Two to eight hours of sitting nonetheless—generally utterly alone. No breaks. Somebody watching your each transfer. No snacks, no drinks, no paper, no watch, no pockets—simply a pc.
What’s the exercise? Some sort of spy coaching train? Nope. It’s a Cisco certification examination.
It’s no surprise Cisco certification exams are nerve-wracking, particularly if it’s your first one. That’s not even taking into consideration all of the learning you must do previous to the precise examination day. The place do you begin? How do you maximize your odds of passing the examination? You probably have take a look at anxiousness or want lodging, what are you able to do?
This weblog is right here that can assist you plan for Cisco certification examination success. I’ll inform you learn how to use the assets inside Cisco U. that can assist you move, and share insights from two individuals who set examination parameters: Coaching Content material Product Supervisor Geoff Anderson and Studying Path Creator and Engineering Chief Mubasher Nawaz.
Why are Cisco certification exams necessary?
First, in case you’re brand-new right here, a bit primer on what certification exams are and why they matter. For practically 40 years, Cisco has been a pacesetter in networking and communications options. As a networking skilled, getting a Cisco certification serves as a stamp of experience and competency in your chosen space.
Getting Cisco Licensed isn’t one thing you possibly can knock out in a day—it requires a big time dedication with loads of lively studying, apply, and research hours. Prior to now, learners have put collectively their very own advert hoc research packages round their chosen certification examination. But it surely’s troublesome to determine precisely what content material you need to be learning and perceive whether or not it’s high-quality sufficient that can assist you move.
Beginning your certification research with Cisco U.
That’s the place Cisco U. is available in. The training platform gives the organized assets you could efficiently move your certification examination. The hot button is understanding learn how to make the most of all of the options and content material inside Cisco U. to make your path to certification simpler.
Even with all these assets, you’ll have to determine what research strategies and content material varieties work finest for you.
“Remember, everybody learns differently,” Anderson factors out. “Some people like to use flashcards, some like to do hands-on exercises. Experiment.” That’s why Cisco U. contains labs, apply exams, podcasts, tutorials, programs, and movies to cater to your studying temper or wants.
What are Cisco U. Studying Paths and the way do you utilize them?
For those who’re new to Cisco U., you could not have but found Studying Paths. That is the perfect place for a newcomer to start out. The Studying Paths inside Cisco U. remove the guesswork of learning by placing collectively programs, labs, tutorials, and assessments multi function place—providing you with a whole exhaustive Studying Path that teaches you the topic from high to backside.
Can I skip across the Studying Paths in Cisco U.?
Lots of people ask whether or not they can skip round Studying Paths. The reply is…it relies upon. “If you’re new to the subject, you should do the entire Learning Path,” Anderson recommends. “If you already have some expertise, you can just study the subjects you’re not as familiar with.” In any case, the purpose of the certification is that if you move, you’ll be capable to tackle skilled duties coping with that certification—not have solely partial information.
Studying Paths additionally include assessments and self-tests alongside the way in which so you possibly can be sure you actually know the topic in addition to you assume you do. And after you’ve efficiently accomplished the Studying Path, you possibly can transfer on to taking apply exams.
Give your self a aggressive edge with examination blueprints and apply exams
Subsequent, you’ll wish to take a peek on the Cisco certification examination subjects on the Cisco Studying Community (and shortly to return, inside every Cisco U. apply examination overview) to develop a research plan.
“I recommend learners look at the exam blueprint and see what topics it covers and how they’re weighted,” says Nawaz. “For example, if you look at the CCNA topics, you’ll see the first three count for 65% of your score. I’d spend most of my time studying those.”
Cisco U. apply exams for the win
One of the simplest ways to make sure you’re effectively hitting these weighted subjects is by using the apply exams in Cisco U. “If you can do well on a practice exam, you should be in pretty good shape to pass the certification exam,” says Anderson.
Every entry right into a apply examination presents the candidate with 75 gadgets that change with each try. “I recommend taking the practice exam multiple times,” Anderson says. Observe exams might be bought individually or come as a part of a Cisco U. subscription; if bought as a person title, they’re good for 180 days (about six months). Subscriptions to Cisco U. are legitimate for a 12 months.
The apply exams include the examination aims and a rating report telling you the way nicely you probably did in every space. That means, post-practice examination try, you possibly can see what subjects you’re scoring low in, swap again to the Studying Path, and redo these areas.
Observe exams may even provide help to replicate the examination day—tremendous useful for take a look at anxiousness. Extra on that later.
What to keep away from when prepping for Cisco certification exams
There’s one necessary factor each Anderson and Nawaz need you to keep away from as you put together: mind dumps. “Brain dump sites are websites where someone takes an exam and memorizes what’s on there, then uploads it as a list of test items and sells it,” Anderson says.
Nawaz notes, “If you can access a brain dump site, we can also. We have dedicated security personnel monitoring them for leaked content.”
“Once those exam items are compromised, we switch them out. Thus, relying on these sites will not be a shortcut to passing the exam,” says Anderson. As a substitute, sticking with high-quality studying supplies and having a stable research plan are the keys to certification examination success.
What’s the precise Cisco certification examination expertise like?
