 |
Cisco CCNA Certification: Four Tips To Use DURING The Exam |
 |
|
There are plenty of articles out there about how to prepare
for the CCNA exam. However, there are also things you can
do to increase your chances of success on exam day during
the most important part of the entire process -- the time
that you're actually taking the test.
I've taken many a certification exam over the years, and
helped many others prep for theirs. Here are the five things
you must do on exam day to maximize your efforts.
1. Show up on time. Yeah, I know everyone says that. The
testing center wants you there 30 minutes early. So why do
so many candidates show up late, or in a rush? If you have
a morning exam appointment, take the traffic into account.
If it's a part of town you don't normally drive in during
rush hour, you might be surprised at how much traffic you
have to go through. Plan ahead.
2. Use the headphones. Most candidates in the room with you
understand that they should be quiet. Sadly, not all of them
do. Smacking gum, mumbling to themselves (loud enough for
you to hear, though), and other little noises can really get
on your nerves in what is already a pressure situation. In
one particular testing center I use, the door to the testing
room has one setting: "Slam".
Luckily, that center also has a headset hanging at every
testing station. Call ahead to see if yours does. Some centers
have them but don't leave them at the testing stations. Wearing
headphones during the exam is a great way to increase your
powers of concentration. They allow you to block out all noise
and annoyances, and do what you came to do -- pass the exam.
3. Prepare for the "WHAT??" question. No matter
how well-prepared you are, there's going to be one question
on any Cisco exam that just stuns you. It might be off-topic,
in your opinion. It may be a question that would take 20 of
your remaining 25 minutes to answer. It might be a question
that you don't even know how to begin answering. Whatever
the reason, it's the question that has you thinking, "WHAT??"
I have talked with CCNA candidates who got to such a question
and were obviously so thrown off that they didn't do well
on any of the remaining questions, either.
There is only one thing to do in this situation: shrug it
off. Compare yourself to a major-league pitcher. If he gives
up a home run, he can't dwell on it. He's got to face another
batter. Cornerbacks in football face the same problem. If
they give up a long TD pass, they can't spend the next 20
minutes thinking about it. They have to shrug it off and be
ready for the next play.
Don't worry about getting a perfect score on the exam. Your
concern is passing. If you get a question that seems ridiculous,
unsolvable, or out of place, forget about it. It's done. Move
on to the next question and nail it.
4. Finish with a flourish. Ten questions from the end of
your exam, take a 15-to-30 second break. You can't walk around
the testing room, but you can stand and stretch. By this point
in the exam, candidates tend to be a little mentally tired.
Maybe you're still thinking about the "WHAT??" question.
Don't worry about the questions you've already answered --
they're done. Take a deep breath, remember why you're there
-- to pass this exam -- and sit back down and nail the last
ten questions to the wall.
Before you know it, your passing score appears on the screen!
About the Author:
Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage,
home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate CCNA Study
Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study Packages. For a FREE copy
of his latest e-books, “How To Pass The CCNA” and
“How To Pass The CCNP”, visit the website and download
your free copies. You can also get FREE CCNA and CCNP exam
questions every day! Pass the CCNA exam with The Bryant Advantage!
|
|
|
|
Relevant Resources |
|
|
|
|
|
Need Cisco Hardware for your Cert? |
|
|
| Call 813.852.6400 now for more information to find the best router or switch to best help you with your certification exam. Having "real" hands-on experience is extremely beneficial not just for testing, but also ensures you are actually familiar with the device you are working on.
|
|
|
|
|
Cisco Routers |
|
|
|
|
|
Cisco Switches |
|
|
|
|
|
