CCNA - CCNA Failure

Author

CCNA Failure

bob320

2003-06-19, 4:02 am

I failed my CCNA yesterday it was my 1st attempt.

I had a score of 778 and needed more than 849.

Not that I`m bitter but I could someone help me out with a few questions please?

1. Is 850 or more really the pass mark for a 1st timer?

2. A friend tells me that if I take the test again the pass mark will rise by 5%, is this true?

3. I followed the Cisco Networking Academy Semesters 1 to 4 CCNA course, which did not include any switch command config, why in that case are switch command questions on the test?

4. The tutorial before the exam gave me the impression that I could review my answers prior to ending the test, however when I clicked on Next on question 60, there was no oppotunity to review.

Not that I`m bitter.

Shinji57

2003-06-19, 5:56 am

1 - it's 849 for everybody
2 - check answer 1
3 - never do academy but there're switch commands, in VLAN chapter I think
4 - tuto just show you the type of questions drap n drop/simulation/multiple choices

bob320

2003-06-19, 9:18 am

If I book it again, will I get the same questions?

anchor40

2003-06-19, 9:30 am

Maybe some, but not all. There is a large pool of questions, and you may get all new ones, or some old ones. Same goes for simulations - maybe same, more or less.

When they mean random, they mean random!

bob320

2003-06-19, 9:53 am

I think the main things I messed up was not being able to work out the subnets and the Switch config commands.

Anyone know anywhere I can brush up on these online for free?

anchor40

2003-06-19, 10:04 am

Subnetting:

Cisco has a good guide on-line (seacrh for IP subnetting) and you can look for my Subnetting 101-LAB questions (go back and search my posts). I try to post a "daily" question (aim for every day, but not always successful).

Switching Commands:

A pretty good site with on-line labs is http://www.chinaitlab.com/www/experiment/lab5.asp

HTH...

bob320

2003-06-19, 10:05 am

Cheers mate. I`ll check them out.

jiggaracci

2003-06-19, 5:42 pm

Hey Bob,
Man I know exactly what u r going thru. I took my CCNA for the first time in April and made 770. Like you, I am a member of the Cisco Networking Academy and I was also under the impresion that I could go back and review my previous questions. This left me with questions that I wanted to review later, but could not. However, most of the questions that got me was about Frame-Relay and I was unprepeared. Since then, I haven't went back to take the CCNA because I have gotten hired for a company who recognize my skills as adequate enough. But I encourage u to not hesitate to take it again, because right now I find myself wanting to take it again, but with little time to study, I've nearly forgotten most of what I learned. CRAM, CRAM, CRAM! I think it's a lil misleading, to follow what's on these forums and braindumps because I done it and still failed but a good margin. I would suggest for u 2 not limit yourself within the context of what studyguides and forums tell u, because to pass the CCNA, u must know every aspect of Cisco Networks. Inside out. Don't limit yourself, don't give up, and don't wait too long to take it again. I could send u to some sites, but really, every site has their own answers and a lot of them differ and usually u won't see them on their anyway.

Hope I was of assistance!

Shinji57

2003-06-20, 4:35 am

I passed my CCNA the first time, I've read the ciscopress CCNA book 2/3 times and practise a little with switch and routers.
I'm network administrator on a big network (4000 pc) since 4 years

and passed with 1000, CCNA is not too hard, the others cisco exams are harder!!

donaldmc

2003-06-20, 8:25 am

Not everyone passes their first time, that doesn't matter, it's just another step in obtaining your certification. You know know what the test looks like, and what areas who need to work on. Here are a few tips that I use when taking the ccna, since I've passed the test twice, as I was recertified last week, I think they are very useful. Before taking the tutorial (because this will not take any time away from your exam), right down all your netmasks the maxium subnets and host they can have and if you use "magic number subnetting write them down or if you use 2(x)-2 write down you powers of two. This will greatly speed up your test and lift some stress because you will not a lot of the answers without to much work! Good luck!

stanonbass

2003-06-23, 1:53 pm

Dont sweat it man. I failed my first try. I scored a 771. I studied my butt off. I will get it next try. I had heard this test is very hard from instructors at my school. They say alot of people miss it there first try. Its a good challenge.

Stan

tiberios12

2003-06-30, 10:33 am

Bob, have you thought about using routersim?
www.routersim.com I know it will help you with CLI commands usage.

bob320

2003-06-30, 10:44 am

I`m cool with the router config, Its just the switch config I`ve had no exposure to.
Let this be a warning to all those who have completed the Academy (semesters 1-4) and are thinking about taking the exam.

"The Academy does not cover all the topics required for the exam and covers some topics not required for the exam."

jeff_j_black

2003-06-30, 11:00 am

Certification works like this:

Someone teaches a class that is geared towards passing a vendors certification. Someone else (the vendor) delivers the test through a testing vendor.

The class may be really great and teach you a lot of things, but there is no direct correlation between how you did in the class and passing the exam. It is up to you as an individual to review the topics to be covered in the vendors certification exam.

No teacher or class can guaranty that you will pass, all they do if they guaranty your pass, is pay for retakes.

You might want to go to the Cisco website and review the topics being covered for the exam, and then focus on those areas that you are not comfortable with.

You would also be served by finding legitemate exam practice software.

bob320

2003-06-30, 11:06 am

Any suggestions on a good book that will teach me about vlan config? switch commands and subnetting?

jeff_j_black

2003-06-30, 11:15 am

I used Cisco Press 640-607 Certification Guide. It covered all the topics well and beyond. It also included a practice exam engine. I also subscribe to a bunch of CCNA Questions of the Day, via email. The exam game is one of immersion. Live, eat, breath the exam topics.

For practice before I took the exam, I was answering up to 450 questions in a little over an hour. It made the real exam seem kinda easy.

Certcities. c o m has an article called "The Guilt Free Guide to Practice Questions" or something like that. It has links to lots of decent practice questions and online engines that aren't dumps of the exam and will give you plenty of practice. Good luck, don't take too long to review.

tiberios12

2003-06-30, 1:45 pm

Bob, don't let the name routersim fool you. Routersim also devotes a fare share of time to Switces.

jeff_j_black

2003-06-30, 2:40 pm

Good point, Routersim does cover the exam objectives. Boson does a pretty good job as well. I found an older version router simulator on Amazon. c o m for $30 that covered all of the exam objectives.

Sponsored Links