The road to CCIE

Certification candidate finds he needs some extra preparation to pass the routing exam.

By Jeff Shapiro
Network World, 02/19/01

Cartoon I hate tests. I hated them in grade school, I hated them in college, and I still hate 'em. Unfortunately, the only way to become a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) is through tests - lots of them.

Although I completed all the classes necessary for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) designation, I put off taking the exams for about a month, mostly out of fear. My fast approaching deadline for this article finally pushed me toward taking the four CCNP exams.

The Routing 2.0 exam is reputed to be the toughest, so I started there. I spent several days reviewing the lab materials I got from the Global Knowledge Networks course. Next, I read Cisco Press' Building Scalable Cisco Networks official preparation book cover to cover. I also attempted many of the exercises in the book.

I thought I would be ready for the exam in a week, so I scheduled the exam at a local testing center. There are two outfits that perform Cisco testing: Prometric (1-800-204-EXAM or www.2test.com) and Virtual University Enterprises (1-800-929-NETS or www.vue.com

A week later I arrived at the New Horizons Computer Learning Center and plunked down $100. Exam fees are the same wherever you go, and there are thousands of authorized test centers all over the world.

I picked the New Horizons branch because it was conveniently located, but I chose well. The center was modern and airy. Once I helped myself to the coffee and snacks, the receptionist brought me to the testing room, where modern and airy ended.

The room was small and windowless. There were three computers separated by partitions, and there were video cameras mounted on the wall behind each computer. The receptionist acts as proctor and watches the monitor at her desk.

As for the exam, I can only speak in general. Everyone who takes a Cisco exam has to sign a form agreeing not to disclose anything about the form or content of the test. Cisco exams are standardized (except for the CCIE).

You have 75 minutes to complete the test, which contains a mix of multiple choice and short answer questions. Once you've answered a question and moved on, you can't go back.

Before you begin, the computer will show the grading range and passing score. You won't know if you passed until the exam is over and the screen displays either "You're Done" or "Congratulations! You're Done." Your test report will be waiting at the reception desk.

I was in trouble soon after I started the exam. I knew most of the material but it was getting all mixed up in my head. I knew I had failed before I was done. According to the printed results, I scored 100 points less than the passing grade. As I left the center I started to think about how I could have better prepared myself.

First, this exam was so hard it made the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam look like a walk in the park. I should have taken another week to study. Second, I had no idea what would be emphasized on the exam.

I should have read the official course syllabus posted on Cisco's Web site. Third, I got confused. I should have found and used practice exams, as I did prior to taking the CCNA exam.

It was obvious that I needed to practice before taking the test again. A friend recommended that I speak with David Rajala of Boson Software. Rajala's company creates and sells practice tests for certification programs. A CCNP who has done everything but take the CCIE lab exam, Rajala wrote the Boson Building Scalable Cisco Networks practice exam himself. The practice exams are inexpensive ($30 each), and I can't say enough about the quality.

I downloaded the test library from www.boson.com and used the unlock codes Rajala gave me. After drilling with the practice tests for two days, I returned to retake the routing exam.

This time I felt ready. Exactly 67 minutes later, I was looking at "Congratulations!" on my screen. When I collected the test report, I had boosted my test score by more than 250 points, a much greater improvement than I expected.

Next up, I began studying for the Switching 2.0 exam using my new methodology. I reviewed the course materials for two days, hit the books for three days, and spent another two with the Boson practice exams. The next day I took the exam with confidence and passed it easily.

Take the class, review the materials, study the book, read the syllabus, take some practice exams and soon you'll have four new initials after your name.