CCDA/CCDP - Passed CCDA today !

Author

Passed CCDA today !

Justin2112

2001-08-31, 3:15 pm

Hey Fellow Cisco-Heads,

I barely sqeaked by my CCDA today with a 766/755 - yeah . . looks like I did it by one question.

There is no such thing as studying too much for this exam - I am currently a CCNA + I gave up hours upon hours weeks upon weeks to understand the material covered in the CCDA exam. I used Cisco's CCDA training kit, and the Cisco press CCDA certification guide, putting forth my best effort.

Know your legacy technologies, ( ie, Token Ring, SNA, ) - I think that is what kicked my butt, was those legacy technologies and a few of the case study questions. Although, I must have got some of them right.

What helped me was I asked for extra paper before the exam, and when I got a case study question, I took the paper, wrote the case study's company name on the top, drew a line in the middle of the paper, and on side I put: " Currently HAS ", and on the other side I put: " Will have." In reading through the grueling case studies, I made notes on each side of my paper. This made it easier, but I found the exam a helluva challange . . .

To sum it up . . .know your stuff before you take this. The week you think you are ready, give yourself an extra week to study more.

Peace Out friends and the BEST of luck to you,

Justin

Kasor

2001-09-02, 8:15 am

Congrat! Pass is PASS... Ohaaaaa

vizard

2001-09-03, 6:05 am

congrats!

mkhan

2001-09-05, 5:22 am

congrats!!

Justin2112

2001-09-05, 8:54 am

THanks Everyone for the Congrats, that is cool that you took the time. I only hope what I have posted can help, ( even if its just a little ) you pass the exam. I read through this forum plenty before I took the actual exam.

CCDA is really good for getting to know the Cisco product line and when to use what where. Good foundation for Network design. Plus it is a real gold star for a resume.

Thanks again,

Justin

kohposh

2001-09-27, 3:43 pm

quote:
Originally posted by Justin2112
THanks Everyone for the Congrats, that is cool that you took the time. I only hope what I have posted can help, ( even if its just a little ) you pass the exam. I read through this forum plenty before I took the actual exam.

CCDA is really good for getting to know the Cisco product line and when to use what where. Good foundation for Network design. Plus it is a real gold star for a resume.

Thanks again,

Justin

CONGRATS.. Justin.

I guess, youre moving on to CCNP then..

Kohposh.

Justin2112

2001-09-27, 3:51 pm

Thanks for the Congrats. Wow, what a bunch of cool people here !

Yeah, I am moving to CCNP. It seems like it will be really, super hard - but, it is also kinda a rare cert because it is so hard.

The ultimate goal is to be so valuable to a company, that my wife and kid will always be taken care of.

Ask if you have any Q's on the CCNA or CCDA - I took 'em both.

Peace and GOOD LUCK !!

Justin

kohposh

2001-09-27, 3:57 pm

quote:
Originally posted by Justin2112
Thanks for the Congrats. Wow, what a bunch of cool people here !
...

... Ask if you have any Q's on the CCNA or CCDA - I took 'em both.

Hey, speaking of questions???

Can u advice me on what study guides to study from for CCDA, and what are good sample tests to work with?

.. thanx for the advice.

~ kohposh.

Curt

2001-09-27, 7:48 pm

Thanks for the tips. Writing the columns sounds like a really good idea. I will use it when I take the exam in 2 1/2 weeks.

I second kohposh's question of study questions.

Justin2112

2001-09-28, 8:58 am

Honestly dudes,

The most valuable asset that people tend to over look is the enormity of Cisco's web site. I downloaded information on the whole Cisco product line covered by the CCDA, both routers and switches. The information covers what scenario each router is used in. Cisco's site is also good for looking up terms you may not be familair with. ( I used for ( SNA, DLSW etc. . ). Cisco's site is a mass vault of information that is easily accessed. One buddy told me it's the largest site in the world.

Alternatively, I used the CCDA Training Kit and Todd Lammle's EXAM NOTES book for CCDA.

