Best time of the day to take a certification?

Jayem

Topic, so what do you guys/gals think?

ptilsen

Sometime past 10:00, before 3:00. You want to be wide awake.

sratakhin

After you had a cup of coffee. Just one though. They won't let you use a bathroom

Jayem

I'll be making my first attempt at network+ July 12th, I was thinking around 10ish myself. Keep it flowing though, I'm sure others would be interested in this question too.

joehalford01

10-11 for me. Enough time to get there and still nice and early.

NetworkVeteran

sratakhin wrote: »

After you had a cup of coffee. Just one though. They won't let you use a bathroom

This may depend on the certification program and/or testing center. Cisco and Juniper aren't opposed to restroom breaks.

I usually aim for middle morning (9am) when I'm awake and alert.

dales

Personally for me its about 10AM, I usually book it for 1030 but our test centre is good at letting us start when we turn up. Gives me a chance to have a bit of a lay in and miss the traffic shenanigans. Any later in the day then I find myself thinking about it until I get there, I'm certainly a get in and get it done sort of chap.

olaHalo

My little ritual is to wake up at 8am and go straight to the testing center.
I schedule all my tests at the same place at 1015am.
I sit in the parking lot and review my notes and books until the test.

5 outta 5 so Ill keep doing it lol.

kriscamaro68

I take mine at the end of the day. Usually the last test that can be booked is at 4pm for the testing center I use so far so good.

gorebrush

10am, always. Have taken around 20+ exams now, all at the same time.

Passed the vast majority of them. (I can remember 3 failures over the past 10 years)

cruwl

I tend to favor the 10-11 am as well. It gives me time to get to the office, drink a couple cups of coffee. Then I can go over my notes ect one last time then walk across the parking lot to the test center

About7Narwhal

olaHalo wrote: »

I schedule all my tests at the same place at 1015am.
I sit in the parking lot and review my notes and books until the test.

I do the exact same thing except I usually sit at noon. I work 2nd shift so it gives me enough time to get some sleep before hand but also enough time to finish up the exam well before work at 15:00. Usually arrive around 11:00 and go through my notes for about 45 minutes.

goldenlight

since I am unemployed I like to do it after 12:00pm. I'm sure this will change after I get working again

olaHalo

About7Narwhal wrote: »

I do the exact same thing except I usually sit at noon. I work 2nd shift so it gives me enough time to get some sleep before hand but also enough time to finish up the exam well before work at 15:00. Usually arrive around 11:00 and go through my notes for about 45 minutes.

I'm much too paranoid to just give myself 45 minutes of last minute cramming lol.
Hour and a half minimum.

NotHackingYou

First thing in the morning is my preference. I like to be the first exam, around 8AM. In and out and on with my day. I have done afternoon exams and it's easy to get tied up in the day. I do not prefer late morning because for me the anticipation is difficult.

ITMonkey

Morning. Absolutely. Late enough to miss the stressful morning traffic, but early enough to reward myself with a lunch around noon.

DoubleNNs

I'm in the 10:30-11:15 boat myself.
Late enough to eat breakfast, get some last min cramming in, and skip traffic. Early enough that haven't wasted the entire day stressing about the thing and where I can reward myself for the 2nd half of the day.

neathneathneath

I suppose ideal time is about 10.30am

However, some time ago I used a test centre that opened at 8am.
Being an early-bird, I have passed many of my first exams at that time.

And by 10.30 am you know if you've passed or failed.
You then have the majority of the day left to gloat / moan depending on the outcome

Dakinggamer87

ITMonkey wrote: »

Morning. Absolutely. Late enough to miss the stressful morning traffic, but early enough to reward myself with a lunch around noon.

Yep around 10:00-10:30am usually for me

Master Of Puppets

I always do that too. I have come to realize that I'm at peak condition between 10 and 2.

Mike-Mike

I am also in the 10 to 11 am camp... funny how many are in that same boat

Claymoore

10 AM and 1 PM. I like to grab the earliest time I can so I can squeeze in another exam after lunch.

SharkDiver

I usually shoot for 9:30 - 10:30AM.
That time is as early as possible while still being able to get an extra hour or two of sleep over if I was going to work.
I like going in well rested and alert.

wes allen

I was so psyched the CISSP CBT was available later in the day then the PBT - I was really dreading the 8:00AM start. I am also a fan of the 10:00 - 2:00 window. Eat a casual brunch or lunch, get the 2nd dose of caffeine for the day, and a bit of last minute reading over notes.

Nyblizzard

I've been taking my exams at 6:00PM after work -__-

coffeeluvr

I usually try for something between 9:00 -10:30....gives me enough time to self medicate with caffeine, and allows time for traffic to die down.

cmitchell_00

I usually try for 9-1 pm M-F so; I'm not rushed and on Saturday 9-11 am. I really like to be up and alert which gives me extra confidence during those times.

f0rgiv3n

10-11AM allows me to sleep in so I'm sure I've had sufficient rest. I then finish the exam and if i pass I can take the afternoon off to celebrate. I normally go catch an early afternoon movie . Goes without saying I don't ever go into work on exam day.

Budzy

I tend to go for mid to late morning, say around 10:30 am.

WafflesAndRootbeer

Any time of the day that you are sober and the testing center is open. Otherwise, you may get into trouble. Just saying.

bobloblaw

After I've been awake for at least 2 hours. My emails are atrocious if I start firing off long winded replies early in the morning.