So close.. yet so far away

So I re-took my 640-801 today, and I have made dramatic improvement BUT i still came up short.. so short that it makes me want to bash my head through a window.

Need 849 to pass , I got 809 . so close.. 40 freaking points...

Planning and Designing - 75%
Implementation - 58%
troubleshooting - 83%
technology - 69%

I just don't know what I should do.. I really want to make the deadline before it changed in November if possible, because I have a lot of notes and books and class work (from 1 year ago) about the 640-801 and I would hate for it to just become useless without me getting more use out of it.

Plus i don't want to just 'give up' per say as ive come so far on this...

thoughts/comments are appreciated

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Comments

networker050184

I'd suggest you study more and try to get some hands on with some equipment. What are you using to study? Do you have equipment? Do you have any real world experience? Obviously you went in under prepared but this time you have a little more idea of what to expect and should be able to prepare better. Just concentrate on your weak areas, but don't forget about the other areas. Good luck on your next attempt.

Plazma

Well i do have dynamips/dynagen , but i also have access to a lab setup at work by our networking team (which i hope to join someday soon)

also using the cisco press books.

Netstudent

You should be using that lab at work like there is no tomorrow. That will prepare you more than anything for the hands on part of the exam. A lot of the test is trivial, so you must have all the concepts in your head. And not just a slight understanding, know it well. You need a solid understanding of al the topics to pass.

BeaverC32

I suggest picking up a copy of the CCNA flashcards and/or Transcender's practice exams. They serve as a good indicator of your progress and understanding, and will help you identify your weak areas. Once you identify what you need to work on, hit the books again, read white papers, and ask questions. There are a huge number of Cisco-gurus here that can field any question you throw their way.

Good luck!

networker050184

Does your work lab include switches?? If not I'd suggest getting a couple. I always see people buying equipment but all they buy is a bunch of routers and one switch. I think switches are very important but a lot of people don't realize that and end up failing because all they practiced was routing protocols.

Plazma

I think i need more practice with spanning tree and other switching stuff so that makes a lot of sense

LOkrasa

Plazma wrote:

So I re-took my 640-801 today, and I have made dramatic improvement BUT i still came up short.. so short that it makes me want to bash my head through a window.

Need 849 to pass , I got 809 . so close.. 40 freaking points...

Planning and Designing - 75%
Implementation - 58%
troubleshooting - 83%
technology - 69%

I just don't know what I should do.. I really want to make the deadline before it changed in November if possible, because I have a lot of notes and books and class work (from 1 year ago) about the 640-801 and I would hate for it to just become useless without me getting more use out of it.

Plus i don't want to just 'give up' per say as ive come so far on this...

thoughts/comments are appreciated

I got the exact same score the second time I tried the exam... I had made a huge improvement on when I took it the first time and I figured I could only make up the 40 points by studying hard for 1 week and retaking it. I was SUPER wrong... I got 10 points less the next time and I finally committed like I should of from the beginning by getting the equipment. Rereading everything, not putting a time frame on when I should take it again and just studying... 3 months later I took it again and blasted the exam wide open. Take your time... I know you got until November to finish this up but dont rush yourself. If it takes more time then it takes more time... better to understand everything then to rush it all and not pass again.

pabloCr84

Hurry up! The CCNA exam will change on November 6th, so everything is gonna change!

Plazma

So would it even be feasable to take the intro and icnd instead of the 801? since i got such a decent score (though not good enough to pass) on the 801?

To me, it appears from the exam blueprints that the icnd and the 801 are nearly identical, and in fact are identical just some things are worded differently.

Bill Kaster

The first time I failed, I didn't use any equipment at all, just a couple cheap $30 sims. Was a big mistake, as I didn't get close to passing. But since buying the equipment and fooling around, I've really improved a ton. I've been studying for two months straight now with real hardware and rereading everything and trust me my friend, it makes all the difference. I know I'm going to pass the CCNA the next time I take it (very soon), all I'm shooting for now is not getting below 90% even though 85% is passing. That's really what you should be shooting for - not just knowing enough to pass, but knowing enough to really ace the test which imo is at least 90%.

kalari

You have until Nov. 6th before it changes (and it doesn't sound like it will change much, but the SIMS probably will...)

Take 2-3 weeks to study and let it all sink in.

Get some equipment or rent a rack <-- really, really helps.

Don't give up! Seriously, I got mine today on my 4th attempt.

all the best

mikej412

BeaverC32 wrote:

I suggest picking up a copy of the CCNA flashcards

I'd 2nd the Cisco Press Flash Cards -- the flash cards seem to do a good job of highlighting the important stuff you should know. Its a good review, and if something doesn't make sense, then go back to the books. Plus it has the practice exams if you're one of the people who likes taking practice tests.

Definitely get some more lab time -- if you check the CCNA 801 Exam Blueprint the Implementation section is mostly "hands on stuff" -- and that was your weakest area. While you may not get 11 SIMs on the exam covering those topics, they do point to knowledge and skill you should master.

For example, either of these two

# Manage system image and device configuration files
# Perform an initial configuration on a router

could hint that you should know some configuration register settings.

And this one

Implement a LAN

is just so vague, its funny. But even though another task mentions IP Addressing, this topic might make you think about getting everything on a common subnet, and maybe setting host gateways correctly.

The troubleshooting section also requires a bunch of lab time spent configuring stuff and then checking the output of show and debug commands.

Good Luck!

Plazma

So should i strike now while the iron is hot? Should i reschedule my test for next week while im feeling confident and for sure of what i missed?

elvant

If you only use cisco press book, i strongly suggest you read sybex.
My case is I first read the cisco press books for 2,3 times in few months and I couldn't understand it good enough, and some part end up memorising them.
Then I read the sybex, i could finish them in 2 weeks. read from chapter to chapter, I was like

, joining all the lose parts together, making all the topics related and easy to understand.
For labs, only use boson or routersim fo switch and depends Dynamics for routers (dynamics only have 'sim' switch). Have you ever using boson, and you are configuring a switch and it suddenly change to a router?

You dont want that do you?

jamesp1983

hey man, i just took mine for the first time last week and got the same score. i used the sybex 5th edition, boson, and transcender. i bombed implementation and operation. im using a home lab now, and reading the cisco press books, and the exam cram ccna book, along with transcender again. i rescheduled mine for monday, october 8th., so almost 2 weeks apart