70-218 - Are the cramsession study guides worth it?

Author

Are the cramsession study guides worth it?

blumley

2003-10-09, 2:42 pm

I'm considering purchasing one of the for-pay cramsession.com study guides for 70-218. I'm already using MOC, but I wanted a more concise and condensed guide that I can read multiple times.

It looks like that is what the cramsession guide is. Has anyone ever used their guides? What do you think of them?

Thanks!

curiousgeorge

2003-10-09, 10:32 pm

I've never purchased anything from cramsession, but I saw some of their stuff two years ago.
They only gave bullet points on subjects. I didn't think it would help anyone on an exam.
Their study guides may be different today, but they didn't look good two years ago.
I looked at their website, and they don't even describe anything about their study guides. When you click on a specific study guide, it doesn't even tell you what's in the study guide.
hmmm... I wouldn't trust any site that doesn't even describe what they're selling.

I would stick with what you have.

blumley

2003-10-09, 10:41 pm

I went ahead and got the one for 70-218 anyway...it's actually exactly what I was looking for...135 pages...quite concise.

In regards to curiousgeorge's comments, if you click "Buy Now", you can view the abstract and preview pages that show the TOC. Also, this information is also available to all:

What is a CramSession?
A CramSession is a study guide that provides useful, concise, and relevant information you should know before you take an exam. CramSession study guides are not a substitute for course materials or for actual experience working with a product, nor are they the only resource you should consult when preparing for an exam. A CramSession is simply one resource that may help shorten the time it takes you to prepare for an exam.

How can CramSession study guides help me?
They provide a substitute for some of your own note taking and may save you some significant time.
They provide a logical framework to facilitate the learning and retention of more detailed information.
They provide a central resource for hypertext links to relevant information on the Internet.
They provide the basis for an excellent last-minute review of material.
They contain useful, pertinent information that will be of value long after you have taken and passed the exam.
What is the best way to use a CramSession study guide?
The answer to that question depends on your learning style. Some people use the study guides at the beginning of their effort to master the content for an exam, whereas others use them at the very end of their studying to add the finishing touches to their effort. However, when to use the study guide is not as important as what else you are doing to master the content for the exam. Because passing a certification exam is often one of the first steps for mastering a product, it is important to ensure that the CramSession does not become a substitute for learning problem-solving skills or acquiring practical experience with the product itself. You should do your own research with the product itself in addition to using the study guide. A study guide can be a dual-edged sword: too heavy an emphasis on the study guide will lead to short-term, rather than long-term retention of the content, making it difficult for you to retain information after you have passed the exam. Don't forget that you may still have to get through a technical interview at some point after you have passed the exam.

No offense, George, but I don't really consider your opinion on the subject unbiased...

curiousgeorge

2003-10-10, 11:42 pm

You asked for an opinion, and I gave one.

I only told you what I saw two years ago. And as I said in my first post- they may have changed since then. I guess they did.

I still think it's odd that they don't give any detail of what is in the study guide until you click on the Buy Now button. They should give you that information when you click on the exam itself. Oh well, I guess they didn't really think that someone may want to know what they're buying.

btw- It took me 15 minutes to find the section you quoted. That information should be on the first page of the Study Guides section, not buried in the help section that you can only get to by clicking on a small link at the bottom of the page.

I can't speak to the quality of their material and if it will help people pass an exam. I can only tell you what I've seen in the past and what I see today.

If the material is good, I'm glad it will help you. At the same time, they need to redesign their website so people know what their study guide has to offer and detail of its contents before you buy it.

Good luck on the exam.

Let us know if the guide helped.

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