ICND1 in the morning!

Hey all,

so I have finally scheduled ICND1, which I sit in the morning. Been studying for this thang for months now, mostly using Odom and Lammle's books, with some Packet Tracer labs thrown in. I think I know the material for the exam objectives pretty much at this point - but does anyone have any 'night-before', or even 'on-the-way-into-the-test-centre' wisdom they could share, as I grow increasingly nervous about this blasted exam!!

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NetworkVeteran

Sure! The most important thing is a good night's sleep so your brain is operating at maximum efficiency. The second-most-important thing is obvious--to study your weakest areas, using a practice test you've never done before if-need-be to identify them.

Prasad Satav

Go flying through your notes once... get good sleep.. and keep telling yourself "you're gonna do it in the morning"
Wish you all the Luck..!!

MickQ

Just relax. If you've put the study in, then it'll come to you nicely as long as you're not nervous.

And for afterwards, welcome to our path of certs!

Ivanjam

My advice will seem, on the surface, trivial: read each question carefully at least twice! I recently did an exam where the question asked about a company sending encryption keys "internationally", I misread and saw "internally". Suffice to say, I initially put down the wrong answer, luckily however, I corrected it when I reviewed my responses. Which leads to the second piece of seemingly banal advice: review, review and again review all your answers!

Good luck!

babarricus

Thanks for the advice and good vibes guys, will post the result tomorrow - pass or fail!

NetworkVeteran

Ivanjam wrote: »

I initially put down the wrong answer, luckily however, I corrected it when I reviewed my responses. Which leads to the second piece of seemingly banal advice: review, review and again review all your answers!

Warning: On Cisco exams, all answers are final, and can't go back and review.

Review and review, before clicking submit, then fuggedaboutit.

huafist

babarricus wrote: »

Hey all,

so I have finally scheduled ICND1, which I sit in the morning. Been studying for this thang for months now, mostly using Odom and Lammle's books, with some Packet Tracer labs thrown in. I think I know the material for the exam objectives pretty much at this point - but does anyone have any 'night-before', or even 'on-the-way-into-the-test-centre' wisdom they could share, as I grow increasingly nervous about this blasted exam!!

I'm taking mine in the morning as well. I'm planning on getting up at my normal time (5:00am) and going for a run, then lifting for about an hour while listening to some ICND1 audio stuff. Then I'll eat breakfast and get prepped!

MickQ

huafist wrote: »

I'm taking mine in the morning as well. I'm planning on getting up at my normal time (5:00am) and going for a run, then lifting for about an hour while listening to some ICND1 audio stuff. Then I'll eat breakfast and get prepped!

Excellent way to deal with the unrealised stresses on your body, and also to keep in your routine - as if the exam was a jog in the park.

Ivanjam

MickQ wrote: »

Excellent way to deal with the unrealised stresses on your body, and also to keep in your routine - as if the exam was a jog in the park.

LOL - I'll have to remember your advice when I too sit the ICND1 - "the exam is a walk in the park"

MickQ

Ivanjam wrote: »

LOL - I'll have to remember your advice when I too sit the ICND1 - "the exam is a walk in the park"

Hah! I didn't even realise the pun! Best of luck with your ICND, also.

Rakurai

Take your time on answering the questions. Read the questions carefully, and read the answers carefully. Try the old tactic to eliminate the answers for the multiple choice questions. Remember your show commands for the sims. Make sure to remember a binary table to write down on the whiteboard (well, blank piece of paper for me). Take your time with the 15 minute test example at the beginning, not too sure about writing things down on the whiteboard during that time (I did). Don't try to over complicate the question that is being asked... probably my hardest thing for me.

If you need a good binary table let me know and I'll send you the link to the one I used when I took the test at the beginning of the month. And if you have any questions let me know..... I'm on a 12 hour night shift thats boring as all hell.....

RouteMyPacket

Let us know how it went and how the test was presented

Illumanati

huafist wrote: »

I'm taking mine in the morning as well. I'm planning on getting up at my normal time (5:00am) and going for a run, then lifting for about an hour while listening to some ICND1 audio stuff. Then I'll eat breakfast and get prepped!

MickQ wrote: »

Excellent way to deal with the unrealised stresses on your body, and also to keep in your routine - as if the exam was a jog in the park.

