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How to pass CCNA: 6 Steps to Success |
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CCNA is one of the most respected Associate level Certification
in the world today.
Getting a CCNA will definitely help you to get a better job
or at least get your foot into Professional Networking Field.
When you meet a person that has CCNA degree you will notice
that he or she knows something about Networking.
This article will describe and give you some tips on how to
achieve CCNA.
I did it so can you, so lets get started.
1. Getting ready mentally:
First thing you need to do is mentally prepare your self.
What I mean by that is that you have to seriously think about
on why are you getting CCNA and why do you want to be CCNA
certified. You have to firmly decide and believe that you
will get CCNA within next 3-6 months or so.
Try to budget your study time well. If you a very social person
(like me) you will have to give up some of your social time
for the next couple of months.
Your friends and family will understand. Trust me: it is well
worth it. Once you get that cert you can make up for the lost
social time.
2. Getting the right study material:
Second thing you need to do is to get proper study material.
There is lot of controversy around this and some people go
overboard with study guides, books, simulators and such.
I believe that two Cisco Press books INTR and ICND by Wendell
Odom are enough as far as the books go. They are really well
written and easy to follow. So sign up at http://www.ciscopress.com
and get those two books. Make sure you got the latest version.
You will also want to get some kind of a simulator that will
let you practice commands and that will also build up your
confidence.
You can buy real equipment but that could get expensive. I
highly recommend that you become member of Cisco Certification
forum.
Forum is huge and you will get lot of helpful answers, tips
and advices pretty quick. (I know I did)
3. Approach and diving deep:
There are many different approaches to studying from books
but I will tell you about mine. This step will take the most
of your studying time.
-Before you even start reading any of the books I suggest
learning binary math (really easy) and subnetting so you can
do it in your sleep.
http//www.learntosubnet.com is excellent resource. -read both
books casually once from front to cover (make sure you cover
introduction and practice questions too). This will give you
good overview.
-Install both CD’s that came with books and practices
some of the questions. Don’t worry if you get lot of
them wrong.
-Now, you will ready both books again but this time you will
have to read it to truly understand the concept and how things
work. Master one chapter and do questions from just that chapter
until you sick of it. Then move to the next chapter.
-Once you mastered all chapters do lot of questions and labexercises.
Those two CD’s will give you ability to do that.
4. Schedule the test:
You’re not done yet with studying but it is really good
to schedule the test after you completed step 3 in this article.
Here is why:
If you schedule the test a month in advance right after you
completed step 3, you won’t be able to slack and make
excuses not to study hard until tests and it is also good
to give your self a headline. I have seen people working on
their CCNA for 2 years. They master one or two chapters, then
they rest for 2 two months and right when they think they
are ready for the next chapter, they forget what they have
learned in the first chapter.
5. Read both books one more time to refresh.
This is optional, but I highly recommend reading the both
books one more time. If you read both books in a three week
that will give you one more week before the test to cram which
is subject of the next step.
So by now you should’ve read both books three times over.
I also suggest re-reading questions and answers from both
books one more time.
6. Cram, Cram and Cram -This is the last part of your study
and there is no turning back. Deadline is hanging around your
neck like a noose. You should cram Q&A for no more then
10 days before you take the test.
At this point it is really important that you get fresh and
different questions then those included with your CD’s.
Some people claims that brain dumps or Q&A are bad and
evil. I tend to disagree with that. At this point you already
firmly grasped the whole CCNA concept and Q&A will only
help you. So get some Q&A exam question and cram, cram
and cram them for a week.
Don’t use books or CD’s anymore. There is no looking
back. No worries, material from the books will return to you
at the right time.
-Don’t do any studying a night or a day before the test.
Go out with your wife or significant other to a dinner and
a movie. Relax. It is very important to relax and get a good
night sleep since one of those testing boots could really
be intimidating. If you did all the steps above and read books
with intention to understand the topics and how stuff works
(no pun intended), and not just to pass the test you should
be more then ready by now.
We came to an end of this short tutorial. I hope this article
give you at least some ideas on how to approach studying for
CCNA.
If you fail CCNA first time, don’t get discouraged.
You will have more knowledge and confidence when you attempt
it the next time then the person who passed it on the first
try. Whatever approach you take I wish you good luck and prosper
career.
About the Author:
Vanja Buric is Network Engineer, and works for Charter Communication
Business Engineering Department,
and also owner of the http://www.vanjaburic.com website, where
you can get latest networking news, articles,tips, free e-Books,
virus alerts and lot more… as well as purchase IT Exam
study guides.
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