Just curious: Low passing score?

Deadmaster200

I am not sure if it is against the NDA to disclose the actual passing score or not, so I won't say exactly what it is, but it was LOW!

I just took CVOICE on Monday. I was shocked when I saw how low the passing score was. Any logic as to why? It almost seems like Cisco wants to make it as easy as possible to get the CCVP. As low as the passing score was for CVOICE, I feel I could have just done a glance over of the Self-Study Guide for a week and would have passed this test. Hopefully, the rest of the tests won't be so low. Are they?

mikej412

That was the lowest passing score of the "voice set" when I took it.

I figure the scores were low because some of the voice stuff would be new to a data network person.... but if you're prepared, it isn't that bad.

Figure you'll need at least 35-45 more points for the rest.... if the scores haven't changed much with the updated exams. But back in the "old days" the voice passing scores weren't too much lower than the old CCNP exams.

Deadmaster200

I see. Would you say that CVOICE is the lowest of all tests you have taken so far? Or are there actually tests even lower? And if so, why do you suppose that is?

Which makes me think about another thing, what are those specialized cert tests like? After QoS, since I already have CCDA, I am thinking about taking the IP Telephony Desgin test to get that specialized cert. But what are they like? Do you even think they are worth it as they only are good for 2 years and difficult to renew?

mikej412

Yeah, I think CVOICE had the lowest passing score of all the exams I took -- but it wasn't the hardest. I think one of the Unity exams may be even lower -- probably because if you don't work with it on a day to day basis (or have access to it) it's hard to memorize screen prints and learn the software. I think they lower the passing scores to give people without access to hardware (and the software) for practice a chance to still pass. It could be lack of hardware or specific books being available for the exams that cause lower scores on beta exams (if they had them).... so if they still want a reasonable number of people to pass they would lower the passing score.

I think IBM was so desperate at one point for people to certify on some of their stuff that 55% could get you a pass on an exam.

The Cisco Specialist certificates are nice to have -- but they have the same recertification period as a CCIE -- 2 years. They can be annoying to recertify if you collect multiple CS certificates -- unless you use a CCIE Written (or Lab) to recertify them all. I've got 2 years from my last CCIE Written Exam to either pass a CCIE Lab to recertify them, or I may be taking another CCIE Written (or retaking one of my existing 2) just to keep them if I haven't passed a Lab exam by then.

LumbergSaturdays

Are you able to say what the passing score is?

mikej412

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

Are you able to say what the passing score is?

From Cisco Online Certification Support

As a matter of policy Cisco Systems, Inc. does not disclose the content of our certification exams. This includes exam pass marks, the exact number of questions on each exam, as well as the number of each type of question a candidate will see during their exam.

Since Cisco doesn't disclose the pass marks, I'd assume that is part of the "related information" we agree not to disclose when we accept the Cisco Non-Disclosure Agreement before we take any Cisco exam.

LumbergSaturdays

I see. That's unfortunate since I see pass marks posted in other threads, but for different tests. I understand the need to abide by the NDA, even if I don't personally see the harm in it...



EDIT:
Found quote of the ACTUAL confidentiality agreement people accept prior to starting a Cisco test-

Confidentiality. You agree that the contents of the exam are confidential and that the
disclosure of that information could compromise the integrity of the Program and of
Certifications. Cisco makes exams available to you solely to test your knowledge of the
exam subject matter for which you seek Certification. You are expressly prohibited from
disclosing, publishing, reproducing, or transmitting any exam and any related information
including, without limitation, questions, answers, worksheets, computations, drawings,
diagrams, length or number of exam segments or questions, or any communication,
including oral communication regarding or related to the exam (known collectively as
“Proprietary Information”), in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, oral or
written, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the prior express written
permission of Cisco.

mikej412

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

any related information including, without limitation,

That was exactly what I was referring to with my "related information" -- but I'm not up on legal weasle speak, so I take the "without limitation" to mean "but not limited to" that "sample list of things that would violate NDA."

As moderator I'll nuke the obvious NDA things (like exam related questions and/or answers) posted that I see here (along with most, if not all, references to **** and **** sites, even when the site filters here catch them).... but some of the other things that aren't explicitly stated (like passing score) I leave up to the Cisco NDA police to find and enforce.

Cisco Career Certifications and Confidentiality Agreement

The Cisco Candidate Conduct Policy is something I also keep handy and post a snippet from time to time....

No candidate will take any action that will compromise the integrity or confidentiality of a Cisco Certification examination or otherwise compromise the integrity of the Cisco Certification program. Such actions include but are not limited to:
• Disseminating actual exam content via web postings, discussion groups, chat rooms, study guides, etc.

Welcome to the Cisco Forums here at TechExams.net

dtlokee

A simple google search yeilded the answer you're looking for.

LumbergSaturdays

dtlokee wrote:

A simple google search yeilded the answer you're looking for.

I still don't see anywhere on google where you saw a passing score for the CVOICE test, but needless to say, I just passed it today.

dtlokee

Congratulations on the pass, what's next?

LumbergSaturdays

dtlokee wrote:

Congratulations on the pass, what's next?

Thanks dtlokee! Now it's on to CIPT! Just started reading the Cisco CIPT Self-Study, will try to read it front-to-back by this weekend, to get started.

EDIT:
On my test print-out I noticed that the wait time for retaking a test has been increased to 180 days?!!!!!!!!! Ho-leeeee cow! Wasn't it 7 days previously?

dtlokee

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

Thanks dtlokee! Now it's on to CIPT! Just started reading the Cisco CIPT Self-Study, will try to read it front-to-back by this weekend, to get started.

