So my first cisco professional level exam. Studied for about 2 or 3 months. Sometimes seriously, sometimes semi seriously. I work a lot of overtime sadfully
Passed with an 844. Got very high percentages 98-100% in all categories except wireless and VOIP. The scores there were very very bad. Like 16 percent or something on one of them. I guessed or answered quickly within 40 seconds on like the last 10 or so questions because I was running out of time. I got hung up on a lab early on which chewed up alot of my time but answered it correctly in the end. I don't know how the scoring works on these exams but I could not leave a lab unfinished and I'm guessing it probally scored me the pass as well. You definetely have to be more time conscious on these than the CCNA stuff which I finished with so much time to spare.
I'm pretty happy with the diffulculty level of the exams. THe only thing I am unhappy with is that the none of the cisco official material that I used accurately protrayed or went over what I saw on the exam in regards to VOIP, wireless, or QOS. You definetely have to rely on some kind of ancillary experience or material to ace these topics.
I used BCMSN self study and the offical exam guide. I also used the lab portifolo. I found the lab portifolo pretty useless because I just made my own labs. Both of the books were pretty useful but failed to adequately cover the topics I mentioned. I also found the practice exams and questions included with the official exam guide lacking. THey were basically not even useful and no were near as good as the stuff I saw included with the CCNA stuff. There are even no virtual lab questions.
Equipement used were 2 3550s, 3 2950s, and all my other stuff. Could have done everything with the 2 3550s and a 2950.
My advice crack open a QOS book or two and maybe grab a CCNA:wireless and CCNA:voice book as well if you want to make your life easier for this exam.
Onward to BSCI. This time more prepared because I expect the overlap as seen on this exam and I expect that the exam topics listed as needed don't accurately protray everything you need to know either.
