Passed ROUTE

Chris_Chris_ Member Posts: 326
Took the ROUTE exam this morning and passed with a 976. Obviously I am delighted. I really enjoyed the exam, but it was tough, REALLY tough ( MODERATED labs!!!!)

Just off to have a couple of pints of Mr Arthur Guinness' finest but I shall return later with a full debrief :)
Going all out for Voice. Don't worry Data; I'll never forget you
:study: CVoice [X] CIPT 1 [ ] CIPT 2 [ ] CAPPS [ ] TVOICE [ ]

Comments

  • mikej412mikej412 Member Posts: 10,086 ■■■■■■■■■■
    Congratulations!! icon_cheers.gif

    You can't say how many SIMs you had (but that sure was a crap load icon_eek.gif).
    :mike: Cisco Certifications -- Collect the Entire Set!
  • Chris_Chris_ Member Posts: 326
    Sorry mike, thought I'd be okay saying that!
    Going all out for Voice. Don't worry Data; I'll never forget you
    :study: CVoice [X] CIPT 1 [ ] CIPT 2 [ ] CAPPS [ ] TVOICE [ ]
  • Bl8ckr0uterBl8ckr0uter Inactive Imported Users Posts: 5,031 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congrats! What did you use to study?
  • ITdudeITdude Member Posts: 1,181 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Chris_ wrote: »
    Just off to have a couple of pints of Mr Arthur Guinness' finest but I shall return later with a full debrief :)

    Congrats! Man, you guys are really going crazy over there. First, the Royal Wedding and now this..... :)icon_wink.gif
    I usually hang out on 224.0.0.10 (FF02::A) and 224.0.0.5 (FF02::5) when I'm in a non-proprietary mood.

    __________________________________________
    Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
    (Leonardo da Vinci)
  • down77down77 Member Posts: 1,009
    Congrats Chris_! Glad to hear you nailed the exam. Have a few more pints for me

    Hope to share in your success in a few weeks
    CCIE Sec: Starting Nov 11
  • JaCkNiFeJaCkNiFe Member Posts: 96 ■■□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations!! What's next?
    Lab on!
  • Chris_Chris_ Member Posts: 326
    Right, here's my debrief, hopefully keeping within the NDA!!icon_redface.gif

    I sat down for this exam feeling really confident, by the 1 hour point, when I'd only answered 18 questions, i was feeling less so!! it's okay I caught up but finished with about 1 and a half minutes to go - close call.

    It's a really hard and challenging exam, so much so that it's actually fun to sit :D
    There's still a few Cisco word games but I suppose that will never changeicon_sad.gif

    I'm so glad I hammered the lab so much in my studies, it really paid off. You're not going to pass this thing unless you can configure anything on the blueprint off the top of your head.

    I had one question that is definitely not on the ROUTE blueprint, however it does exist on the predecessors blueprint (BSCI) I think it has been mentioned before that some unmarked questions may get thrown in for consistency checking or beta purposes. I left a comment anyway. I also had a buggy lab which I also left a comment for - it was very obviously a bug so i didn't waste any time on it, just moved on.

    to prepare for Route I used:

    CBT Nuggets - Really good for getting the concepts down but needs backing up with a good book. jeremy gives some good tips and also pre-built topologies for GNS3

    Official Cert Guide by Wendell Odem - not a great read IMO but good for dipping into for quick reference.

    BSCI authorised Self Study Guide by Diane Teare - an excellent book, really goes in depth on the topics. I believe that this has been rehashed as the ROUTE Foundation Learning guide,

    GNS3 - and loads of it!! I would estimate that I spent 80 hours labbing for this exam. And the beauty of GNS3 is that I could fire it up in the quiet hours on night shift in the NOC.

    Finally, Boson EX-SIM MAX - worth it's weight in gold and really prepares you for dragging the the objectives out of the question.

    I spent a very intense 9 weeks studying for this - I have worked with networks for a good few years, especially OSPF so that was a good start for me - I don't think I could have maintained the level of study for that long if it I didn't have the ability to study at work - too many kids at home who need my time. i booked the exam before I started studying, i need drivers to get me going!

    Anyway on to Switch now, i have it booked for the 30th June with TSHOOT booked 2 weeks after that - I'll keep you up to date with my progress.

    drunken_smilie.gif
    Going all out for Voice. Don't worry Data; I'll never forget you
    :study: CVoice [X] CIPT 1 [ ] CIPT 2 [ ] CAPPS [ ] TVOICE [ ]
  • mzbagasramzbagasra Member Posts: 32 ■■□□□□□□□□
  • NOC-NinjaNOC-Ninja Member Posts: 1,403
    congrats. Tough test but goodluck on the tougher test (SWITCH).
  • vinbuckvinbuck Member Posts: 785 ■■■■□□□□□□
    Chris_ wrote: »
    Right, here's my debrief, hopefully keeping within the NDA!!icon_redface.gif

    I sat down for this exam feeling really confident, by the 1 hour point, when I'd only answered 18 questions, i was feeling less so!! it's okay I caught up but finished with about 1 and a half minutes to go - close call.

    It's a really hard and challenging exam, so much so that it's actually fun to sit :D
    There's still a few Cisco word games but I suppose that will never changeicon_sad.gif

    I'm so glad I hammered the lab so much in my studies, it really paid off. You're not going to pass this thing unless you can configure anything on the blueprint off the top of your head.

