The best/cheapest/quickest place to get a test voucher

Tricon7

I'm checking now and going to see if I can possibly shoehorn the INTRO test into my hectic schedule for next Friday (the 8th). Is it possible to get a spot reserved that quickly or is more time usually required? If so, where would be the best place to look for a low price? Is that something you can find someone selling on eBay (I have no idea)?

I really want to try for next Friday to take the INTRO test; if I can't make that, I'll have to wait until the following Friday, and I've been putting it off long enough, and the longer I wait after finishing Cisco 1 and 2 the more memory neurons dry up and die. Thanks.

mikej412

Other than for Network Academy Students, Cisco doesn't really get into discounting their exams with vouchers.

You can get Cisco vouchers for the test centers, but they are really just full-price gift certificates.

There are some study guide companies that will charge you less then retail for a Cisco voucher -- with the purchase of their study guide.

NinjaBoy

The cheapest place I found so far for any voucher is www.getcertifiedforless.com

They also do study guides, however if you buy from them please ensure that you purchase the voucher for the country you wish to take the exam, eg

If you're in the US make sure you get the ones for the US/North America
If you're in the UK make sure you buy the UK ones
If you're in Europe (not UK - in some cases) make sure you buy the euro ones.

-ken

tech-airman

Tricon7 wrote:

I'm checking now and going to see if I can possibly shoehorn the INTRO test into my hectic schedule for next Friday (the 8th). Is it possible to get a spot reserved that quickly or is more time usually required? If so, where would be the best place to look for a low price? Is that something you can find someone selling on eBay (I have no idea)?

I really want to try for next Friday to take the INTRO test; if I can't make that, I'll have to wait until the following Friday, and I've been putting it off long enough, and the longer I wait after finishing Cisco 1 and 2 the more memory neurons dry up and die. Thanks.

Tricon7,

The schedule for an exam slot can either open up or close many times even within a single day. For Cisco exams, you'd need to check with http://www.prometric.com or http://www.vue.com . Both websites have a registration process. As far as "...quickly or is more time usually required..." the timeslots for exams are kinda like eBay. For the last time I took my 640-801 CCNA exam, an exam slot opened up like a little over an hour prior to the last exam start time for the day, so I took it. So from my experience, it's a matter of persistence to keep logging in to see if the day and time you want is available and if not, keep trying to register.

According to Cisco...

Cisco Certification Exam Policies wrote:

Exam Discounts, Vouchers & Promotional Codes
Neither Cisco nor its Testing Delivery Partners guarantee the authenticity of any discount or promotional code (e.g., voucher or promotional code) obtained from any third party individual or entity.

Cisco recommends that vouchers be purchased directly through Pearson VUE or Thomson Prometric. Individuals who use any unauthorized discount or promotional code may have their exam results invalidated and/or risk up to and including a lifetime ban on all future exams and the nullification of all previous certifications. Cisco will not replace any voucher that is found to be fraudulent or used.

If you hang tight with the Cisco Networking Academy Program, you will be eligible to earn a valid discount code after you graduate Semester 4. As far as buying vouchers off eBay, would the cost savings benefits be worth the risk of "Individuals who use any unauthorized discount or promotional code may have their exam results invalidated and/or risk up to and including a lifetime ban on all future exams and the nullification of all previous certifications."?

I would register for the 640-821 INTRO exam after you're ready instead of registering for the 640-821 INTRO exam and take it on a "ready or not" basis. Good luck in your studies and your decisionmaking.

Source:

1. Certification Exam Policies-Career Certifications & Paths - Cisco Systems - http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le11/learning_certification_exam_policies.html

mikej412

tech-airman wrote:

I would register for the 640-821 INTRO exam after you're ready instead of registering for the 640-821 INTRO exam and take it on a "ready or not" basis.

Some people need that "pressure" of the scheduled exam, otherwise they slack off, and then put off the exam. There are quite a few Academy graduates who didn't feel ready..... and let their vouches expire.... and still haven't taken the CCNA exam.

You can usually reschedule an exam up to the day before (5pm here US Central Time for a next day exam at Prometric).... but the Prometric web site would be flakey on the weekends, so beware of scheduling Monday exams if your not sure on Friday that you are ready.

And if you haven't scheduled an exam but feel the urge to suddenly take the exam-- call your local test center(s) direct. If they have an opening they can add you to their schedule (and hopefully get the exam downloaded before you get there).

Tricon7

mikej412 wrote:

tech-airman wrote:

I would register for the 640-821 INTRO exam after you're ready instead of registering for the 640-821 INTRO exam and take it on a "ready or not" basis.

Some people need that "pressure" of the scheduled exam, otherwise they slack off, and then put off the exam. There are quite a few Academy graduates who didn't feel ready..... and let their vouches expire.... and still haven't taken the CCNA exam.

You can usually reschedule an exam up to the day before (5pm here US Central Time for a next day exam at Prometric).... but the Prometric web site would be flakey on the weekends, so beware of scheduling Monday exams if your not sure on Friday that you are ready.

And if you haven't scheduled an exam but feel the urge to suddenly take the exam-- call your local test center(s) direct. If they have an opening they can add you to their schedule (and hopefully get the exam downloaded before you get there).

I'll keep this in mind. I plan on taking three vacation days back to back in order to study hard before the fourth day, which is when I would take the INTRO test. If I wait too long before signing up for a date, I'll have to wait another week to get an offday; I sure hope the testing center could squeeze me in as soon as I find out if I can get the day off (which won't be for two more days at least).