CCNA's chime in

[lobadobadingdong]

Those of you that took the latest CCNA and used the Cisco Press training books.

Is the actual test easier than the practice tests from Cisco Press?

and for anyone who's taken the latest ccna exam, can you take a basic calculator with you for the test, or use the windows calculator?

note: I've configured many Cisco routers and switches, and am using the books just for review and the practice tests as I suck at taking tests. I'm only really taking the ccna because I get a $1/hr raise and it can be used to step up to ccnp next year so I can get another $1/hr raise again next year.

updates are a few posts down.

 

[Audiotherapy]

no to calculators (hardware or software) the test center will provide you with a paper(that you cant take home with you) and a pen. you will be in a test booth that has a camera survillance

 

[Macro2]

RE:"Is the actual test easier than the practice tests from Cisco Press?"

No.

There is one test at the end of the CCNA course that's similar.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

so If I'm constantly hitting mid 90's on the practice tests I should pass right? what is passing on this test anyway? It doesn't say in their books.

 

[einstein1]

I guess a score of 850 out of 1000 is the cutoff mark.
I am a ccna aspirant too...jus started preparing.
I would love to share / gain knowledge..
u can reach me on rajeshiyre@hotmail.com

Regards.

 

[talyn00]

i thought the practice questions in the cisco press books were old questions that were previous on the exam or extremely similiar to it

 

[wiin]

I took the CCna exam in May and failed. A lot of the questions are not even covered (and if it was covered, very litely) in the materials i used to prep for the exam. I completed the Cisco networking Academy program at the community college and did well in that.
The academy program exam is so not the same as the ccna exam.

 

[Tarrant64]

I agree.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

Well, I took it today, I scored a 583 on a level between 300 and 1000 with 849 passing. (like a 40 or so)

over 2/3 of the 53 questions were on ACL's (the cicso press books dedicated an entire 20 pages to the subject) basically, if you know how to configure a switch and know your ACL's foward, backwards, inside, and out (I obviously don't) you can pass. The practice tests are definatly not an accurate representation of the actual test. I think the practice tests covered ACL questions had maybe 4 out of the 200 test questions on the practice tests on the CD's.

You only get 90min. I finished it with 17 seconds left and I was forced to rush through the last 15 or so questions because I was inundated with rediculously long troubleshooting scenarios each taking approx 10min. to just read (and comprehend the engrish).

On the bright side, I guess now I just spent $175 ($125 plus fuel and lunch to drive the 100miles from here to take the test) to find out how inadequate the cisco press study materials are, and what I need to study to spend my next $175 to try again.

 

[polm]

It's all good. Most people fail before they pass (myself included)...and usually the failing happens more than once.

Just keep at it !! Good luck on the next one !!

 

[wiin]

over 2/3 of the 53 questions were on ACL's (the cicso press books dedicated an entire 2 pages to the subject) basically, if you know how to configure a switch and know your ACL's foward, backwards, inside, and out (I obviously don't) you can pass. The practice tests are definatly not an accurate representation of the actual test. I think the practice tests covered ACL questions had maybe 4 out of the 200 test questions on the practice tests on the CD's.

Nothing about ACL in my test. Also, there were 65 questions in mine and 90 minutes to complete it.