Options
CCNA 640-802 Passed!
TIA568B
Member Posts: 31 ■■□□□□□□□□
in CCNA & CCENT
I'm just home from my 640-802 exam and I'm relieved to say I passed! My nerves are pretty much shot as it was my first proper certification exam and I was pretty nervous about it, but it's such a great feeling to have passed it first time!
I'm not sure how much time I had left on the clock, I think it was around 15 minutes, I didn't even realise I was on the last question, I clicked "Next" the computer kind of froze up for a few seconds and I really panicked then an end exam button appeared and I couldn't click it quick enough! I honestly thought I was going to fail the exam during it and was making mental notes to study x, y and z. Although the majority of the questions were easy, I kept coming up ones that I really didn't have a clue about (IPv6 related & ethernet standards for fibre [think that should be fine in terms of the NDA saying that]) and had to take an educated guess at after ruling out things I knew were incorrect. When I got the congratulations screen I really had to give it a double take as I wasn't sure if I was seeing things!
The sims weren't too bad, but I hate the engine they use, you can't resize your terminal window and if you're typing a lengthy command and you make a mistake near the start of the line and that part of command is no longer available after the prompt you'll pretty much have to retype it as it wont let you go back and edit it so I ended up with the word "no" half way through the command I was trying to disable (if that makes any sense, trying to keep it vague :P). I was a bit paranoid about the ? command not working as I've heard some people say it hasn't for them, but it worked for me and was invaluable .
My main source of information for the exam was Cisco's CCNA Exploration course on their Network Academy which I done evenings at a local uni which gave me access to equipment, after that it'll be CBT Nuggets and my small home lab, I did do a bit in Packet Tracer, but to be honest I don't think it was that valuable. I actually bought the Cisco Press ICND1 book before I decided I was going to go for the single exam, I have only used it for the Boson exam simulator which helped a bit as did the practice exams on Cisco's Network Academy.
Edit: I used google a hell of a lot too!
Don't worry too much about practice exams, I tried a few (3 I think) and failed them all (only just), but I passed the actual exam, the practice exams are good at showing you what kind of questions you can expect, but they ruined my confidence. I managed about 3 hours studying this morning (mainly reading over things that weren't in the exam and some subnet masking) and a good few hours on Sunday, but lately I've not done nearly as much as I would have liked.
Next up, finding a job in IT again as working in a call centre is killing me! I'm not sure what cert I'm going for next, I want to get into security so I'm not sure if I should stay on the Cisco path and go CCNA Security or CCNP or if I should look at Security+, CSTA or something completely different, any thoughts?
I posted a bit more than I was meaning to so I'm going to hit submit, but feel free to ask me any questions providing they don't break the NDA
I'm not sure how much time I had left on the clock, I think it was around 15 minutes, I didn't even realise I was on the last question, I clicked "Next" the computer kind of froze up for a few seconds and I really panicked then an end exam button appeared and I couldn't click it quick enough! I honestly thought I was going to fail the exam during it and was making mental notes to study x, y and z. Although the majority of the questions were easy, I kept coming up ones that I really didn't have a clue about (IPv6 related & ethernet standards for fibre [think that should be fine in terms of the NDA saying that]) and had to take an educated guess at after ruling out things I knew were incorrect. When I got the congratulations screen I really had to give it a double take as I wasn't sure if I was seeing things!
The sims weren't too bad, but I hate the engine they use, you can't resize your terminal window and if you're typing a lengthy command and you make a mistake near the start of the line and that part of command is no longer available after the prompt you'll pretty much have to retype it as it wont let you go back and edit it so I ended up with the word "no" half way through the command I was trying to disable (if that makes any sense, trying to keep it vague :P). I was a bit paranoid about the ? command not working as I've heard some people say it hasn't for them, but it worked for me and was invaluable .
My main source of information for the exam was Cisco's CCNA Exploration course on their Network Academy which I done evenings at a local uni which gave me access to equipment, after that it'll be CBT Nuggets and my small home lab, I did do a bit in Packet Tracer, but to be honest I don't think it was that valuable. I actually bought the Cisco Press ICND1 book before I decided I was going to go for the single exam, I have only used it for the Boson exam simulator which helped a bit as did the practice exams on Cisco's Network Academy.
Edit: I used google a hell of a lot too!
Don't worry too much about practice exams, I tried a few (3 I think) and failed them all (only just), but I passed the actual exam, the practice exams are good at showing you what kind of questions you can expect, but they ruined my confidence. I managed about 3 hours studying this morning (mainly reading over things that weren't in the exam and some subnet masking) and a good few hours on Sunday, but lately I've not done nearly as much as I would have liked.
Next up, finding a job in IT again as working in a call centre is killing me! I'm not sure what cert I'm going for next, I want to get into security so I'm not sure if I should stay on the Cisco path and go CCNA Security or CCNP or if I should look at Security+, CSTA or something completely different, any thoughts?
I posted a bit more than I was meaning to so I'm going to hit submit, but feel free to ask me any questions providing they don't break the NDA
Certs:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (640-802)
Microsoft Licensing Sales Specialist (MLSS) Lite
Cisco SMB SMB Specialization for Engineers (650-195)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (640-802)
Microsoft Licensing Sales Specialist (MLSS) Lite
Cisco SMB SMB Specialization for Engineers (650-195)
Comments
-
OptionsKrisA Member Posts: 142Congrats on the Pass -Don't worry too much about practice exams, I tried a few (3 I think) and failed them all (only just), but I passed the actual exam, the practice exams are good at showing you what kind of questions you can expect, but they ruined my confidence.
I am exactly there. I have taken 3-4 and last night was a breaking point. I told my girlfriend that I would need to retake the test after I take it on Thursday this week. ( Early Expiration Voucher - No reschedule) Getting a 63% on one knocked me on my ass, saying $|-|!7 I don't know a damn thing! This is only for 822! If I can't handle this, I don't deserve to be in IT... the wind is still removed from my sails.WGU Progress BSIT:NA | Current Term:1 | Transfered To-Do In Progress Completed
EWB2 BAC1 BBC1 TSV1 WFV1 CLC1 LAE1 LUT1 LAT1 AXV1 TTV1 INC1 INT1 TPV1 SST1 SSC1 GAC1 HHT1 TNV1 QLT1 BOV1 LET1 ORC1 IWC1 IWT1 MGC1 ABV1 AHV1 AJV1 TWA1 CPW2 BRV1
Currently Reading
Darril Book -
OptionsTIA568B Member Posts: 31 ■■□□□□□□□□Congrats on the Pass -
I am exactly there. I have taken 3-4 and last night was a breaking point. I told my girlfriend that I would need to retake the test after I take it on Thursday this week. ( Early Expiration Voucher - No reschedule) Getting a 63% on one knocked me on my ass, saying $|-|!7 I don't know a damn thing! This is only for 822! If I can't handle this, I don't deserve to be in IT... the wind is still removed from my sails.
Do remember to bring two decent forms of ID though, I was lucky enough to get away with using a credit card as one of mine which didn't help my nerves!Certs:
Cisco Certified Network Associate (640-802)
Microsoft Licensing Sales Specialist (MLSS) Lite
Cisco SMB SMB Specialization for Engineers (650-195)