Exam : GCIA -503
Preparation : Courseware : Official Courseware from SANS - OnDemand Training
Build up to the exam : Completed all the books 10 days before the exam and revised the books for 5 times in the next 10 days
Index : Had gone through the books enough number of times to remember the topics and information covered in every book . So i didn't have an actual index like others . Just had page numbers noted down for different type of attacks , stimuli/responses (2 small index cards) . For people who aren't into index, one suggestion would be to just jog through their memory and list out the topics covered in each books ample number of times before the exam. This is just my way of doing it but from what i hear indexing is the fool-proof way .
Practice Test 1 : Took the first 1 day before the exam - scored 82 % - 30 minutes remaining
Practice Test 2 : Took it the day before the exam - Scored 86% - 1.5 hrs remaining (~45 repeated questions from test1)
Exam :
# 3-5 questions repeated from the practice tests .
# Rest of the questions were testing your skills from the same area as in practice test
# completed with 45 minutes to go
# Used the books mostly for topics from book#5 . Rest of the questions , I could manage with the **** sheets for headers and portnumbers.
# Had maintained 93% until 75 questions , just from my observation the questions were getting tougher and was difficult (questions related to deployment of ips/ids in complex n/w environment) to maintain the 90% mark and ultimately ended up with 87%
Next Certification :
GREM . I have started to go through assembly language before I buy the GREM course .
Good luck for everyone giving their SANS exam. May the force be with you
