Studying for ICND1

Hi All,

I'm currently studying for the ICND1 CCENT I currently cycle to work which takes me about half an hour during this time I listen to Jeremy's CBT nuggets video (I have just stripped the video off so I just have the Audio) I am also reading Lammle's book.

For me its proving difficult I work full-time and I find it very difficult to get motivated and usually working after 10:30pm is a no go as i`m just so tired I dont think any information is being retained. my approach is probably very different to most as i`m just trying to surround myself with the material as much as I can, as I know I need any excuse not to study so if watching youtube vids or listening to a podcast is an alternative i`ll take it.

Can anyone offer any tips resources I can use, or even have any general comments as to how I am doing this?

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Comments

bbarrick

Put 150 bucks down on it and use that to motivate yourself. Schedule the test a month from today, push yourself to keep at it.

I know the feeling, as I'm getting into the later chapters of Odom's book, reading about extended ACL's isn't all that exciting. As soon as I get Lammle's new book I'm going to schedule my test, probably the end of September.

bugs

I cant afford to pay for the exam until November, but I was going to book it, to take it november. so hopefully this is a good motivator. I am achieving, between 30% and 50% at the moment on practice tests so its early days but hopefully I can do it.

DoubleNNs

How far have you gotten into your study materials so far?

Ismaeljrp

November is really far out, you shouldn't be anywhere near close to be attempting any practice tests, you're only gonna hurt your studies. Leave that for the final week.

1) book the exam as soon as you can.
2) if it's in november, you should get by with 1 hr a day studying ( that should be easy even with a full time job )
3) I'd say read and practice labs more than watching or listening to mp3s
3) I don't wanna sound too cruel, but stop making excuses for yourself. Trust me, we've all done it at some point, but you have to be serious about wanting to get this done the right way. ( If you're posting here, you most likely are serious. Just inexperienced. )

Video training is only good for visualizing certain situations and concepts that you don't understand fully. That shouldn't be your main resource. Your main resouce must be the books/docs and labs.

If you have time to sleep...you have time to train.

bugs

Thanks for the pep talk ismaeljrp, im the world worst for starting things but never finishing them but, I really want this. I will be booking the exam in november (as I wont be able to afford it till then) hopefully I will be in a position to take it in november too.

I have Lammle book which I have been reading. The reason I started listening to the cbt nuggets as MP3's was because I cycle to work which takes me half an hour so I thought why not try and use that half an hour in some way, so would you say this is a bit of a waste of time?

I am very serious about getting this, I currently work in IT support and have done for the last 10 years, getting this will hopefully move me away from IT support and into something abit more specialised and a bit better paid.

Ismaeljrp

bugs wrote: »

I thought why not try and use that half an hour in some way, so would you say this is a bit of a waste of time?.

It's no waste of time at all, it's actually a great idea. I do that sometimes when I'm in my car just plug in the aux cable and listen to vlan, stp etc.. theory. Just wanted to point out where the bulk of your knowledge should really come from.

You may be trying to evaluate yourself too soon, be patient, study the material don't move on to other topics until you understand the current one and don't worry about practice tests and the thought of ( man, I only got a 40% on that last one ). Give yourself the time to learn and just be consistent with it, more consistency than quantity of study time.

bugs

Thanks I`m going to plod through the Lammle book, make sure I do the practice stuff at the end then try and supplement that with the mp3's iv got.

I think in the past I have been guilty of sneaking a peak at the chapter ahead, or starting a chapter, and if I am already familiar with the subject just saying ahhh i`ll skip this bit I already know it.

I'm guessing from previous posts my aim for November is realistic and quite achievable?

DoubleNNs

Getting the cert in November is very realistic and achievable. I think you'll be more than ready for the exam by then.

Try to focus on the MP3s and reading the book (in order) for now. Lay off the practice exams like Ismael suggested. Then when you're finally done with that, you'll be ready to try some hands on practice - whether it be physical equip or simulators/emulators.

sincere11105

Im scheduling CCENT for the first week of September. Too be honest, there is no excuse. I work full time, go to school, I have a child and another on the way, and I still put in about an hour a day. Im using Odem's book and Chris Bryants videos. I outline then I use flash cards.. along with labs of course.

I read through the book and was a bit lost... After watching the videos, it all clicked.. Now its just a matter of memorizing certain things..

sincere11105

bugs wrote: »

Thanks I`m going to plod through the Lammle book, make sure I do the practice stuff at the end then try and supplement that with the mp3's iv got.

I think in the past I have been guilty of sneaking a peak at the chapter ahead, or starting a chapter, and if I am already familiar with the subject just saying ahhh i`ll skip this bit I already know it.

I'm guessing from previous posts my aim for November is realistic and quite achievable?

I see your goals for 2013. Did you achieve A+? I bypassed that and N+ and started with CCENT.. Its a bit much but not impossible.

DoubleNNs

Sincere11105 - after going thru the videos and the book, just make sure you do some labbing as well.

bugs

I dont have any other certifications this will be my first, although I have worked in IT support for 10 years so some of the concepts im reading are not completely new to me.

dj_kenshin

Just be careful. I'm about to start studying for ICND-1 also. However, the new 100-101 exam comes out at the end of September!

bugs

I knew about the new exams so I made sure the Lammle book I got was the one which covered the new material.

sincere11105

I booked mine for the first week of September. If I fail I have time to retake it