A good read on how to pass your CCNA

Satcom

Networking certifications: How to pass your CCNA exam

Find more posts tagged with

Save $250 on 2025 certification boot camps from Infosec!

Book now with code EOY2025

Button

Comments

nelsonnr

Thanks for posting - interesting.

Satcom

np im motivating myself and others hopefully.

CGN_Spec

Good Read

captobvious

I'll stick to the mike way of passing. Read a chapter, have a beer. Repeat!

mikej412

captobvious wrote: »

I'll stick to the mike way of passing. Read a chapter, have a beer. Repeat!

"One chapter, one beer" is just a motivational method to get you to study -- and may not work for speed readers.

In the link the one exam vs two exam argument is about the old 640-801 exam. Since there is no longer a cost saving taking the single exam and you get the CCENT Certification for passing the ICND1 exam (which helps to fill up your resume for those people who need it) there are good reasons now to take the 2 exam approach. I'm sure we've had a few threads here in the forum about it.

Satcom

mikej412 wrote: »

"One chapter, one beer" is just a motivational method to get you to study -- and may not work for speed readers.

In the link the one exam vs two exam argument is about the old 640-801 exam. Since there is no longer a cost saving taking the single exam and you get the CCENT Certification for passing the ICND1 exam (which helps to fill up your resume for those people who need it) there are good reasons now to take the 2 exam approach. I'm sure we've had a few threads here in the forum about it.

thats my gameplan... i like to study with about 100 mg's of caffiene no alcohol tho one beer might do the opposite of caffiene n relax me during study

the only problem is my mind starts wondering.. then i fire up wireshark and start thinking about how these routers work in the real world and how complex these networks are.. then i tottally get off track what im reading then i start posting to this forum...

i didnt know taking both exams cost the same as one exam.. i was going to take both exams combined .. that is still the game plan

AlexMR

To pass the CCNA you only need to learn Todd Lamle's book inside out. If you can get Packet tracer to practice that endeavour is going to be much easier. I would say 300hours of solid study and you should be set.

As Mike said, the two or one exam theme has been discussed widely. I took two exams and almost didnt pass the ICND2. I was not as prepared as I had to be in WAN technologies. Now, after configuring OPSF, IS-IS and some EIGRP while studying for the BSCI that is not a problem anymore....well, i think the amount of books and people discussing which one is better or what route should one take makes it more difficult than it should be. I ended up buying the exam certificacion guides and the Interconnecting Cisco Network devices and spending a lot more hours re-reading the same subject with different approaches than what was necessary to pass and learn the exam topics.

I think passing the CCNA is not easy, but it is not as hard as most people say/think. You need a couple hhundred hours (maybe more) of study and practice. My recommendation is Lamle's book and packet tracer (if you dont have real equipment obviously) to practice and you will be a success story after about 300hours...

Satcom

AlexMR wrote: »

To pass the CCNA you only need to learn Todd Lamle's book inside out. If you can get Packet tracer to practice that endeavour is going to be much easier. I would say 300hours of solid study and you should be set.

As Mike said, the two or one exam theme has been discussed widely. I took two exams and almost didnt pass the ICND2. I was not as prepared as I had to be in WAN technologies. Now, after configuring OPSF, IS-IS and some EIGRP while studying for the BSCI that is not a problem anymore....well, i think the amount of books and people discussing which one is better or what route should one take makes it more difficult than it should be. I ended up buying the exam certificacion guides and the Interconnecting Cisco Network devices and spending a lot more hours re-reading the same subject with different approaches than what was necessary to pass and learn the exam topics.

I think passing the CCNA is not easy, but it is not as hard as most people say/think. You need a couple hhundred hours (maybe more) of study and practice. My recommendation is Lamle's book and packet tracer (if you dont have real equipment obviously) to practice and you will be a success story after about 300hours...

hmmm my study habits im more at 120 hours.. when im going to take the test... yikes

Satcom

AlexMR wrote: »

To pass the CCNA you only need to learn Todd Lamle's book inside out. If you can get Packet tracer to practice that endeavour is going to be much easier. I would say 300hours of solid study and you should be set.

As Mike said, the two or one exam theme has been discussed widely. I took two exams and almost didnt pass the ICND2. I was not as prepared as I had to be in WAN technologies. Now, after configuring OPSF, IS-IS and some EIGRP while studying for the BSCI that is not a problem anymore....well, i think the amount of books and people discussing which one is better or what route should one take makes it more difficult than it should be. I ended up buying the exam certificacion guides and the Interconnecting Cisco Network devices and spending a lot more hours re-reading the same subject with different approaches than what was necessary to pass and learn the exam topics.

I think passing the CCNA is not easy, but it is not as hard as most people say/think. You need a couple hhundred hours (maybe more) of study and practice. My recommendation is Lamle's book and packet tracer (if you dont have real equipment obviously) to practice and you will be a success story after about 300hours...

im going to look into this book i have heard the authors name.. but 300 + hours geez man.. if i put in 5 hours a day for 30 days thats only 150 hours.. is my math correct?
Im studying Wendell Odom's CCNA ICND 1 / 2.. with about 4-5 hours / day at a snails pace.... i still havent touched IOS CLI yet.

arrgh back to the book

networker050184

I'd say 300 hours is a pretty good estimate. Most people seem to spend at least two to three months or more depending on skill level when starting out.

AlexMR

Satcom wrote: »

im going to look into this book i have heard the authors name.. but 300 + hours geez man.. if i put in 5 hours a day for 30 days thats only 150 hours.. is my math correct?
Im studying Wendell Odom's CCNA ICND 1 / 2.. with about 4-5 hours / day at a snails pace.... i still havent touched IOS CLI yet.

arrgh back to the book

I've heard of people passing the exam with fewer hours of study, but most of them are either people with experience or geniuses. Honestly, setting up the labs takes some time, even for me working with dynamips and packet tracer generally setting up the labs took more time than what i'd like, and you have to try many things in the lab.

I think for somebody like me with no networking experience 300 hours is a good average, but that is also using a single source, specifically Todd Lamle's book. Think about it, it's almost 1k pages of study and add to that the lab time. It is also a pretty dense material. Maybe the fact that I am not a native english speaker doesnt help, but I do read a little faster than average with maybe a little higher than average retention too.

I just assure that at least for passing the exam, you dont need any other source than Lamle's book, and that only information is a big time saver.

Satcom

thanks.. ive been hearing about his book Todd Lamle <sp> but i think Wendell Odom is going to help on this one

miller811

AlexMR wrote: »

I just assure that at least for passing the exam, you dont need any other source than Lamle's book, and that only information is a big time saver.

Never attempt any exam with only one source of information.

Use multiple sources at all times.

I used
Cisco Press material
Chris Bryant Material
Internet
This site

networker050184

miller811 wrote: »

Never attempt any exam with only one source of information.

Use multiple sources at all times.

Agree 100%. The best way to learn something is to get multiple perspectives on the subject. One book might lightly cover one subject and another go into greater detail. You never want to sell yourself short in your studies.