My CCNP Journey

Danielh22185

Just a hair over 3 weeks left of study before the big exam (OCt 3). I am leaving my weaker subjects to re-re-review towards the end so they stay as fresh as possible, but not lacking on taking the proper time to give them good attention. I accomplished about 10 hours of labbing in total over the week, a little less than what I wanted but I had a few things going on that distracted me and took some time away.

It's basically full lab mode for me with the downtime from labbing spent hand writing notes. I love hand writing notes. It may be a bit time consuming but I feel I can make a commitment to memory a lot better by hand writing.

I devised a method to review my previously written notes before I begin writing anything new. I am hoping this will allow me to keep information fresh. I feel it is working.


Goals for the week:

* Complete 20+ hours labbing. (hopefully 6 hours a day per day off I have this week with a few in between)

* Get a lot more notes written. As I feel like what I am doing with hand writing notes is helping me commit things to memory I need to ramp up this part of my study a bit. I plan to focus on at least 2 hours a day of hand writing notes. I am about halfway though the FLG book skimming and writing notes, I want this accomplished very soon as I can focus on just reviewing my notes and labbing.

Danielh22185

This week was filled with a lot of studying and off topic excitement I spent my normal 1-2 hours on days I work Sunday-Wed (last week). Towards Tuesday I started to feel really tired. I was averaging 13 hour work days. I am training a new hire to take my spot at work so I can move on to a more technical role. So by Tuesday I was only able to study during my lunches which basically consisted of making notes from the FLG book that I have already read. I Still managed to make good progress on that.

On my days off I was able to get A LOT more done. I did 6 hours on Thursday and 8 hours on Friday. Saturday I took a break to get some things done around the house and visit with family.

This week has also been filled with a bunch of excitement! My wife and I just found out on Tuesday we are having a baby! I am so excited to be a father! So obviously this had my mind has a bit distracted, however I am holding my course! Route is nearly within my grasp so I must see it as well as CCNP through! The idea of having a child too definitely even further solidifies my goals and motivates me to push through and finish this.

This is my shorter week of work so I plan on focusing just as much or more effort on studying.

Goals for this week:

* Continue with doing 1-2 hours a day making notes and doing small lab tasks
* 6 hours a day minimum on my days off.
* Finish my notes. (I only have notes to make from the last 3 chapters of the FLG book. That shouldn't be anything I cannot complete this week. Then it will be nothing but reviewing my notes and labbing).

That should net me about 30+ hours of study this week.

Danielh22185

I am narrowing in on my test date (Oct 3). I have exactly 9 days left. I am nervous and excited. I feel good about the progress I have made and feel I have expanded my knowledge a lot. I feel at this point I need to just sit for the test regardless of a pass or fail to see where I am at.

Goals for this week:

* Continue to lab:
I have nearly ran through the SLM lab book 3 times. I have IPv6 subjects left to hit on again. That should take me a day or 2 to run though and move on towards doing some labs from other resources, GNS3 Vault, Router Gods, CCNP Simplified.

* Continue to take more notes / review those notes

* Lab a TON! I need to fully engulf myself now. I am going to fully focus most all of my free time preparing. Again I will focus on 6 hours a day minimum on my days off work and 2 hours daily days on. This last week+ is going to be rigorous.

Iristheangel

Nice! Good job! I sent you a PM with some extra stuff you can use

Danielh22185

Iristheangel wrote: »

Nice! Good job! I sent you a PM with some extra stuff you can use

Thanks a bunch!

mitch179

It sounds like you've done a lot of study, if you've studied hard I think you'll pass easy, good luck!

Cat5

Iristheangel wrote: »

Very nice! The Switch content is infinitely easier to swallow than Route. There's just a lot less to study for so it's a bit better. I get mixed reviews on TSHOOT. A coworker of mine told me it was the hardest of the three just because of the style but I see way too many people on this forum knock it out on the same day as other tests or get perfect scores. Hopefully I can give you a review of it before you end up taking it!

I've heard more than one person tell me that they thought TSHOOT was the easiest of the three NP tests. Just sayin'.

instant000

Yeah. Make sure you you've gone through the official ROUTE lab Manual, and you'll have an easy time, with all the preparation that you have done.

TSHOOT is the easiest test. I made a post on my experience, that includes steps that I should have followed. I went in underprepared (out of stupidity) and still got a perfect score on the test. The test is not that hard if you think of how things should logically work.

Danielh22185

Unfortunately I was not able to get much donethis last week, nothing near what I wanted to do for my final prep. Workhas had me really tied down doing two roles as I transition to a new moretechnical role in my NOC so I've been SUPER busy preparing my replacement and doingmy new role. Naturally I've been working a bunch more. This hasgotten me a bit tired so I was not able do as much on my work days.

I also was held up with doing some personal thingson my days off so study has been super light.

I decided to push back my exam date just a week tothe 12th. I have a short week of work this week so I should be able tolock in my final prep this week as I have been wanting to for the previous week.

I believe I am pretty well prepared. I justdid not like the feeling of going into the test without having a solid week ofstudy prior to the exam. This additional time should allow me my final prep I desire.

Goals:

* lab lab lab!
* Make and review final notes through the week
* Flash Cards
* 6-8 hours on my days off this week of study and1-2 days on.

darkerz

Daniel,

I wanted to chime in - I envy your determination, and this blog inspires me whenever I see an update to pick up the books and lab.

Keep it up!

Iristheangel

Looks like we'll be taking the exam during the same week period! Keep up the good work!

Routerronin

Iristheangel wrote: »

Looks like we'll be taking the exam during the same week period! Keep up the good work!

Good luck to both of ya.

Danielh22185

Iristheangel wrote: »

Looks like we'll be taking the exam during the same week period! Keep up the good work!

