Passed Network+ Exam Today

A few hours ago, I took the CompTIA E2C Network+ (JK-016) exam. It is a special price exam for students enrolled in an authorized school. But, the test is same as any Network+ exam (N10-004) -- Just goes by slightly different name and a different test code. The voucher price is half (?) -- $125 vs. $250 for regular exam when I bought a week ago. You can get the test voucher through a CompTIA member (who orders from Pearson VUE).

I probably had 4 (or is it just 2?) questions wrong I think. So, the score was 888 out of 900. It took me less than 30 minutes to answer the 100 questions. (The test software/computer lags at the end of the test. It takes a few seconds to go to the next question; ie, the testing software stalls when you press Next button). Since, I had lot of time left, I reviewed the questions, this time flagging for review any question I was not completely sure about. Then I reviewed the flagged questions. Still there was a lot of time left -- about 30 mins.

So, the exam is easy. Sure, I have a lot of experience and have a few computers and servers at home that I tinker with. But, it is not hard to pass the exam for someone without a whole lot of experience, if you spend a few days. Most are direct questions that test just plain knowledge or recall of facts and information. Rest may require a few minutes of thinking and applying the knowledge.

What I used to prepare

I enrolled at a community college for a few courses (that map to Microsoft OS related certification exams, Network+, Security+). I probably took more courses than I had time for. So, didn't pay any attention to Network+ course until a month ago.

Network+ course had Network+ Guide to Networks 5th Edition by Tamara Dean. It is an OK book with color even. But you could get the same content in the Network+ 2009 In Depth for a lot less than full price of the first book.

The courses at the college also used LabSim from TestOut and is an online course with videos, simulations, tests etc. Listed price for each course is probably very high for many, but I got it through the college for about $50 per course.

I also have access to CBTNuggets that I didn't use much. The nuggets are informative even if they mostly use scribbled bullet points. The presenters'/instructors' have motor mouths and can get monotonous.

I also browsed through most of the your usual Network+ books:

CompTIA Network+ Study Guides (Deluxe and Regular)
CompTIA Network+ All-in-One Exam Guide by Mike Meyers
CompTIA Network+ Cert Guide by Mark Harwood and its various incarnations like Exam Cram etc.

I see a lot of posts about what materials or books were used. I have browsed or read the popular (and not so popular) books for Network+. Any of the above probably would be sufficient for the exam and should get you a passing score. For a very high score, you probably need to do some intensive study and practice test taking.

If you are still hesitant about taking the exam and have jitters, remember it is not that difficult!

I browsed these forums and other certification forums during the study to get an idea of the certification tests. I found the quality of posts as well as the members much better than other places and the forums have been very helpful. I hope this first post on TechExams.net is useful to others who are going to take the certification exam.

P.S.: I have had lot of network related studying last few weeks that when someone asks "What's NEXT?", I have to catch myself from saying "Near End Cross Talk."

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Comments

Cisco Inferno

very nice. im sure with all those resources you didnt feel one bit nervous.
its good to let others know that this test is easy as long as you know your key points and definitions. also, it opens up ideas on where one might want to venture into further down the career road.

congratulations.

Dakinggamer87

Congrats on pass!!

certhelp

Cisco Inferno wrote: »

very nice. im sure with all those resources you didnt feel one bit nervous.
its good to let others know that this test is easy as long as you know your key points and definitions. also, it opens up ideas on where one might want to venture into further down the career road.

congratulations.

Thanks.

Finding the resources can be a big time waster! One can try to go from resource to resource but in the end it is the time one spends learning from the resources that matters.

Network(ing) is a vast subject and can be intimidating especially for new comers. But, Network+ exam is only 100 questions which have to be spread among all the objectives. Even though some of the objectives or areas may be harder, overall the exam can't be that hard.

I am thinking on taking Security+ but MS Server 2008 exams are what I am interested in ultimately for now.

certhelp

Dakinggamer87 wrote: »

Congrats on pass!!

Thanks.

badboyeee

Congrats! with a great score like that and your experience, ever considered taking CCNA?

certhelp

badboyeee wrote: »

Congrats! with a great score like that and your experience, ever considered taking CCNA?

Badboyeee,
Thanks. I considered CCNA and the consideration is always on back of my mind. I originally started out preparing for MS SQL Server 2005. I bought the MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit. But, it didn't go anywhere. I found the books very boring!

I thought I would start with Windows Server 2008 certification exams and study by enrolling in a community college. I also enrolled for Network+, Security+ courses.

I might consider taking CCNA, but that would be farther diversion from SQL Server than Windows Server 2008 certification exams. Do you think CCNA would be a better alternative than MS certification path in terms of job opportunities and satisfaction?

badboyeee

certhelp wrote: »

Badboyeee,
Thanks. I considered CCNA and the consideration is always on back of my mind. I originally started out preparing for MS SQL Server 2005. I bought the MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit. But, it didn't go anywhere. I found the books very boring!

I thought I would start with Windows Server 2008 certification exams and study by enrolling in a community college. I also enrolled for Network+, Security+ courses.

I might consider taking CCNA, but that would be farther diversion from SQL Server than Windows Server 2008 certification exams. Do you think CCNA would be a better alternative than MS certification path in terms of job opportunities and satisfaction?

