CCDP Helpful Preparation Tips

instant000

I'm fresh off completing CCDP. (01/19/2015).

I have here a list of tips and links (mostly links) that might help you in preparation for the CCDP.

With regards to the syllabus for the course, it breaks down like this:
30% - Campus
24% - IP Addressing and Routing
08% - WAN
32% - Data Center
06% - Security

Based on my experience taking the exam, this breakdown is VERY accurate. Make sure that you study the topics according to their percentages! That's about the biggest tip I can give. I'm not saying to ignore WAN and Security, but I am saying that you better pay attention to Data Center and Campus if you have any hope at all of clearing the exam.


Now, on to the links:

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The Exam syllabus. As good a starting point as any. Figure out what you're being tested on.
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/docs/DOC-10472

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Cisco Design Zone - You may find yourself running over here, to look some things up, from time to time.
Design Zone - Cisco

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Safari Books Online - I have a subscription, and I abuse it.
http://www.safaribooksonline.com

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Google - Ain't too proud to search!
Google

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ARCH FLG 3rd edition answer key errata - This is a link to some issues that some noted in the text. The errata itself might not be enough for you.
https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/thread/62973

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Iristheangel - ARCH Done - CCDP Now - Notes from a candidate, on what it took to pass CCDP.
http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccda-ccdp/99136-arch-done-ccdp-now.html

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Iristheangel - ARCH NOTES - These are Iristheangel's notes for CCDP ARCH (I'm assuming from the Anthony Sequeira(sp?) videos. I had some notes from these videos, but I had deleted them in a fit of anger when I failed my first attempt at CCDA ... (RAGE - DELETE!! CCDA I HATE YOU!! HULK SMASH!!!)! Haha.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15G_flt9UG_a3IOc1nd57LdPkfMlDN6DVG4c92v1NL-A

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Hendra Mulyanto - CCDP ARCH (Slideshare) - This is a series of images that illustrate the concepts of CCDP. Think of this as CCDP Illustrated. I tended to draw pictures during the exam when figuring something out, so this may be helpful.
Ccdp arch


The below links are from yours truly. Use them or ignore them, LOL.
Note: There could be typos or mistakes, but if so, use it as a learning experience. I didn't score a perfect on the exam, but I did well enough to feel comfortable sharing my notes.

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What it takes to pass the CCDA with Flying Colors - Information in here may be helpful for CCDP, also, since CCDA was definitely the most difficult part. I had to read CCDP materials before I could pass CCDA. I'm not sure that I would have been able to complete CCDA otherwise. In my experience, Cisco literally took stuff directly out of the ARCH text (almost word-for-word) and threw it into the CCDA test. It would have been easier for me to do ARCH first, and then go back to DESGN.
http://www.techexams.net/forums/ccda-ccdp/106749-what-takes-pass-ccda-flying-colors-my-experience.html

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Google Doc - ARCH FLG Notes - Copied over the exam outline, and filled it with notes from the text. This is a pretty fat document: 250+ pages. Maybe consider it a medium reference (not small enough to be quick). I even went back and updated the notes in here later. It's still a lot to read through, and it is definitely not better than the text. I only looked through it once myself, maybe it would be easier to go through if I used more of an outline format?
[Caution: The file exceeds the maximum size that Google Drive can scan for viruses. Please scan it yourself first. -- You should probably do this anyway.]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNNzMyREtuU3ZQazQ/view?usp=sharing

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Google Doc - End of Chapter Questions with Explanations - I went through all of the End of Chapter Questions, and tried to make explanations for all the answers.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNUUNoeTd6Ri12LWM/view?usp=sharing

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Google Doc - End of Chapter Questions - This is only the questions. Use this for testing yourself.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNQ3RtdmJCRy1wRFU/view?usp=sharing

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Google Doc - ARCH FLG Flash Cards - A set of flash cards, that also includes stuff from the older quick reference. You should be able to import this into your favorite flash card app. If not, then blame Congress.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNSFo1MTZxcjhLUnc/view?usp=sharing

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Google Doc - End of Chapter Fillable (a fillable answer sheet for practice testing). This is in a horizontal format. If you prefer vertical, then maybe you can roll with your own.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNa2VjZHA0RkRLNGc/view?usp=sharing

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Google Doc - Answer Key (for End of Chapter Questions). This is supposed to be the answer key. I found an error when I was going through it, and I'm guessing that if you review hard enough, you may be able to find another error or two. That's a good sign, as it means you're really learning the material, and not just taking things at face value. (This is not the same answer key as the text, as the text answer key is not perfect, per the Answer Key Errata link given above.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNNWs3SWJFZTUtODg/view?usp=sharing

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Google Doc - Study Tracker - This is a spreadsheet that you can use to track your studies. I like seeing incremental progress on stuff, so I would be able to see on what date I read what, what date I had done notes or whatever, and what date I attempted the questions. In order to simulate a testing environment, I would go through all of the end of chapter questions in one shot. I tried going through all of the questions once before starting the book, and I only scored 42%. After reading the book, I was at 80%. I then reviewed the end of chapter questions and made explanations on them. That got me over 90%. After that, it was only an issue of "how confident am I?" and then the exam was booked.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_M9eYJdAQXNVGxsZjZid09OeDA/view?usp=sharing

stlsmoore

Great info as usual, still trekking through the CCDA material and the Design Zone. Finished Top-Down design book which I thought was a great primer to the CCDA certification books.

So you're saying we should read the ARCH FLG to prepare for the CCDA exam?

instant000

stlsmoore wrote: »

So you're saying we should read the ARCH FLG to prepare for the CCDA exam?

Good evening.

Yes, if you want to pass, you should read the ARCH FLG.

stlsmoore

Thanks I'll add that to the list then; about half-way through the CCDA OCG book now.