Awesome! Best of luck to you!

Danielh22185

darkerz wrote: »

Daniel,

I wanted to chime in - I envy your determination, and this blog inspires me whenever I see an update to pick up the books and lab.

Keep it up!

Thanks! Its been a long road but I feel blogging about it has helped keep my eyes set on the goal. I'll continue with switch as that will be what I have up next after route.

sadfjlfdo24

so what happened?

Danielh22185

Big test is tomorrow! I had to re-schedule as I had some personal things get in the way. In final prep I am basically going to review and re-review notes and do flash cards. As far as the labbing element goes I think I am done with that and have learned all that I can with it. I officially went through the SLM 3 times front to back to beat the topics in my head along with some labs from the simplified book. I feel ready and uncertain at the same time, uncertian only because I have not seen the test yet. I feel I have come a long way and understand a lot but now I really just need to sit down and take the test to see where I am. Hopefully I over prepared rather than under prepared

Wish me luck I take it at 2pm tomorrow!

sadfjlfdo24

Good luck

Iristheangel

Good luck!!!

Routerronin

May the force be with you.

Danielh22185

Unfortunately I regret to inform I did not pass

It was definitely a tough yet fair exam. The main reasoning I can attribute to my fail is getting hung on my first sim question which happened to be question number 5 for me (pretty early into the exam). The hard thing to swallow with that is I knew the problem was I just for some reason drew a blank on my fundamentals and could not remember how to properly configure what I needed to fix the problem. This caused a lot of spent time trying to make this work as I didn't want to skip it as I assumed the config scenarios are weighted higher. I ended up having to skip this question and 2 other sim questions because of of the extra time spent on the first one. This really killed my score and ultimately caused me to fail.

I am upset with myself however I defiantly know how where I went wrong with the initial sim that cost me so much time. Also I found a gaping weak spot I need to study up on that isn't covered much in either of the books I read. I am giving myself another month to further prepare and go after it again!

sadfjlfdo24

Danielh22185 wrote: »

Unfortunately I regret to inform I did not pass

It was definitely a tough yet fair exam. The main reasoning I can attribute to my fail is getting hung on my first sim question which happened to be question number 5 for me (pretty early into the exam). The hard thing to swallow with that is I knew the problem was I just for some reason drew a blank on my fundamentals and could not remember how to properly configure what I needed to fix the problem. This caused a lot of spent time trying to make this work as I didn't want to skip it as I assumed the config scenarios are weighted higher. I ended up having to skip this question and 2 other sim questions because of of the extra time spent on the first one. This really killed my score and ultimately caused me to fail.

I am upset with myself however I defiantly know how where I went wrong with the initial sim that cost me so much time. Also I found a gaping weak spot I need to study up on that isn't covered much in either of the books I read. I am giving myself another month to further prepare and go after it again!

Hey, crap happens. You'll try again and pass next time

I'm pretty sure you can skip 1 or 2 sim questions and still pass..

Danielh22185

sadfjlfdo24 wrote: »

Hey, crap happens. You'll try again and pass next time

I'm pretty sure you can skip 1 or 2 sim questions and still pass..

Ya if the threshold is 2 and you can still pass that tells me they are pretty heavily weighted. So, I made the right move trying to make the one I got stuck on work unfortunately the time it took is where I need to improve. I know if I get that particular one again it won't have a chance on getting me again.

mitch179

I'm sure you'll smash it next time, don't be too hard on yourself about it, it's a really tough exam IMO!

I think I had a very similar exam to you in that about 5 questions in I had a doozy of a sim that nearly brought me undone, it really does knock your confidence around.

Danielh22185

Well time for round number 2 of final study efforts. After missing the pass on my first attempt I had a scheduled fishing trip with my father and father-in-law and some friends. Some good relaxation and was good to get my mind off Cisco as well. I fully plan to hit the books hard again starting this week. I made immediate notes on my weak spots on my results print off when I was finished taking it. I know where I need some additional focus / practice. If all goes well and I can continue my focus I plan to re-take the test at the end of November / Thanksgiving time.

Danielh22185

Studies have been slow but not lacking. I decided I am going to focus a bit more in a different manner. I feel my theory knowledge is about 90% there. I originally purchased CCNP Simplified but didn't have a chance to use it much. I want to make use of this. I am going to focus on reading this book cover to cover as well. I figured why not since I already have it. Along with keeping up with labs from the back of the book and other resources. I have the next 10 days off of work so I am going to fully vest myself in studying. I will be busy with family stuff too as its coming into thanksgiving but I don't see any reason why I can get at least 4-5 hours a day in.

Goal is to be ready within about a month's time. This means some serious power reading but I know if I stay focused I can do it.

bharvey92

Good luck man for your CCNP exam! I have begun studying my CCNP route after passing my CCNA in September

DevilWAH

hope the study still going well

Danielh22185

DevilWAH wrote: »

hope the study still going well

Going well indeed. Trying to solidify things. Had some vacation but not a lot of time to study due to planned events, holiday, etc. I found a great pod cast I am listening to in my car on my work commutes to add to the immersion of my studies. I suggest that to anybody who has a commune like that.

DevilWAH

Danielh22185 wrote: »

Going well indeed. Trying to solidify things. Had some vacation but not a lot of time to study due to planned events, holiday, etc. I found a great pod cast I am listening to in my car on my work commutes to add to the immersion of my studies. I suggest that to anybody who has a commune like that.

Would you mind pointing us in the direction of that podcast

glad to hear is going good.

Danielh22185

DevilWAH wrote: »

Would you mind pointing us in the direction of that podcast

glad to hear is going good.

The current pod cast I am listening too is called "Cisco Hands on Training"

Just do a search for "cisco" on itunes podcasts, there is TONS of stuff!