Major CCNA Help Needed ASAP!!

[Ludoggg]

I need to know how to pass this damn test. I have taken it 5 times and the highest score I could get was an 834. I am using Cisco Press and Sybex for studying material and I have the Boson CCNP simulator to practice utilizing the CLI. I took my test today and scored a 745. I know to much to give up so any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

kumputirgeek, CHDP, CCNA, Network +

 

[onoski]

Hi Ludoggg,

You need to provide more information and secondly having sat the test on five occasion you should know your weak point by now. Just keep plugging away and don't give up. Best wishes.

 

[lerdalt]

Take the test objectives and use it to do some searches on Cisco's site to get some additional information.

Have to agree with onoski, do you have any area's that you are consistently low in? There are some great resources on this board, just have to give them direction on where you need help. All you have to do is be specific.

 

[KiscoKid]

Previous posters have got it spot on. Review each of the the pieces of paper they gave you at the end of the exam and see which topics are killing you.

Read and re-read and re-read again these sections in your books. The books you are using are excellent and highly-recommended by many. If you have the equipment to hand, try to setup a lab so you can actually configure some of the concepts that are failing you. Hands on is a GREAT way of solidfying your knowledge on a particular subject.

 

[Dane0554]

If your taking the 640-801 - you might want to try breaking it down into 811/821...

I'm going to try the single exam route, but going with two is my fall back plan.

Dan

 

[Ludoggg]

Dane0554, when are you taking your test?

kumputirgeek, CHDP, Network +

 

[helpdeskdan]

I found the test feedback usually to be quite useless. The entirety of all subjects on the test summarized into as little as four sections is not at all helpful. Perhaps for others it has proved useful and I do NOT mean to discredit them, but rather to say it didn't work for me. And, I have a hard time imagining KiscoKid to have flunked any Cisco test. ;-)

The best method I found to handle failure was to do a "brain dump" after the test. (Anybody who has been here a while remembers my struggles) As soon as you get out of the test, grab a notebook and write down any and everything you can remember not knowing. Subjects, questions, commands and anything else that comes to mind. I would keep my notebook with me all day writing down random things whenever I remembered them.

Be specific; you'll be amazed at how quickly you forget what you missed! Two weeks later you will not be able to remember most of the things on the list. Also, if you spent a long time studying for a subject and you do not find it on the test, make a note of it. Every chapter you can skip frees more time to study the material that WILL be on the test. When you are finished, you'll find you have a great study guide for the next test tailored to your particular needs.

Good luck!

 

[doktor]

I attended the Cisco Academy Training program. It was a 4 month technical training course, with a lot of labs and hands-on. The 4 books from the Cisco Academy Training Progam by Wendell Odom and others are well written and easy to understand. Also many router simulator exercises were used during the course.
Today I passed the Cisco CCNA test with 949 points, so it makes sence to do exceesive training, escpecially for engineers as myself, where routers - 4 months ago - was an unknown phenomenon.
I hope that these lines can bring you back on the track.
///doktor
CCNA

 

[CiscoGuy33]

doktor,

Congrats on the CCNA!!

Also some very good points about the hands-on Cisco training in a Cisco Network Academy.

Ludoggg - if you have failed 5x taking classes in a Cisco network Academy might help you to:
1) pass the CCNA
2) lay a great foundation for CCNP
3) give you the background you will need to work in the field.

Just some thoughts!


E.A. Broda
CCNA, CCDA, CCAI, Network +

 

[doktor]

CiscoGuy33

I think most engineers and technicians learn "through" the hands. An instructor in a CCNA class (or any other tech. class) can teach well and come with many good explanations.
But the students will first learn (i.e. see the light), when he/she is having hands-on during the (very important) labs connected to each chapter of the books used at the Cisco Academy Training program.
///doktor

 

[helpdeskdan]

I agree with the doktor's statement. Also, congrats on the excellent ccna score!

 

[doktor]

Thanks helpdeskdan. I proved to myself that "old" men still can learn something new and different. For the last 2 decades I worked as a telecom specialist. (and I still do that).
///doktor

 

[helpdeskdan]

Indeed. My first field of endeavor was automotive technology.

 

[ramadani]

Was wondering if anyone ever heard of testout navigator for the ccna testing simulator? i am about to step through it - and my husband says its one of the best simulators - but just wondered if anyone else has used it or what thier thoughts were on it....thanks!