Certification exams are supposed to present you’ve attained a degree of competency and which you can carry out in a specified position, which implies they’re troublesome by nature. And this implies even the take a look at taking atmosphere itself generally is a little intimidating. A certification examination sometimes lasts for 2 to a few hours, however a lab take a look at for a CCIE may last as long as eight hours.
You possibly can take a certification examination both at residence or in a take a look at middle. “If there’s a test center in your area, I recommend going there,” says Anderson.
Taking a certification examination at a take a look at middle
At a take a look at middle, the atmosphere is already arrange for you, so all you must do is present up.
Different issues to know:
- You’ll have to go away your cellphone, pockets, watch, pen, paper, and calculator at residence (carry your ID!). You possibly can verify with the take a look at middle on whether or not they have lockers.
- You’ll be noticed by a proctor and take the take a look at alongside others taking non-Cisco checks.
- Toilet breaks can final not more than 10 minutes.
- There aren’t any drinks or snacks permitted within the examination room.
- The CCIE Lab exams embrace a 20-minute break and will embrace lunch.
- You’ll be supplied with a small whiteboard and marker to work out issues like subnetting.
You’ll be given extra particular directions that depend upon the examination you’re taking and the precise take a look at web site. Learn extra about examination insurance policies.
General, although, the one dangerous factor about an in-person take a look at, in line with Anderson, is that you could be be jealous of the particular person subsequent to you who’s not taking a Cisco examination—which implies they’ve totally different testing parameters. “The contractor taking a test next to me was allowed a calculator,” Anderson notes drily. Cisco exams have a calculator constructed into them.
Taking a certification examination on-line
Taking a certification examination remotely can be an choice, however there are extra-strict standards you have to meet.
- You’ll have to indicate the proctor your examination atmosphere to make sure there aren’t any books, papers, screens, or digital units that would provide help to cheat.
- You have to be in a walled room with a closed door.
- No person else is allowed within the room.
- You will have water in a transparent glass.
- There aren’t any toilet breaks, because the proctor can’t see what’s occurring past that room. For those who go away the online digital camera view, your take a look at might be over.
- Your pc might be working software program that displays your test-taking, and you have to at all times have the digital camera on you.
- Throughout the examination, if deemed crucial, the proctor could ask you to show the digital camera to allow them to see the remainder of the atmosphere.
- No paper is allowed, however you’re going to get an digital whiteboard.
Generally it’s best to arrange a distinct room for the day as a substitute of utilizing your typical workspace, the place you’ll must disassemble and put away all of your digital gadgets. Folks typically arrange a desk in an empty room.
For a full listing of at-home testing necessities, take a look at these on-line testing FAQs.
Recommendation for certification examination day
It doesn’t matter what, taking the examination might be nerve-wracking. Anderson’s recommendation for the large day:
- Hydrate beforehand.
- Get a very good night time’s sleep.
- Don’t over-caffeinate.
- Don’t freak out.
Not freaking out is unquestionably simpler stated than performed. So, regardless of the place you determine to take the precise examination, attempt to replicate the take a look at atmosphere through the apply exams. Give your self a small whiteboard or digital whiteboard. Remove distractions. Do the apply examination with out a beverage or snack. For those who’re profitable sufficient instances, your take a look at anxiousness ought to reduce, if not go away fully.
However what in case you have a documented anxiousness dysfunction or one other situation, and also you’re undecided you possibly can deal with the take a look at atmosphere, even with all this apply? Set your worries apart—there are lodging out there.
Making use of for certification examination lodging
You possibly can qualify for a Cisco certification examination lodging by Pearson VUE (the take a look at administrator) in case you have a situation that falls into one in every of these classes:
- Studying/different cognitive issues (LCD)
- Consideration-deficit/hyperactivity dysfunction (ADD/ADHD)
- Emotional, psychological, psychiatric issues (EPP)
- Bodily disabilities/persistent well being situations (PCH)
- Listening to
- Wheelchair entry
- Bodily impairments
You’ll have to use BEFORE you schedule the take a look at and supply documentation about your situation.
Check lodging embrace:
- Textual content magnifiers resembling Zoom Textual content
- A separate testing room
- Further testing time
- A reader or scribe
For those who want different lodging, the take a look at administrator could possibly assist. Go to Pearson VUE to request take a look at lodging for a Cisco examination.
Closing ideas for Cisco certification examination success
As you begin learning, Anderson desires you to recollect this: “Don’t be discouraged if it takes you longer than what the training says. Though it says to spend 30-40 hours training, the average is more like 110 hours,” he notes.
What for those who’ve studied and practiced as a lot as you possibly can—and you continue to don’t move? Regroup and take a look at once more.
“If you do not pass, do not despair,” Anderson says. “You will get a report with details on what areas you didn’t meet the mark on. This is a perfect starting point for preparing for your second attempt.”
A closing word: Many individuals taking certification exams are typically perfectionists who fret about not getting the best doable rating. For those who’re amongst these, attempt to calm down, says Anderson. “A pass is a win!” Anderson says. “Celebrate! You’ve earned it.”
Prepared to start out learning for a Cisco certification? Depart a remark beneath and let me know which examination you’re going for. Thanks for studying!
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