Study Guide- Cisco Press 1

[CiscoRC]

I was doing a review on a Study Guide, a foundation where you could find a path toward a Certification:

Difference between Cisco Press Exam Certification Guides and Self-Study Guides

Details:

What is the difference between Cisco Press Exam Certification Guides and Self-Study Guides?


Answer:

Self-Study Guides and Exam Certification Guides are intended to complement one another. Though they cover similar content, they do so in a very different manner. Choosing one book over another depends where you are in the study cycle. If you are familiar with the base concepts, but need to assess your knowledge and review/practice for the exam, we recommend the Exam Certification Guides. If you are new to a topic area and need more detailed discussions of the foundation concepts, we recommend you start with the Self-Study Guides.


I thought I share this answer directly from Cisco website. I'm in the same boat as many who are either struggling to pass the CCNA, but have stopped to refocus on CCENT just so I can learn to walk before I actually jump to CCNA. I'm not perfect, but I'm not giving this up. I just have kinda a bad judgment to myself to how I study.

Peace

***************
R. Corrigan Jr.
Network+, (working on CCENT+CCNA)

 

[CiscoGuy33]

CiscoRC,

Good luck in your CCNA or CCENT study!

I have always found that all the Cisco Press CCNA Study Guides give you about 150% of what you need to know to pass the CCNA exam - which is a good thing

I have always told my students to compliment their Cisco Press books/study with the Sybex CCNA Study Guide by Todd L. - 5th edition - with a 6th edition I am sure to come for the new CCNA objectives.

I have had so many students tell me in the Cisco Academy (we use Cisco Press) that when something just was not sinking in - they read that section in the Sybex book and the different perspective helped them a lot.

That is why you will always see me telling those that are looking to study for the CCNA to read both a Cisco Press AND the Sybex CCNA Study Guide as well as getting tons of hands-on work!

Hope this helps!


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

 

[CiscoRC]

I absolutely concur to what you just said. I mis-judge myself the way I study things. I'm not gonna lie but I'm a little slow in gathering information and reading a 4 inch thick book makes me lose patiences. You need patiences to pass which I understand exactly but it's my brain that's failing me. lol I think I need a new vrain cells. lol

Thanks for the information and yes, you've mentioned it quite a few times, and I have no doubt about it you know what your talking about. I'm just struggling even though I want the CCNA more then the CCENT. The CCENT is very much what I do at work. We are more hardware, and Software. I never do any of what the CCNA teaches you to do. Like configure, RIP, RIPv2, ACCESS LIST, OSPF, IGRP, EIGRP, and what not.......We basicalling work on Switches, Routers, Gigabics, PIX, etc...too much to list, they are just hardware...do memories defaults by cisco, etc...those things....am I making any sense? I don't want to be like that kid you mentioned that passed the CCNA, got hired at a job, but got fired because he doesn't know his stuff.

Dang, I think I talk too much..lol...


***************
R. Corrigan Jr.
Network+, (working on CCENT+CCNA)

 

[CiscoGuy33]

CiscoRC,

Just take your time - hang out here and take it all in and you will do fine.

When you get tired of reading - you might want to check out some CBTs (Computer Based Training) - these are normally videos of people explaining what you need to know for a subject.

You can find some GREAT deals on CBTs on eBay under "software" and you can watch a lot of FREE (full length)videos at -

http://www.cbtnuggets.com/webapp/videos

Here are the FREE Cisco CBT Videos you can watch:

CCIE Series Intro: So you Want to be a CCIE

CCIE Video Lab: OSPF Part 1

Advanced Router Technology (CCIE)

IP Telephony: The Vision (CCVP)

Cisco IOS Basics (CCNA)

Intro to the OSI Reference Model (CCNA)

Cisco CCNP ISCW Series Intro (CCNP-ISCW)

Defending the Network: Cisco IOS Firewall (CCNP-ISCW)

Internetworking Technology (CCDA)

OSPF Fundamentals (CCNP)

Switching Fundamentals (CCNP-BCMSN)

Troubleshooting Frame Relay (CCNP-CIT)

VoIP Networks: Understanding the Foundations (CCNP-ONT)

Security Intro: Attacks and Defense, Part 1 (CCSP-SND)

Introduction to Firewall Technology (CCSP-SNPA)

VPN Concepts Overview(CCSP-SNRS)

The Areas of Attack: Network Security Overview (CCSP-IPS)

Maintaining an IDS Device (Cisco Security)

Today's Routed World (CCNP_BSCI)

Most of these even at the CCNP and CCIE levels might give you an understanding you never had!

