CCNA exam study help

[Ghiedo27]

I finally bit the bullet and set a test date, but I'm still looking for good study material. I've been going through the CBT Nuggets coarse and looking at Cisco's website (including the list of topics on the exam) so far. Unfortunately, the CBTN material seems kind of flaky and not at all comprehensive. I've been googling topics from Cisco's list for more study material, but I don't have any frame of reference for how deep the CCNA cert goes into these topics.

My biggest concern is that I keep hearing you should expect to fail it the first time around. I'd rather not waste the testing fee and 2 more weeks if it's material that I can get right the first time around. I'd appreciate any help identifying general areas you feel don't get enough coverage. I know that it's a vague question, but any jot lists on topics I should pay special attention to would be very much appreciated.

 

[her209]

Are you planning on the one-test route or the two-test route?

 

[Ghiedo27]

I'm going the two test route, but I'm open to any suggestions for the ICND2 portion of the test as well. I figured that looking at the coarse as a whole would give me better context for the first part, so I'm going over both until the last week before the test.

 

[airdata]

Expecting to fail is never a good thing!

Train Signal is a more dry, by the book delivery vs CBT Nuggets. I've found that sometimes it helps getting different explanations of subjects to help understand everything.

 

[alkemyst]

I will say no video is ever going to get you a pass by itself. The videos are great though as a good once-over in preparation to read and take notes.

Cisco's syllabus is pretty accurate.

I used the ICND1 and 2 books from Cisco Press. Both the learning foundation and the study guides.

I failed my first attempt...picked up Boson's CCNA study software and retook it with a pass along with ICND2 a month or two later.