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Home > Archive > CCIE > September 2003 > What's now the difficulty about the LAB exam
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What's now the difficulty about the LAB exam
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| grhyme 2003-09-01, 5:30 pm |
| Hi,
Just wondering: Is there besides fighting the clock, also another thing that makes a LAB candidate go haywire once he's ready to do the practical exam?
I mean, to me you're racing against the clock, and trying to keep your head straight to your "to do list" or strategy-plans.
I do believe that the recommended 700-something hours are going to maintain that strategy throughout the whole grueling 8 hour exam.
Did someone heard stories or witnessed themselves that taking or studying for this LAB can actually become unhealty??!?
Hope to hear your replies soon!
Gordon | |
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| Hi Gordon - that's a great question.
I've had 3 attempts and haven't really found time a problem. I'm comfy with all the essentials and this allowed me to get IGP and switching done by lunch, BGP straight after and I was always left with a couple of hours to research all the things I was unsure with.
The biggest issue was understanding the questions and spotting all the side issues, this is where you can fall over and lose marks. I have a friend who sat the exam and was certain he had 100% in certain topics and dissapointed to find he got 0% - even though it worked, the key is meeting the requirements - it's all very well ISDN working, but if they say only one side can initiate the call, then this is what you have to do - both sides can call means nil point's!!
As for health, I was doing 15/16 hr days for the first few months, my employer gave me full time study leave but didn't realise the H&S issues, the amount of stress I put myself under - my wife thought I was becoming an alcoholic as the only way I could sleep was if I had a couple of pints - not good if your also on call to go to police stations  After my third attempt I decided to take a break, I treated myself to a couple of weeks in Gran Canaria, my defences dropped and I was ill for 2 weeks, I put it down to the stress of studying - I'm normally well, in 13 yrs of working I have never had a day off through sickness.
The stress also affected my attitude to my employers, when anything minor happened I would blow my top, which is very out of character for me, it came to a head just yesterday when I left the company for pastures new.
I remember reading one post on Groupstudy, a guy said something like, what's the point in passing CCIE if you have nobody to celebrate it with?? I let a lot of things drop in priority, I should have spent time with my kids my wife etc, and now regret it.
It's good that you have at least thought about this, I didn't - for about 8 months my one and only goal was CCIE, I eat, drank and slept CCIE - I had Doyles book in the toilet, Solie's book on the dinner table etc.
Anyway, I have counselling in 30 minutes so must go
HTH | |
| grhyme 2003-09-04, 3:56 am |
| Well.....that was some story, hopefully it has taught you a lesson or two...but then again: I wonder what you were thinking DURING this period of hardworking and pushing everyone away?
Because this IS something that I'm heading for I think, it's that CCIE label that makes me wanna go for broke and really crush anything and anyone in my way, and because I feel that it MIGHT not be healthy I was very glad to read your story.
Still convinced that a CCIE candidate needs to have 80% chance to some serious braindamage when it comes to combining this whole experience with studytime, going over numerous Labs against the "stress" of the combination of work, family, possibly kids, friends, daily activities(sports) and the stress of a...normal life (doing stuff when you're bored, groceries, going to your parents-in-law,etc).... Must go wrong at SOME point in time!!
So unless you have a couple of people around you that are ALSO in tha game, I really admire the ones who have to combine all of the things stated above. From what I read you're still busy with this? Or did you despite all of the turmoil pulled it off?
Gordon | |
| Hippo 2003-09-04, 12:56 pm |
| Surely, this is a question of balance.
A balance between life, work and study - in that order. Is it really that important, or that urgent, that one cannot take one's time.
I am sure a balanced approach will bring a calmer, more relaxed attitude and relieve the stress enormously.
Mat, I admire your perseverence, but you have highlighted the effects of your efforts and hinted at the possible consequences. The holiday was a good idea; maybe a three month holiday from studying would be beneficial also.
Hippo | |
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| I found time a problem in my first attempt in security, but as Mat was saying, the real challenge is to understand the question and try to take a right *guess* what the author really meant and what kind of answer they were looking for.
They always say that "we don't look into how you solve it, but we look into whether it works or not", and I find this a total crap. You will find questions that can be solved with 3 or 4 different ways, but if you don't pick one of the answers that they are looking for, there you go your zero in that section.
Well Mat, one thing I knew when going through this CCIE is NEVER QUIT.. I passed my R&S first time, but couldn't do it for Security.. maaaaan.. it was really tough.. I did it in my third attempt, and that was depressing to me too..
I know EXACTLY what you mean by stress... You were lucky to get a study leave, for me, I didn't have this opportunity, my boss was a freaking idiot, I remember one day I was in the office just around 4:00 o'clock, just finished what I had in hand at work, and found it a good chance to read a page or two from one of the CCIE books I had..
That idiot came a long and saw me holding the book... he was shouting like crazy "I don't want to see you reading in here.. this is not a library, if you want to read something, read it on your own time".. I released that there is no chance to get my CCIE when I am around this jack**s, so, one week later, I quit..