Well I'm kinda in the same boat as you, maybe just a few steps ahead

From the advice I read and was given, if your passion is networking, you should do the Cisco path. If you like working with MS servers then do MCITP. I'm kinda trying to do both but that's actually not recommended as its like studying for two different things at the same time. I wanna know at least the basics for Windows 2008, not get a cert yet. Then after that I will concentrate on CCENT. Then I'll do a couple MS exams, then finish off the year with CCNA.

Are you still gonna take a Network+ course when you are already certified for that? I don't recommend wasting time taking a course for Security+, you can self-study for that in 2-3 weeks. Darril Gibson's Security+ Study Guide comes highly recommended from this forum, a lot of us (including me) used this book alone to pass it.

Psoasman

Congrats on the pass!

certhelp

badboyeee wrote: »

Well I'm kinda in the same boat as you, maybe just a few steps ahead From the advice I read and was given, if your passion is networking, you should do the Cisco path. If you like working with MS servers then do MCITP. I'm kinda trying to do both but that's actually not recommended as its like studying for two different things at the same time. I wanna know at least the basics for Windows 2008, not get a cert yet. Then after that I will concentrate on CCENT. Then I'll do a couple MS exams, then finish off the year with CCNA.

Are you still gonna take a Network+ course when you are already certified for that? I don't recommend wasting time taking a course for Security+, you can self-study for that in 2-3 weeks. Darril Gibson's Security+ Study Guide comes highly recommended from this forum, a lot of us (including me) used this book alone to pass it.

I do like networking and network operating systems (Windows, Linux), databases, and programming.

I will most likely start with the MS certifications for now and then may be CCNA after I have gotten at least a few MS Certifications because I just finished the courses related to MS certifications. Do not want to mix two big certification paths. (CompTIA exams are entry level and form basis for other exams.)

My Network+ and Security+ classes are over already. The book used for Security+ was Mark Ciampa's Security+ Guide to Network Security. Darill Gibson's Security+ book has been in my Amazon shopping cart since a few months -- just haven't submitted the order yet.

I will as soon as I post this reply.

Dakinggamer87

It's time to update your certifications in signature now to celebrate!!

Jack2

certhelp wrote: »

. Darill Gibson's Security+ book has been in my Amazon shopping cart since a few months -- just haven't submitted the order yet. I will as soon as I post this reply.

Don't forget to sign up for your free year of Amazon PRIME shipping if you are a student! Nothing beat the two day free shipping on many items

badboyeee

certhelp wrote: »

I do like networking and network operating systems (Windows, Linux), databases, and programming.

I will most likely start with the MS certifications for now and then may be CCNA after I have gotten at least a few MS Certifications because I just finished the courses related to MS certifications. Do not want to mix two big certification paths. (CompTIA exams are entry level and form basis for other exams.)

My Network+ and Security+ classes are over already. The book used for Security+ was Mark Ciampa's Security+ Guide to Network Security. Darill Gibson's Security+ book has been in my Amazon shopping cart since a few months -- just haven't submitted the order yet. I will as soon as I post this reply.

Sweet, you got it all figured out then. I wish I can learn everything at once but that's not possible.

Sorry I misunderstood, I thought you didn't finish those courses yet. I shall now take back that im "maybe a few steps ahead." I'm gonna need some MS Server lessons from ya

You seem pretty set to take Security+. If money is an issue I recommend you to get the kindle version of Darril Gibson's Study Guide for only $9.99. I had both the book and the kindle but ended up reading 80% of it with the kindle.

Good luck, I'll be keeping an eye out on your progress

certhelp

Jack2 wrote: »

Don't forget to sign up for your free year of Amazon PRIME shipping if you are a student! Nothing beat the two day free shipping on many items

Yes I need to update my Prime Membership on Amazon. Thanks.

Zillatech

certhelp wrote: »

I also have access to CBTNuggets that I didn't use much. The nuggets are informative even if they mostly use scribbled bullet points. The presenters'/instructors' have motor mouths and can get monotonous.

I am finishing up the Nuggets course on this exam now and I think some of the videos are going way too deep and are almost confusing me. I found the Professor Messer videos to be straight forward and much easier to deal with than the Nuggets so far. Some of the Nugget videos are very informative but I think the instructor just goes off into too much detail about the inter workings of the protocols, packets and process when all I really need are the key bullet points.

Has anyone else found this to be true as well or does the exam really go that deep?

badboyeee

Zillatech wrote: »

I am finishing up the Nuggets course on this exam now and I think some of the videos are going way too deep and are almost confusing me. I found the Professor Messer videos to be straight forward and much easier to deal with than the Nuggets so far. Some of the Nugget videos are very informative but I think the instructor just goes off into too much detail about the inter workings of the protocols, packets and process when all I really need are the key bullet points.

Has anyone else found this to be true as well or does the exam really go that deep?

From the samples I watched, I found that true as well. I used Train Signal instead which I found the depth to be adequate. CBTNuggets may be better for those with more experience.

Cisco Inferno

Zillatech wrote: »

I am finishing up the Nuggets course on this exam now and I think some of the videos are going way too deep and are almost confusing me. I found the Professor Messer videos to be straight forward and much easier to deal with than the Nuggets so far. Some of the Nugget videos are very informative but I think the instructor just goes off into too much detail about the inter workings of the protocols, packets and process when all I really need are the key bullet points.

Has anyone else found this to be true as well or does the exam really go that deep?

found this true as well. messer was very clear. but then again the instructor Michael Shannon is big on cisco. he has cisco videros on cbt nuggets.