Ivanjam wrote: »

LOL - I'll have to remember your advice when I too sit the ICND1 - "the exam is a walk in the park"

Here is how I view your mind when you prep/take these ICNDs. You want to "walk" in the park when doing labs and sim type practice questions, "jog" when you are familiar with both the questions and the trickery built in to some of them and sprint when it is a simple ICND1 type questions (port numbers, OSI and for some, subnetting)!!

P.S I love the jogging, lifting and b-fast then take the exam! talk about clearing your mind for extra focus!

huafist

Went in to take my test this morning at 9:30. The testing center's internet is not working, so I was unable to take the exam.

YFZblu

Wow that really sucks - How soon can you take it?

j.petrov

huafist wrote: »

Went in to take my test this morning at 9:30. The testing center's internet is not working, so I was unable to take the exam.

Thats the worst! Good luck when you actually get to take it. Really sorry to hear about that.

babarricus

huafist wrote: »

Went in to take my test this morning at 9:30. The testing center's internet is not working, so I was unable to take the exam.

Aw dude, what a bummer. Maybe you can cause a big fuss and try to get some vouchers off them as well as a reschedule? Just got outta the test centre myself - PASSED with 899!Am so happy right now! I'm sure you will ace it when you sit the test mate!

NetworkVeteran

babarricus wrote: »

PASSED with 899!Am so happy right now! I'm sure you will ace it when you sit the test mate!

Good score. Congatulations, mate!

MickQ

Congrats Babarricus!

Sorry to hear about that "inconvenience", Huafist.

Zorodzai

Congrats. One thing I am slowly learning to do is to relax when going into the testing centre. Being extrmely nervous does not help much and really affects my concentration. Another important thing I have learnt to do is figure out what is actually being asked as opposed to what I might mislead myself into believing they are asking...

Roguetadhg

babarricus wrote: »

Aw dude, what a bummer. Maybe you can cause a big fuss and try to get some vouchers off them as well as a reschedule? Just got outta the test centre myself - PASSED with 899!Am so happy right now! I'm sure you will ace it when you sit the test mate!

i think they get money for being a good center. fussing could work as black mail!

For a score of 899 you deserve:

Illumanati

Zorodzai wrote: »

Another important thing I have learnt to do is figure out what is actually being asked as opposed to what I might mislead myself into believing they are asking...

Hi Zorodzai, nice points!! PM me.

Zorodzai wrote: »

Congrats. One thing I am slowly learning to do is to relax when going into the testing centre. Being extrmely nervous does not help much and really affects my concentration.

huafist

babarricus wrote: »

Aw dude, what a bummer. Maybe you can cause a big fuss and try to get some vouchers off them as well as a reschedule? Just got outta the test centre myself - PASSED with 899!Am so happy right now! I'm sure you will ace it when you sit the test mate!

That's awesome! Congrats!
I'm rescheduled for 1:45pm this afternoon, guys. Wish me luck, I'm starting to wig out a little bit haha

babarricus

huafist wrote: »

That's awesome! Congrats!
I'm rescheduled for 1:45pm this afternoon, guys. Wish me luck, I'm starting to wig out a little bit haha

Best of luck, dude - I'm sure you'll do great! Let us know how you get on.

RouteMyPacket

babarricus wrote: »

Aw dude, what a bummer. Maybe you can cause a big fuss and try to get some vouchers off them as well as a reschedule? Just got outta the test centre myself - PASSED with 899!Am so happy right now! I'm sure you will ace it when you sit the test mate!

BOOM! Nailed it!

So how was it? Can you provide any feedback?

whatthehell

Congratz!!

babarricus

RouteMyPacket wrote: »

BOOM! Nailed it!

So how was it? Can you provide any feedback?

It wasnt so bad in the end - I had probably built it up in my head to be a lot more difficult than it actually was. Without sounding like I work for Wendell Odom, I thought his book was perfect for preparing for the exam. The "hot topics" or "key topics" (cant remember what he calls them) at the end of each chapter really nail down the important stuff for the test. Best 2 bits of advice I would give; you need to be able to subnet quite quickly and know your way around the IOS CLI, especially the 'show' commands.

huafist

babarricus wrote: »

Best of luck, dude - I'm sure you'll do great! Let us know how you get on.

I'm back from the testing center!

...

925/1000!

MAC_Addy

Congrats! Very good score, too! Now update your cert list

Roguetadhg

How's the studying, MAC? cant forget about you, too.