Studying for Security+ and Darril's Book..

citinerd

Well I am taking a M$ break because my brain hurts.... I've had Darril's book for 2 months now and did not really read it. So I began reading it today. I could not put the book down and read the first 3 chapters.

Maybe it is just the M$ press books i have been reading... but I like the way it is written thus far. Maybe Darril should write some M$ books so I don't fall asleep reading....

2ndchance

I've had Darril's book for three days and I'm down to the last two chapters. It is such a good read and I feel VERY prepared to sit for Security+ this Tuesday.

Good luck! Looks like you need a break from the MS stuff.

LinuxRacr

I only used Darril's book and passed with a score of 800.

Paperlantern

I am using Darril's book as well. I'm on the crypto chapter (chapter 9), and it's really not as intimidating as it first seems once you get into the chapter. It is one of the longer chapters, and I'm sure im going to have to go back through it at least once because of it's length and the depth of the stuff in it. I don't see myself passing the review questions even right after reading the chapter, there's just a lot to absorb.

The previous 8 chapters Ive done well on, roughly 80 - 95 percent on all of them (most of the time, at least in the first 5 chapters, it was reading too fast that lost me at LEAST one if not two questions per chapter). You HAVE to read the WHOLE question, it can not be stated strongly enough, or enough times.

joshmadakor

Darril's book is awesome! I used Darril's book and Transcender and scored 855.

citinerd

Well I scheduled the test for Tuesday so wish me luck!!!

Hypntick

citinerd wrote: »

Well I scheduled the test for Tuesday so wish me luck!!!

Hey same day as me. Good luck to the both of us.

rwmidl

Darril's book is great. I used it on top of my experience and had no problems with the test. If you are hitting 90-95% on the practice test at the end of the book you will have no problems. One trick I did, is I had my wife read the practice test questions to me, but she flipped the order of the questions and answers to make sure I wasn't "memorizing" them. If you have someone that can do the same, that is a good way to study.

The day/night before your test, maybe do one final practice test, then relax. Watch some tv, lower your stress level. Get a good nights rest, eat a good breakfast, give yourself plenty of time to get to the test center, and you will be fine!

Paperlantern

joshmadakor wrote: »

Darril's book is awesome! I used Darril's book and Transcender and scored 855.

Yeah I used Trancenders as well, but before I started Darril's book. My Transcender ran out before I was finished with the book, so I only used the books practice questions as a final prep, never renewed the Transcenders. I started them first week of october so they ran out about two weeks ago. I had planned on being certified by then but life got in the way as it can sometimes do and had to push back the test twice... a week each time. But it worked out, still scored an 838. Darril's book is great, and REALLY can be used for this exam on its own.

citinerd

Hypntick wrote: »

Hey same day as me. Good luck to the both of us.

Good luck to you too! What time of day? Mine is 11:00 am Eastern.

Hypntick

citinerd wrote: »

Good luck to you too! What time of day? Mine is 11:00 am Eastern.

I always do the later slots. Going in at 5 pm Central time. Gives me plenty of time to relax beforehand.

Paperlantern

Hypntick wrote: »

I always do the later slots. Going in at 5 pm Central time. Gives me plenty of time to relax beforehand.

Oh heck no, 9AM only. I cant test later in the day. I want to get up and go to the exam, get it done. Too much time before the test makes you overthink things.

But that's just what works for me.

Hypntick

Paperlantern wrote: »

Oh heck no, 9AM only. I cant test later in the day. I want to get up and go to the exam, get it done. Too much time before the test makes you overthink things.

But that's just what works for me.

Last job I had started around 3 pm or so. I'm usually comfortably asleep until noonish. Anything earlier than that and I don't function very well at all.

erpadmin

Paperlantern wrote: »

Oh heck no, 9AM only. I cant test later in the day. I want to get up and go to the exam, get it done. Too much time before the test makes you overthink things.

But that's just what works for me.

Same here and +1.

Your brain is just more alert in the morning. As the day winds down, all you want to do is get in and get out.

But again, that's just me (too). It's not impossible to pass an exam in the evening/afternoon (I've done it. ), but if I can help it, I try to do morning exams whenever possible.

erpadmin

Hypntick wrote: »

Last job I had started around 3 pm or so. I'm usually comfortably asleep until noonish. Anything earlier than that and I don't function very well at all.

Body rhythm is out of whack. That happens when you are a late-shifter/night owl. I just (recently) became (again) a morning person. My night owl days are pretty much past me.

Regardless though, look forward to the "I passed" post.

citinerd

I normally would have never scheduled it at 11:00am but since I waited so long and scheduled it on short notice that is what I got. I normally go 8-9 am. I too like to get it out of the way and continue on with my day.

citinerd

3 hours till test time....

Hypntick

Good luck with it. I'm still awake, about to hit the sack. Had to reschedule for Friday due to money issues. Not having a job kinda sucks for that.

edit: I stand corrected. The testing center I use is closed for the rest of the week. Gonna be next Monday. Well more study time never hurt anyone.

N2IT

Good luck!

rogue2shadow

Gl man!

citinerd

Well I passed 895. Whoo Hoo!!! I think having MCSA and CCNA helped alot. Darril's book is amazing but I think I could have just taken the test and probably got at least a 750. Now with that said I did not get hardly any crypto questions. Any way back to the M$ grind... Gotta get the MCSE.

badboyeee

citinerd wrote: »

Well I passed 895. Whoo Hoo!!! I think having MCSA and CCNA helped alot. Darril's book is amazing but I think I could have just taken the test and probably got at least a 750. Now with that said I did not get hardly any crypto questions. Any way back to the M$ grind... Gotta get the MCSE.

Dang near perfect! Congrats, awesome job.

rogue2shadow

citinerd wrote: »

Well I passed 895..

Congrats!!!!!!

citinerd

badboyeee wrote: »

Dang near perfect! Congrats, awesome job.

And while I cannot discuss particulars... I am pretty damn sure I marked this question and changed it to the wrong answer before submitting it.

Hypntick

Wow 895. That is very nicely done. Glad to see you passed.

erpadmin

citinerd wrote: »

Well I passed 895. Whoo Hoo!!! I think having MCSA and CCNA helped alot. Darril's book is amazing but I think I could have just taken the test and probably got at least a 750. Now with that said I did not get hardly any crypto questions. Any way back to the M$ grind... Gotta get the MCSE.

Damn!! Makes my 870 seem so inferior...lmao. (I am joking....)

Congratulations, *nerd*! (in that Ogre voice from Revenge of the Nerds)

erpadmin

citinerd wrote: »

And while I cannot discuss particulars... I am pretty damn sure I marked this question and changed it to the wrong answer before submitting it.

If this keeps you up at night, I have no problem driving down to MD to give you a proper smack in the back of the head...

citinerd

erpadmin wrote: »

Damn!! Makes my 870 seem so inferior...lmao. (I am joking....)

Congratulations, *nerd*! (in that Ogre voice from Revenge of the Nerds)

Don't we all have a little NERD in us... LOL

erpadmin wrote: »

If this keeps you up at night, I have no problem driving down to MD to give you a proper smack in the back of the head...

While it does not keep me up at night I may still need the smack. No need to drive I'll just have my wife do it for you.

pennstate22

can anyone tell me if darril gibson's book comes w a CD for practice exams

citinerd

pennstate22 wrote: »

can anyone tell me if darril gibson's book comes w a CD for practice exams

It does not come with a CD. The practice exams are in the book with explanations. The book really is the complete study guide. I probably could have skipped the trancenders for this one. Props to Darril.