Hope this helps!


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

 

[CiscoRC]

CiscoGuy33,

Thanks for the myriad of excellent informations. I will take your advise on this no doubt. Unfortunately, I'm hearing impaired, or what most people think, "Deaf" would be the word to use. Now you may know why I'm messing things up because I miss out the important things in studying.

When I took the Boot Camp at Syracuse University, got an A- overall, but was still lacking some of the real basic in programming. I also had trouble with comprehension in whatever the questions was referring in the CCNA exam. I may think one thing, then the next. So, you catch my drift...again, I'm not giving up.

I will research more on the info you provided.

Thanks again,



***************
R. Corrigan Jr.
Network+, (working on CCENT+CCNA)

 

[CiscoGuy33]

CiscoRC,

I had a tech who worked for me who was hearing impaired, or as you stated - "deaf", he had an almost complete loss of hearing, however, he was able to read lips!

He got his A+, Net+, MCSE, and CCNA while he worked for me. He spent a lot of time reading books, PDFs, magazines and things online going very deep into different subjects or areas of study! He told me that he just used his lack of hearing as an advantage - he did not get distracted when reading by the noise in the room

You said - "I'm not gonna lie but I'm a little slow in gathering information and reading a 4 inch thick book makes me lose patiences." I had a student who had more letters after his name then you could imagine He had just about every cert you could name - he just did them one at a time!

He hated to read the big 4 to 6 inch books also but said that most came with the book in PFD format so he would print just 1 chapter at a time, roll it up and stick it in his back pocket and carry it with him EVERYWHERE he went until he knew that chapter. He said while he was waiting for a class or in line for coffee or just sitting in the "reading room" doing his business he would read those pages. He said most chapters were maybe 25 to 50 pages so they were not as overwelming as THE WHOLE BOOK!

Hope this helps and just keep reading and asking questions - I know you will get it


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

 

[CiscoRC]

CiscoGuy33

Trust me, I used every advantage I could get like more time in my exam. I gave them my audiogram, got more time only later have I noticed that I got way more questions!!! Unreal!!

I'm just a horrible test taker, and deciphering appropriate questions were a little confusing sometimes. I never knew how to read nor write until I was 17yrs. I won't pull in deep into that but to summarize an idea. I am deaf but wasn't born this way. I read all the materials, Boot Camp, etc...still failed.

Some people have great memory, and can distinguish questions more easily then others. I work as a Cisco Tester and Engineering as well, and I do great things with my work. I used products ranged from Routers 800 series to 6500 Chassis of all kinds and switches, AiroNet AP350 to AP1240's...the myriad of list goes on.

One thing I know is I am going to do my best to accomplish this one way or the other. I sustained a bad motorcycle accident a year ago that left my right arm unusable, and right leg with lack of range of motions. So, I'm not a quitter and I'm going to do this thing one way or the other.

Thanks for the positive reforcements in getting me to pass, thanks for that...

Peace

***************
R. Corrigan Jr.
Network+, (working on CCENT+CCNA)

 

[CiscoRC]

CiscoGuy33,

I apologize if I sounded drastic about my situation. It's been a very long road and I try my best.

I'm going to get a New Cisco Press Book in August, CCENT/CCNA so this would be good, and give me a solid foundation to pass this exam.

I will ask any questions if there is anything I need to know.

Thanks for the help

Peace

***************
R. Corrigan Jr.
Network+, (working on CCENT+CCNA)