CCDA/CCDP - Ccda

Author

Ccda

unbelievable

2001-05-19, 12:29 pm

Can anyone please tell me what I can do to pass this exam? The exam is 72 questions with a minimum of 755 to pass. I figured that since I have just completed the CCNP certification this exam should be a breeze. Well, after doing it three times with a score of 708 each time; I'm just about to throw in the towel and/or jump off a bridge. I've gone over the Cisco Press DSN and the CCDA Osborne book as well as the Top-Down Network Design. I've even scored 100% on the Cisco's COLT, and I've felt that I've answered the majority of the questions correctly I still keep getting 708.

I'm totally lost, I just can't go on anymore...

dumfart

2001-05-20, 12:04 am

I believe your problem is that you are reading the DSN book when you should be reading the DCN book (just kidding). I am lucky because my company has access to just about every Cisco exam resource that is on the face of this planet. If I had to pay for resources for the CCDA exam, first of all I would avoid any book that has the word "Guide" in the title including Cisco Press. I would only buy the Cisco Press "Designing Cisco Networks" course book(not to be confused with the Cisco Press CCDA Exam Certification Guide) and the CCXX practice exams for $19.95. The technical information for this exam is not that hard, it is all about mastering the gray-area material. No practice tests or braindump bulls@#t can get you through this test but the CCXX practice tests are your best bet for practice tests and they are cheap too. I didn't have any problem passing the test the first time although I will admit that the test did suck. Sorry dude, there is no secret formula, that's how I passed the test. If you master the DCN book then you should pass the test. It's not about scoring 100% on any practice tests; it's about being able to figure out what they are getting at in their case study questions. Good luck!

Mat P

2001-05-20, 11:00 am

I had to laugh at the DSN quote!!

Seriously though, it sounds like you have done a lot of the work, you just need to hone your skills a little.

I have to disagree with dumfart, the CCDA Exam cert guide is an excellent tool, I'm not the only one that feels this, it has had lots of good press on this forum. It's similar to the DCN in that it has case studies that continue through the book, but at the end it has a chapter with 3 or 4 more case studies, this maybe just what your after.

Personally I didn't get on with the DCN book, the exam cert seem's a lot more structured, although I have gone back to DCN if there is anything I don't understand as it has more information.

From what you say, it doesn't sound like you have any problems technically, but may need a little help with the case studies - I strongly recommend the DCN exam cert for you.

I'm planning on sitting the exam this Friday - providing work don't make me do what they pay me for, listen out for my result!!

Good luck,

Mat P

Saaur

2001-05-20, 11:08 am

This is indeed unbelievable

I agree with Mat, use the CCDA Exam Certification Guide, these casestudies will help you through.

dumfart

2001-05-20, 11:57 am

On second thought, I agree with Mat P. about getting the Cisco Press CCDA Exam Certification Guide, another book with more practice case studies and a slightly different writing style may be just what you need to get you through your rough spot. Also, don't stay up late cramming for this exam the night before you take it; before you write the test get a good nights sleep because this test is mentally draining and you need a fresh mind for it. If you are stuck on a screwy question and your brain is going to explode, go with your gut feeling and make a good guess instead of thinking too much about it, the sections that I got 100% on were the sections that I guessed the most (at least it seemed like I guessed). Good luck!

unbelievable

2001-05-21, 10:39 am

Thank you all for your input. I've put in so much effort and energy into obtaining the CCNP certification within a span of 8 weeks that I think that my brain isn't working anymore now. My problem is the case studies only and I just need to take some time off and figure them out.

Yeah, sorry about the mix up (DSN -> DCN). I think I was still thinking of the BCSN exam (Designing Scalable Networks) and didn't realize what I typed.

Anyhow, I have scheduled the exam for Wednedsay and well I'll just leave it at that....

Transylvanian

2001-05-21, 3:54 pm

unbelievable,

You said you passed the CCNP in 8 weeks...
you're either a very quick, superiour brain, or you are very good at memorizing.

The memory won't help you during the CCDA...the ability to focus and a methodical approach will .

Force yourself to slow down and read carefully.

phatshaggi

2001-07-07, 3:43 pm

boson and ccxx, nuff' said

mp3server

2001-07-17, 10:55 am

The way I passed it was to actually take in extra paper and quickly summarize all of the case studies on different pieces of paper. Then, when a case study re-appears, all you have to do is look back and see how many users were in each building, what the line speed was, what the router model is, and any special needs of each office...

That's pretty much it. MAIN THING THOUGH!!! DO NO RUSH!!!!

-R

tschmuhl

2001-07-19, 9:56 am

I took it yesterday, for the 2nd time, first time to take it was 2 years ago. The case study questions seemed to be very vague in what they were asking. The best answers seemed to be not even a choice...made a 727 needed 755, too close for me. Think I am bowing out and sticking with my CCNP track.
I was also supprised in the questions. They were not at all rating my skills, more so rating my knowledge of much older technologies like FDDI, Token Ring, and X21bis max speed...where did that question come from? Looked it up afterwards and my quess was correct...
Does anyone have an opinion on this as to whether it would be worth my while to take it for the 3rd time? I already have my CCNA, and the way the market is, I need to get on the test taking track. Also since my CCNA1 will expire the end of this year I need to get moving on it.

depamo

2001-07-21, 5:31 pm

I just took it and passed well above the passing level but I did notice that it was very demanding on everything that you need to know about Cisco devices.

I don't plan on telling anyone that it is an easy exam, I studied very diligently for 2 weeks to get this one and I was scared to the bone when I walked it to the test. The book is just tons of numbers, methods and things to remeber. I used the CCDA Cisco press book and most of my friends said that the case studies in the Sybex book are really close to those used in the exam. I didn't look so I don't know.

One thing that I do know for sure, the bulk is on the case studies. Passing the CCNP and then going on to the CCDA you might have too much knowledge and need to turn it down a few notches. I looked at it from a point of view to identify the key phrases in the case studies that tell you what to look for as far as what type of WAN connections, traffic types, and other key phrases that leak out the answers.

If your answers fit the Cisco requirements of cost effective, efficent, and easy to manage, and of course what the customer wants (office politics) then you should be in there.

Do try to keep in mind that there are no pre-requisits for this test so the assumption is a very basic knowledge of networks. I have been watching this site for a while and see most CCNP's having trouble with the exam and believe that this might be from too much knowledge.

On the my side of the coin, taking the CCDA prior to the CCNP has supercharged my studing, I almost skipped the first 5 chapters in BSCN because they were review from my CCDA studying.

Good luck and keep trying, that CCNP cert is rare and will make you stand out!!

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