GCIH 1 week from today! Any last bit of advice?

[Deleted User]

Hey Forum

So I've been going hardcore with certifications this year and accomplished a lot and want to finish the year off with a bang hard to believe 2017 is 3/4 of the way done!! Taking the GCIH on Sept 9th. I took 2 practice exams the first one 79% 2nd one 82%. Got 1 more left to take which i'm doing tomorrow then reviewing my index and printing it off with the SANS cheatsheets. Any final bits of advice? Thanks y'all!!

TechGromit

kMastaFlash wrote: »

I took 2 practice exams the first one 79% 2nd one 82%. Got 1 more left to take which I'm doing tomorrow ...

Since when does a GIAC certification attempt come with 3 practice tests? With an 82% on a practice test, you should do fine.

[Deleted User]

I got a free practice test from someone here on the forum they were giving it away. I got 1 more practice exam i'm taking tomorrow so hopefully it will go well. I am putting finishing touches on my index and will print it out during the week along with the SANS cheatsheets.

charismaticx

I wouldn't even bother with the third practice exam in all honesty. The actual test is about as hard as the practice exams. Make sure your index is detailed and you understand the concepts. I just took the exam a few days ago and I just barley failed. I plan on retaking it in a couple weeks.

billyr2009

You look ready to go. Work on the index and fine tune it. Focus on your weak areas and strengthen them throughout this last week. Since you have the extra test, might as well take screen shots of the questions and testify them to get a sense of the correct answers. This will even help you review and strengthen the material in the last few days. Good luck, you will do awesome!

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone for your input. Well tomorrow is the big day! Just going to watch some TV and get to bed! I'll post how I do tomorrow!

fabostrong

kMastaFlash wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your input. Well tomorrow is the big day! Just going to watch some TV and get to bed! I'll post how I do tomorrow!

How'd it go?

[Deleted User]

Well I passed my GCIH!! Scored 85%

TheFORCE

Congrats man! That's really awesome. Are you able to share your index? I'm just looking for a template, not the actual information.

[Deleted User]

Thanks man. For making your index there really isn't a perfect way of doing it. You have to set it up the way that works best for you. Here is the layout of how I set mine up. Most of them are the same concept.

Keyword: Definition:Book/Page#

xxxkaliboyxxx

Congrats on the pass!

TheForce, I never heard of anyone failing the GCIH, I mean non-technical management take the class and pass, pretty sure you will be fine. Also, your index is just like kMart said, book 1-5, page number and make sure you color tab or posted your book with the subject. You could also put a small definition into your index and that's it. Shouldn't take longer than a short weekend.

cyberguypr

Congrats to kMastaFlash.

@TheFORCE here's how I approached my index: http://www.techexams.net/forums/sans-institute-giac-certifications/98047-passed-gcih.html

E Double U

Congratulations!

TechGromit

xxxkaliboyxxx wrote: »

TheForce, I never heard of anyone failing the GCIH, I mean non-technical management take the class and pass, pretty sure you will be fine. Also, your index is just like kMart said, book 1-5, page number and make sure you color tab or posted your book with the subject. You could also put a small definition into your index and that's it. Shouldn't take longer than a short weekend.

All I can say about that is "WOW!", you just told everyone planning to take the exam,
A. No one fails this test
B. you just need to study a short weekend and your good.

People have and do FAIL GIAC exams all the time, preparation is the key to passing, if you approach the exam with the advise given above I guarantee your going to fail. GIAC exams are not cheap and are not to be taken lightly.

kMastaFlash wrote: »

Keyword: Definition:Book/Page#

Congratulations on your pass.


My format is Definition, Book #, Tab #, short answer for definition.


My index is formatted landscaped, so I can fit more text, if I can answer the question with the index, I can save precious seconds not referring to the book.

xxxkaliboyxxx

TechGromit wrote: »

All I can say about that is "WOW!", you just told everyone planning to take the exam,
A. No one fails this test
B. you just need to study a short weekend and your good.

People have and do FAIL GIAC exams all the time, preparation is the key to passing, if you approach the exam with the advise given above I guarantee your going to fail. GIAC exams are not cheap and are not to be lighty.

Edit: Just noticed you came to your own conclusion to my statements: What was actually said. " I never heard of anyone failing" and "shouldn't take longer than a short weekend". I will say that maybe I should of been clearer, but TechGormit is just plain wrong on his assumptions.


A. Sorry for the miscommunication, what was meant by my statements were that you shouldn't stress out to the point that you envision a fail. GIAC exams aren't hard, that is a known fact and I'm pretty sure they're built purposely that way. SANS courses are awesome, but putting their exams on a higher difficulty level than they should be got to stop is all I was trying to say, admittedly poorly choice words on my part.

B. Creating your index should be easy, weekend should be ok, tweaking and fine combing your index DOES take a lot longer than a weekend.

I standby what I said, GCIH is not hard or advanced enough where people are failing all the time. That statement is meant as a "don't stress more just because it's SANS" type of deal. Do study and maintain your usual routine from other exams and yes, it is easier just based on the fact that is open book and you can bring in materials.

charismaticx

I completely disagree. The GCIH exam may not seem all that difficult but you actually have to know the material. The index is only a tool and that in itself may not be enough to pass. I read the books multiple times and took 4 practice test. Read the books, know your index and know when to skip questions. Those are the keys to passing.

xxxkaliboyxxx

Let us know how you did OP, good luck.

TechGromit

xxxkaliboyxxx wrote: »

Edit: Just noticed you came to your own conclusion to my statements: What was actually said. " I never heard of anyone failing" and "shouldn't take longer than a short weekend". I will say that maybe I should of been clearer, but TechGromit is just plain wrong on his assumptions.

They were easy conclusions to make.

TechGromit

xxxkaliboyxxx wrote: »

Let us know how you did OP, good luck.

Funny this is the 3rd thread I seen recently where the person was going to take there exam soon and we don't hear back from them. I usually expect the worse. It's like winning at the casino, they can't wait to tell everyone they know they Won $5,000 at the casino, but they don't tell anyone the 3 or 4 times they lost a couple grand.

[Deleted User]

@TechGromit
Read post on 9-9-17 11:03PM. I put that I passed 85%

Jasiono

What **** sheet? lol
congrats on the pass!

IaHawk

The index is something you must do. Not only does it help you on exam day but going through the material that carefully/slowly helps drill it in that much more.

I feel like I could have passed without it, but there is no way I could have gotten 90%+ without it.