16 months preparing for the CCNA and counting

I started studying for the CCNA Dec 04. I've spent a lot of time and money preparing for the exam. A few things over the past few months
have happened in my life and as a result I have slacked off on the studying. I was prepared for this exam a few months back but I never took the exam. Now i'm trying to get hit the books again but i'm having a hard time organizing my thoughts and concentrating, any suggestions?
By now i've probably set the record for the longest CCNA preperation but i really don't care I just want to get it done. I hate
to move on to something else without finishing what I started.

-k

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

EdTheLad

Book an exam date and get your arse in gear, your taking the relaxed approach at the moment,if you can focus and put in a good couple of weeks
study in you should be set.If you continue to study in the same relaxed manner you'll be writing a similar thread in another 6 months.

Start on ISDN as its probably the most boring and once you conquer this the rest will be more enjoyable.

homerj742

I'm in the same boat, I really have to schedule my exam.

The question now is, when should I schedule the exam? 3 weeks? 4 weeks?

I've studied w/test out's CCNA software. I now have to review all my weak points and finally just take the exam.

How much time should I give myself for this?

kadshah

I will book an exam date this week.

thanks,

-k

Sandwiches

Hi Guys,

Let me tell you how sweet it will be when you get this off your back. 16 months of preperation - how good will it feel to nail it! Get motivated, get psyched - and go and smash CCNA. Kick it right in the nuts!

If you have been looking at the material, on again, off again, for over a year you should be familiar with most of the topics - all it's gonna take is applying yourself for a week or two and sitting the exam. If you fail, go back the next week, and again til you get this nailed. I fluffed around with my exam for a while, then I said to myself I just wanna get this out the way - and that's what I did. If I can do it, believe me so can you!

Go for it...!

kadshah

i'm dying to kick the ccna in the nuts. All i needed for a little pep talk. Thanks sandwich i'm all pumped up again.

-k

Humper

You should read my thread about preparing for the CCNA, theres some info there for you. If you need any help PM me

RUN-DMC

KADSHAH-

dude- too weird. I too started studying in Dec. 04 myself right after Net +, i went to a CCNA boot camp and was rocking and rolling. Then I bought a house (renovated it too) and got married. My studies went on the back burner but I finally now have benn getting back into gear. But we have been SLACKING.

Is the best thing to do,,,, is set a date? I feel like I'm forced and locked in.
I know it depends on the person, the knowledge and study habits but should I schedule a test date for like 3 months ahead, 6 months??

RUN-DMC

modem hump - could you post a link to your preparation tips? i looked but didnt catch it..thanks dude

Humper

It took me 3 months start to finish to get my CCNA. But remember that I was completely new at this.

Here is the thread, I would suggest reading the entire thing:)

http://www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14354

RUN-DMC

thanks hump.

what track are you on now?

RUN-DMC

hump- also, do you work with cisco equipemnt everyday??

i do very minimal at my work but have a nice lab setup in my offive.

Humper

I am buying books for my BSCI exam in a few months, I am starting to work towards my CCNP, then CCIP.

I used Cisco equipment all day long at work, but it was pretty much just network troubleshooting and putting our devices on TACACS+ (I am only 20 years old after all, gotta start somewhere

) . I have a fairly large home lab:

3 Cisco 1720's
2 Cisco 1721's
2 Cisco 2912's
2 Cisco 2500 series
2 Cisco 4000's
and the newest member of the family: Cisco 805 (lol).

Work gave me everything but the Cisco switches, I bought those from ciscokits.

EdTheLad

RUN-DMC wrote:

Is the best thing to do,,,, is set a date? I feel like I'm forced and locked in.
I know it depends on the person, the knowledge and study habits but should I schedule a test date for like 3 months ahead, 6 months??

I find setting a date is a big motivation drive.Usually in every exam there is a topic or two that i avoid like the plague out of sheer boredom.In the CCNA this was ISDN in BSCI these were IPv6 and ISIS.
So usually i will over study other topics while avoiding these sleepy topics.
Now as soon as i book an exam, say 2 weeks in advance,for some reason i can focus that little bit more on the sleepy topics.Once i get them down i do a complete review.During this 2 week period i tell everyone that i have an exam, this is to put myself under more pressure to study and so they dont bother me.The day before the exam if im not 100% ready i'll reshedule the exam to give myself the usual 2 extra days study.
Reshuduling exams pisses me off so much, it kicks me into maniac study mode.If i could maintain this study mode i could probably pass all exams in under a week.

RUN-DMC

good for you hump---nice to hear and see the motivation in a young lad-(Pun intened ed the lad :P ) Good work dude.

kadshah

I personally study better under pressure so I will schedule a test date
for mid June that gives me 4 weeks to prepare. If I schedule for 3 months I'll just be slacking off again. Guys thanks for your input
it's got me up and running.

-k