One last secret from Justin 2112: I used and hand-held tape recorder for the fact-memorizing. When you read information, that used a certain part of your brain. When you speak information, that uses another part of your brain. When you listen to information that uses an even different part of your brain. The tape-recorder is a great tool. I even put some music blips inbetween each 5 minute session I recorded to it wasn't all dry.

Take it easy dudes !

Have a kick **S weekend !

Justin !

Justin2112

2001-09-28, 9:04 am

Oops. Forgot to answer your Q's on Sample tests.

The best ones to get are the ones written by Cisco. The CCDA training kit I had came with a CD that had some questions written by Cisco press. Although, the questions on the test were different, the concept is the same - You get to understand HOW CISCO THINKS. It makes sense to use the Cisco PRess stuff.

Hope that helps !

Justin

kohposh

2001-09-28, 9:22 am

quote:
Originally posted by Justin2112
Oops. Forgot to answer your Q's on Sample tests.

The best ones to get are the ones written by Cisco. The CCDA training kit I had came with a CD that had some questions written by Cisco press.

... Hope that helps !

Justin

Hey thanx a lot, justin.

That helps a lot.

U have a great weekend too..

later
kohposh.

butchie_t

2001-10-26, 6:54 am

Tape recorder huh?? Interesting concept, I may just have to give this one a try. Congrats and good luck.

B.T.

RATTLERMAN

2001-11-07, 5:44 am

Where would you place the CCDA test before
the CCNP tests or right before the CID test because I want both the CCNP/CCDP certs.
Any help would be appreciated

Justin2112

2001-11-07, 8:01 am

Rattler,

Hey man;

I am studying the BSCN ( RTING ) now. THe CCDA was good to do before this, because I am seeing some things repeat in my studying for the BSCN. For instance, the 3 layer hierarchical model is covered in BSCN. It would be good to do before CCNP because you have more knowledge to draw from; although you may not see everything you learned.

Good luck !

Justin

RATTLERMAN

2001-11-07, 11:10 am

Thank you so much

I have the cisco press 4 book set on order now. I guess i will go get the ccda book and put of ccnp untill january

TpaBrad

2001-11-15, 7:27 pm

Well this seems like a great topic here to get some info on. Congrats to the recent CCDA's! I just passe3d my last exam for NP last week, that was a long treck but am happy IM done. Now IM going to do DA and then DP. My question is this, through my practice so far, the exams will stick with one case study and build on it through the exam. Does the real exam do this also, or do you end up seeing different scenarios throughout the test? Im going to take a stab at this next week, so far I feel pretty comfortable, specially after coming off frsh from NP. Thanks for the help!!

Justin2112

2001-11-16, 8:27 am

TpaBrad,

Hey Bro . .to answer your Q .. . I had 5 distinct case studies on my test. I was able to reference to each on every question that related. ( Show Exhibit ). It would have been nice if the test stuck with ONE, but that was not the case on mine. When you go take the test and you get paper and pencil, take notes on each case study as you read it; with the ficticious company name at the top of each note entry you do - that way you won't have to re-read each case study over and over again if you take good notes. Also, there is no logical order, I mean you could get four questions in a row, each referencing a different case study. The good part is . . .Buried in all the words, the answer is there. If you've practice with case study Q's - you know what I mean. You'll do great cuz you know your stuff.

Good luck . . .anything else you want to know, please let me know : )

-Justin

P.S.

I am about to take 640-503 ( tomorrow ) ; any tips for me on that?

Thanks. : )

TpaBrad

2001-11-16, 10:37 am

Thanks for the info! Routing was an interesting test, please forgive me, since I took it back in July its a little faint to me now. Everyone told me that was the hardest of the four, for some reason I blew through it and got my highest score to date (931). I dont remember getting alot of BGP questions. But make sure you know your routing protocols (timers, distance vector or link state, etc) Sorry I couldnt tell you much, good luck !

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