    I had one question that is definitely not on the ROUTE blueprint, however it does exist on the predecessors blueprint (BSCI) I think it has been mentioned before that some unmarked questions may get thrown in for consistency checking or beta purposes. I left a comment anyway. I also had a buggy lab which I also left a comment for - it was very obviously a bug so i didn't waste any time on it, just moved on.

    to prepare for Route I used:

    CBT Nuggets - Really good for getting the concepts down but needs backing up with a good book. jeremy gives some good tips and also pre-built topologies for GNS3

    Official Cert Guide by Wendell Odem - not a great read IMO but good for dipping into for quick reference.

    BSCI authorised Self Study Guide by Diane Teare - an excellent book, really goes in depth on the topics. I believe that this has been rehashed as the ROUTE Foundation Learning guide,

    GNS3 - and loads of it!! I would estimate that I spent 80 hours labbing for this exam. And the beauty of GNS3 is that I could fire it up in the quiet hours on night shift in the NOC.

    Finally, Boson EX-SIM MAX - worth it's weight in gold and really prepares you for dragging the the objectives out of the question.

    I spent a very intense 9 weeks studying for this - I have worked with networks for a good few years, especially OSPF so that was a good start for me - I don't think I could have maintained the level of study for that long if it I didn't have the ability to study at work - too many kids at home who need my time. i booked the exam before I started studying, i need drivers to get me going!

    Anyway on to Switch now, i have it booked for the 30th June with TSHOOT booked 2 weeks after that - I'll keep you up to date with my progress.

    drunken_smilie.gif

    Congratulations! Glad to see someone post some positive feedback on the Boson ExSIM Max for ROUTE. Could you go into more detail on how the boson practice questions were useful without breaking NDA?
    Cisco was my first networking love, but my "other" router is a Mikrotik...
  • DPGDPG Member Posts: 780 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Congratulations! Glad to see someone post some positive feedback on the Boson ExSIM Max for ROUTE. Could you go into more detail on how the boson practice questions were useful without breaking NDA?


    I can't speak for him but I would have to say the practice exams help you get into "test mode."

    I really wish the Cisco Learning Network would fix the accuracy of their practice questions. They are worse than what you would see on a Check Point exam! I think I may pickup the Boson ExSim Max for the ROUTE exam.
  • Chris_Chris_ Member Posts: 326
    The boson just gets you thinking in the way of a test taker, after a while you get good at working out what the question is looking for - there's only so many types of question can be asked on a technical subject, it's not subjective!
    Going all out for Voice. Don't worry Data; I'll never forget you
    :study: CVoice [X] CIPT 1 [ ] CIPT 2 [ ] CAPPS [ ] TVOICE [ ]
  • NetwurkNetwurk Member Posts: 1,155 ■■■■■□□□□□
    Congrats on the pass!!!

    icon_thumright.gif
  • Dakinggamer87Dakinggamer87 Member Posts: 4,016 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congrats well done!! icon_thumright.gif
    *Associate's of Applied Sciences degree in Information Technology-Network Systems Administration
    *Bachelor's of Science: Information Technology - Security, Master's of Science: Information Technology - Management
    Matthew 6:33 - "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."

    Certs/Business Licenses In Progress: AWS Solutions Architect, Series 6, Series 63
  • matt79matt79 Member Posts: 27 ■□□□□□□□□□
    Does anyone know if the Boson test for ROUTE from the boson website is the same as the one that is in the back of the cisco press route book?
    CCNA certified
    Network+ certified
    Security+ certified
    A+ certified
    CCNP in progress
    :study:
  • vinbuckvinbuck Member Posts: 785 ■■■■□□□□□□
    matt79 wrote: »
    Does anyone know if the Boson test for ROUTE from the boson website is the same as the one that is in the back of the cisco press route book?

    They are two different pools of questions. I have both of them and the set that is included with the ROUTE OCG is slightly easier (but still pretty challenging). The EXSIM Max package that you pay for has harder questions and a larger pool of them. I haven't taken ROUTE yet but they both have helped me in my learning.
    Cisco was my first networking love, but my "other" router is a Mikrotik...
  • tomaifauchaitomaifauchai Member Posts: 301 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Congrats Chris!

    I agree
    Boson for ROUTE and TSHOOT is really worth it.
    For Switch, don't know how to say this....but the labs are too easy and i thought i was doing CCNA labs. So if you buy them individually, i suggest you look for another vendor for this one.
    Unfortunately or fortunately, they give you a 20% discount if you already have the OCG books and there was another 25% off at christmas time....so got them for really cheap icon_smile.gif
  • -DeXteR--DeXteR- Member Posts: 130
    Had to Bump this old Thread . Finally decided to start my CCNP journey and want to concentrate on Route first . So Wanted to ask whether FLG is enough for Route and do i have to supplement ocg with it ?

    Thanks
    -Dex-
  • nelnel Member Posts: 2,859 ■□□□□□□□□□
    congrats!

    when you say you have done 9 weeks of intense studying, how many hours per day were you attempting?

    Thanks in advance
    Xbox Live: Bring It On

    Bsc (hons) Network Computing - 1st Class
    WIP: Msc advanced networking
  • Chris_Chris_ Member Posts: 326
    nel wrote: »
    congrats!

    when you say you have done 9 weeks of intense studying, how many hours per day were you attempting?

    Thanks in advance

    I was going for at least 3 hours a day, more if I was on night shift at work as I could cram 5 or 6 hours in. personally, I think my brain would melt if I tried to do any more than that!
    Going all out for Voice. Don't worry Data; I'll never forget you
    :study: CVoice [X] CIPT 1 [ ] CIPT 2 [ ] CAPPS [ ] TVOICE [ ]
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