EDIT:
On my test print-out I noticed that the wait time for retaking a test has been increased to 180 days?!!!!!!!!! Ho-leeeee cow! Wasn't it 7 days previously?

Yeah that 180 day waiting period can be a problem for instructors who need to pass the exam at a score about 50-75 points higher than the usual cut score, so you can pass an eam but not make the instructor mark and need to wait 180 days to retake it.

Good luck on CIPT.

mikej412

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

I just passed it today.

Congratulations!

Good luck on CIPT! Have you decided on an exam version yet -- the 4.1 version or 5.0?

LumbergSaturdays

mikej412 wrote:

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

I just passed it today.

Congratulations!

Good luck on CIPT! Have you decided on an exam version yet -- the 4.1 version or 5.0?

Errr...I need to choose a version? The CIPT book I bought from ciscopress doesn't mention anything about that.

I'll have to look closer at the PearsonVUE website to find out about this. Thanks for the question, otherwise I wouldn't have found out until the last minute.

mikej412

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

Errr...I need to choose a version?

Yep -- check out the Cisco CCVP Certification page
Your options are the 642-444 CIPT-4.x exam or the 642-445 CIPT 5.0 exam.

The tasks seem to be almost the same at first glance.... just some upgrade stuff in the 5.0 version at first glance.

hendychow

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

dtlokee wrote:

Congratulations on the pass, what's next?

Thanks dtlokee! Now it's on to CIPT! Just started reading the Cisco CIPT Self-Study, will try to read it front-to-back by this weekend, to get started.

EDIT:
On my test print-out I noticed that the wait time for retaking a test has been increased to 180 days?!!!!!!!!! Ho-leeeee cow! Wasn't it 7 days previously?

Are you serious ? They changed it to 180 days of waiting period to retake the test ?

Please suggest.


Thanks

mikej412

mariusac wrote:

Are you serious ? They changed it to 180 days of waiting period to retake the test ?

The 180 is if you PASS to retake the exam. As Derek mentioned that affects Instructors. Instructors have to get a higher score on an exam to qualify to teach the class. If they get a score that would pass a mere mortal but not high enough to qualify to teach it -- they have to wait 180 days.

If you FAIL -- you still have to wait 5 days between tries.

Cisco Exam Policies

Retaking Exams

    * Candidates who fail an exam must wait a period of five (5) calendar days, beginning the day after the failed attempt, before they may retest for the same exam.
    * Once passed, a candidate must wait a minimum of 180 days before taking the same exam with an identical exam number.

LumbergSaturdays

Thanks for clearing that up Mike!

hendychow

Thanks for the information, Mike

I thought there are specific cisco certifications for instructor.


Marius

dtlokee

mariusac wrote:

Thanks for the information, Mike

I thought there are specific cisco certifications for instructor.


Marius

Yeah, to be a CCSI you need to pass a lab exam and a presentation exam (know as the ICP) then sit through each course you want to deliver with an existing CCSI and pass the exam at the instructor cut score (generally 50-75 points higher than the normal cut score) and wait a few weeks to get your approval to deliver that course, so if you wanted to deliver all the CCVP modules you would need to do this 6 times.

hendychow

dtlokee wrote:

mariusac wrote:

Thanks for the information, Mike

I thought there are specific cisco certifications for instructor.


Marius

Yeah, to be a CCSI you need to pass a lab exam and a presentation exam (know as the ICP) then sit through each course you want to deliver with an existing CCSI and pass the exam at the instructor cut score (generally 50-75 points higher than the normal cut score) and wait a few weeks to get your approval to deliver that course, so if you wanted to deliver all the CCVP modules you would need to do this 6 times.

What do you mean by 6 times ?

So If somebody want to be CCVP instructor, he/she has to pass CCSI + CCVP with a higher score ?

Thanks

dtlokee

mariusac wrote:

dtlokee wrote:

mariusac wrote:

Thanks for the information, Mike

I thought there are specific cisco certifications for instructor.


Marius

Yeah, to be a CCSI you need to pass a lab exam and a presentation exam (know as the ICP) then sit through each course you want to deliver with an existing CCSI and pass the exam at the instructor cut score (generally 50-75 points higher than the normal cut score) and wait a few weeks to get your approval to deliver that course, so if you wanted to deliver all the CCVP modules you would need to do this 6 times.

What do you mean by 6 times ?

So If somebody want to be CCVP instructor, he/she has to pass CCSI + CCVP with a higher score ?

Thanks

Yeah, by 6 times I mean for each one of the courses, QoS, CVOICE, TUC, CITP1, CIPT2, GWGK. You also need to sit through the class with a CCSI who is certified to deliver the class.

hendychow

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

dtlokee wrote:

A simple google search yeilded the answer you're looking for.

I still don't see anywhere on google where you saw a passing score for the CVOICE test, but needless to say, I just passed it today.

Hi Lumberg,

Could you share your experience about passing the CVOICE ?


Are you working on CIPT now ?
There are 2 exams for CIPT, right ?

Thanks

nogirl

HI:

Could you tell me how many questions in CVOICE test? THX.

networker050184

Check here. You can find pretty much anything you want to know (thats allowed to be known prior to taking the exam) on Cisco's web site.

Crunchyhippo

LumbergSaturdays wrote:

dtlokee wrote:

A simple google search yeilded the answer you're looking for.

I still don't see anywhere on google where you saw a passing score for the CVOICE test, but needless to say, I just passed it today.

Ok, I'm dying to know - how much time did you put into studying for this test? And what book(s) did you study for it, assuming you did a self-study?

dtlokee

I used the self study guide for an initial read throught, then I had to sit the class (CCSI requirement) and used the authorized courseware after that, maybe a month total. I get lucky sometimes when I don't have other classes to teach I can end up with a lot of free time to study.