test, the one that allows you to get used
with the buttons, testing procedures, etc. I think that you can use it
as time to write notes (stop in the middle and write) but no more than
15 minutes. The test started with a message that scared me a lot: “this
test will NOT allow you to return to previous questions”. I thought
that you could but now it seems that they changed it.
The exam was formed of 72 questions, 120 minutes, 755 p. to pass. There
are 4 case scenarios, scattered all over the exam; 2 are quite big, one
medium and one medium-small.
There are probably about 30 regular questions (similar to CCNA’s) and
the rest are scenario related questions. You can find radio buttons
(60%), choose two or all that apply (30%), drag and drop rectangles
(3), write answer (2-4). In the window you can see the remaining time
(counting down), number of question (e.g. 15/72), next, comments and
help button or exhibit. In my case all scenarios were without any
picture.
The worst part was that the description of these scenarios and mostly
the wording in the questions were, for some questions (25%) almost
impossible to understand what they really mean. I was forced to guess
just to go to the next questions. In my personal opinion, this new
“look” of the questions is a stupidity; it has almost nothing to do
with your knowledge or your ability to understand client’s requirements
and the design. I was used to read a scenario, use a paper to write
down significant facts and then use these papers – during the exam it
was different.
I trained myself to be able to see between the lines, write down nicely
all good info; however, during this new “improved” exam, in all these
scenarios (maybe only 3) my papers became almost a mess (I got quite
helpless by not being able to read and understand the description and
questions) but fortunately almost useless in using them to answer the
questions. My advice is to first read the question and then see what’s
NOT related with your case; some answers are identical even if there
are on different scenarios. In 50% of the situations, you do not need
to read the scenario to answer the question.
Well, at the end of the exam I found out that I passed the exam with a
score of about 890! My book used were:
* “CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate Study Guide” by Todd Lammle –
0782125344” (so-so)
** “CCDA Exam Certification Guide by A. Anthony Bruno, Jacqueline Kim”
– 0735700745 (good)
*** “Designing Cisco Networks” Diane Teare – 1578701058 (good)
**** “Inside Scoop to CCDA Certification : Cisco Certified Design
Associate”
by Mark A. Poplar - 0970468407 (this so called “best seller” was quite
out of my exam and it is just a lousy short-copy of the two Cisco books
– waist of money).
I guess that all you need is good luck, a good night sleep and be
prepared for this new “look”!