CCNA Fast Pass (Sybex) any good?

borumas

I just picked up this book today, it's by Todd Lammle who seems to be pretty well respected around here and I'm hoping reading this at least 2 times before attempting the exam again will be of help to me. I've taken 2 weeks off of studying to spend time with my family and try to enjoy myself after failing the ICND a second time, now I'm ready to get back into it. It doesn't seem like I lost much knowledge since I got 94% or better on Cisco's practice test for the Intro and the ICND (both test are over 70 questions), I also did well on the Cisco Odom ICND books questions from the CD (getting 90% or better usually). So for now I'll read the book, go over my index cards I have made (maybe make some more with this new book), practice setting up frame-relay, etc.. with my 3 routers I have on my desk, and hope I pass the darn test this next attempt. Any other advice is appreciated.

bighornsheep

I think the FastPass books are generally not comprehensive enough for all the objectives the exam covers.

JohnDouglas

I'm wondering if they're comprehensive enough too. I'm going through the CCNA fast pass book now (i've already been through the big book) and making notes. I'm going to see how i go on the certsim questions after that. If fast pass hasn't given me enough knowledge i'll have to fill in the gaps with odium and the big lamle.

Really I should have gone through the big lamle a second time and made notes - or made notes the first time! Won't make that mistake with CCNP! But I just couldn't face going through the big book again

jediknight

With Todd Lammle's book and the ICND Book from Cisco Press they should cover everything you will need to know for the ICND. Anything else that you need to fill in on definitely check out the cisco site and take the practice exams on site. Continue to take your other practice exams until you are in the 90% range.

Netstudent

jediknight wrote:

With Todd Lammle's book and the ICND Book from Cisco Press they should cover everything you will need to know for the ICND. Anything else that you need to fill in on definitely check out the cisco site and take the practice exams on site. Continue to take your other practice exams until you are in the 90% range.

That is what I did verbatim. except my lammle book was wasn't fastpass is was 5th edition CCNA.

borumas

Thanks guys, seems like from reviews I've read that the Fast Pass is basically a condensed version of Lammle's bigger CCNA book, so I think this will be ideal for me as I do have Odom's thick ICND book and the test prep from Odom's Intro book (returned the Intro book though to a co-worker). I will continue to take test prep on Cisco's site along with this sites test and the tests that come with these books.

Rearden

I suspect it work's something like the Sybex book. Not even haven taken the test, I can tell it's not comprehensive enough, but the lighter style can serve as a great pre-read for the Cisco Press material, which some people find rather dry. I personally don't know because I read the Cisco Press stuff first and sort of liked how to the point it was as I was taking notes and using up paper fast ( a good thing when you are trying to learn something). On the other hand, the Sybex book was worth every cent I paid for it just for the subnetting chapter. The way the Cisco books teach it make it far more difficult than it has to be. Well, at least for me. Everyone does think differently.

borumas

One thing I really like about this book is that it is divided up by each exam section like planning and designing, implementation and operation, troubleshooting, and technology- this might help in going over the areas in detail where I did poorly on the exam.