I have been preparing for my Security test, day and night, as you said earlier, I was eating and drinking CCIE.. I had some cash putting aside to pay my bills, and all what I was doing is wakeup in the morning, even before washing my face, setting down on my home lab and trying to get something done for about 4 hours, then I realize that I haven't eaten anything, and I smell like crap, I go eat a toast or something, and I swear straight sometimes 24 hours on my computer trying to solve a problem in the lab or trying to do something..
Before passing my CCIE I started to accumulate some debts, and things started to get really nasty, so much deep in dept and was VERY close to being unable to pay my rent, had no more than a hundred in my hand.. So, you can guess how life was, for a full straight 18 month, NO job, NO life, NO laughs, NO Money, nothing.. I owe it all to my wife, she had the patience to stand all this...
I am not trying to put anyone down here, in the contrary, but you need to know what kind of s**t you have to put up yourself with in order to be prepared, and if you are in the middle of the road, don't get frustrated, you will get there sooner or later, all what it takes is more patience, more study, and of course more luck in your test.
Well, sorry for this long post, but have been away from this forum for sometime now..
Good luck to you all.  | |
| amin7070 2003-09-04, 10:00 pm |
| mosam, when did u finish your ccie security. i'm prepairing for this pain and was wondering, did they hit alot on routing and switching or was it pure security?
thanks | |
| mosam 2003-09-04, 11:47 pm |
| Just finished it 3 days ago..
Well, there is lot of common topics between both, but I think this will change significantly in the new test layout that's coming out in 9/29. As you may know they are adding IDS and VPN concentrators, and pretty sure they will focus on other stuff in security too.
But generally speaking, R&S is the foundation of all existing types of CCIE tests, can't pass any of these test without knowing your way in R&S. | |
| haseeb_eng 2003-09-05, 7:01 am |
| Congratulations mosam on passing your ccie lab . By the end of this year i am also going to start preperation of ccie lab with the same routine like other were doing . I think so i better finish it before my marrige . But i have one question from all CCIEs or those who attempted the ccie lab IS THIS THE ONLY WAY TO GET YOUR CCIE ? i.e you MUST PRACTICE ON THE LAB 15 HOURS A DAY ? | |
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| You can not make it a general rule haseeb, it all depends on your skill set, your experience, and a big portion of it depends on luck.. may be the "luck" part is little bit surprising to some, but not for those who have been to the CCIE path..
If you don't know your stuff, no luck will do with you. Luck will be needed for those who know the stuff inside out. You may be a top notch Cisco guru and still fail the test because of luck.
But, I would say, if you plan to get your CCIE within like 6 months or so from now, yes, with a little bit of luck, you would need at least 8 hours practice everyday.. and don't expect to pass the first time.. try! But don't expect too much. | |
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| You can't get this without giving up something in your life - I wish I had the balls to quit my job and study. I've dropped on my feet, one of my old bosses put me forward for a 6 month contract and I will earn 2 years wages in that time - then I will be able to take a break for study. I'm also working away from home so will be able to study in the evenings.
Hippo - my last attempt was June, I haven't done any studying since - though I have done a little training for a few people. I will be starting soon.
Gordon - I think I already answered you, I'll pull it off next time.
This time it is my goals, not my bosses - I asked for 18 months, they gave me 4!! I came a long way, and almost pulled it off - on the first 2 attempts I almost pulled it off, third I was so burned out.
Hasseb - be careful, don't overdo it - it can easily take over!! | |
| grhyme 2003-09-08, 4:16 am |
| Mat, what about gettting all the configs in your head, is this not giving you the headache and gets you the insanity of trying too much in such a short time. I mean, you HAVE to beat the clock during such an exam, otherwise a lot more candidates would pass this one. That's my opinion... It already starts to drive me crazy because I can be easily distracted by outside forces (meet my wife) and to go back into a scenerio will require some uploadtime for my brains again.
So the question is: Did that also affected your throughout your labpractices and your outside world-experiences(family, work, etc)
Anyway, nothing beats a good game of basketball to clear your mind right up...
Gordon. | |
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| Sorry for the delay - I'm working away from home now!!
I found that it wasn't really an issue having the configs in my head - I did labs that often that it was all second nature. I can still do most now, and regularly talk people through configs on the phone who are studying for the lab.
My studying affected everything, as I said above my number one priority was CCIE - everything else came second, which is why I was so stressed!!
It's good that you have as port, I used CCIE as an excuse not to do sport, my health has definately suffered - I know one guy who's doctor told him to stop because of his health!!
Good luck, feel free to PM me. | |
| yataozhu 2003-09-16, 12:31 pm |
| Mosam,
Congrats on your passing the secruity!
I am going to have my first attempt on Sep/22 on RTP.
Have a few days more to go.
Any last minute Tips for me?
You can reach me at chuyatao@hotmail.com
Thank you very much!
Yatao | |
| haseeb_eng 2003-09-18, 1:48 am |
| Thanks guys for the information |
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