• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Taking ICND1 (CCNA) tomorrow

I

Icepick

Diamond Member
Going to take the first of two CCNA exams tomorrow (ICND1). This is the first certification I've pursued since my CCNP cert expired back in '05. 🙂 To prepare I read the book and worked through some practice exam questions. Has anyone who's taken this recently have any advice?
 
Know subnetting
Know OSPF
Know STP
Know EIGRP
Forget ISDN
Know basic wireless
Know Administrative distances
Know full commands, cant abbreviate
Know IPv6 Basics
 
i forget how much time they gave me on the test, i finished well under while worrying that i was going to run out. its really not that bad. subnetting is important, if you dont know it you will kill some time on it. routing basics, especially being able to spot config errors between two routers iirc.

knowing the wireless terminology killed me on the wireless stuff, there were some terms i just plain forgot because we breezed over them on *1* page in class. they asked about pretty much everything on that damn page on the test i took :-/
 
Thanks for the tips. I'm good with subnetting and OSI. I'll take your advice and brush up on the wireless terms. Did you get any questions on DSL?
 
There won't be any questions directly relating to DSL specifically (how to configure it, that's CCNP level and can be stupidly convoluted depending on the provider's equipment). The CCNA tests focus mostly on Layer 3 and on Cisco-proprietary stuff. Wireless makes up less than 10% of the composite test.

First thing I did when I took the composite test was to write out my decimal to binary translation for each of the subnet octets. I don't need to do that now, but there is some explicit binary math on the test (or, at least there was when I took the composite).

I finished the composite exam in about 30 minutes, despite the first 10 questions taking almost 15 minutes. They were the simulation questions. The rest were very quick and easy. You may get your simulations last, so make sure to leave some time, and don't freak out if you get them first.

Mostly it sucked because I had to drive 60 minutes to the testing center to take a test that took 30 minutes to take...and then 60 minutes to drive back.
 
I passed with a score of 877 (804 was needed). There were several questions that referred to wireless. Several questions multipart questions that tested my ability to interpret subnets. There were also a few questions where I had to analyze a router configuration to pick out the errors. For an entry level exam, I thought this was difficult. I prepared for about a week using the ICND1 exam guide from Cisco Press.
 
Icepick said:
I passed with a score of 877 (804 was needed). There were several questions that referred to wireless. Several questions multipart questions that tested my ability to interpret subnets. There were also a few questions where I had to analyze a router configuration to pick out the errors. For an entry level exam, I thought this was difficult. I prepared for about a week using the ICND1 exam guide from Cisco Press.
Click to expand...
No questions regarding switching?
 
her209 said:
No questions regarding switching?
Click to expand...

switching and VLANs is not covered under the cisco courses until the 3rd course. "Accessing the WAN" is the 4th book and covers WAN technologies, lots of misc troubleshooting info, ACLs and i dont remember what else right this second.

the first two courses are basically the OSI model and subnetting, then very basic routing, basic device configuration blah blah and thats what the ICND1 covers. they have it split directly along the courses they provide.
 
her209 said:
No questions regarding switching?
Click to expand...

There were plenty of questions regarding switches and layer 2 networking in general. You have to know the difference between collision and broadcast domains and how to contain them. There are also questions regarding when to use straight-through or crossover cables. I don't remember seeing any switch configuration questions, though.
 
Congrats Icepick!

NOW.... ICND2. I'm going to humbly admit that I'm currently 0/2 🙁

I was doing good the first time I took the ICND2 but I was horrible w\ the time. There was an OSPF question that I wasted a good 12 minutes on ( 75 minutes total!!!! ) and then I only had 20 minutes left to do 20+ questions... rushed through them and failed w\ 775-785.

Same OSPF question got me again on the second attempt. Couldn't figure it out and I'm thinking that the simulation question is worth a good deal of points. Scored about the same as the first attempt.

Going to try to re-take it in a couple of weeks. I have some icnd2 video's and other study materials if you need something to study.
 
Congrats Icepick! Just passed my BICSI Installer 2 (Copper) a couple weeks ago. Actually rather disappointed I didn't have the chance to take the Technician exam, but it's still a step towards bigger things.
 
Well done. I just passed ICND1 myself. Working on ICND2. I have been using the Boson SetSim software, as I do not have a lab. Are you using the Windell Odom books?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top