What Makes You Lose Sleep Before the Exam?

Exam day is approaching, and you're getting your last few study periods in before taking the test. The pressure builds - ok, it's not like passing the bar, or your last shot at passing your PhD orals, or taking the CPA exam for the 5^th time - but it's still pressure. So, what's keeping you up at night? What one topic is giving you the most trouble? What's just not making sense in spite of what you read or study? Or what topic did you finally have to give up on for now, hoping you don't see too much on that topic on your exam?

That's not rhetorical, by the way, and I do have an ulterior motive. I've spent big chunks of the last 6 months of blogging on two long series - one on CCNA lab gear, and one on CCNP lab gear. I've decided on about a dozen blog topics, plus I'll have a few guest bloggers this summer. Unfortunately, I can't find my survey regarding what CCNA topics you folks would most like to hear about. The CCNP survey's still on this blog post, so feel free to weigh in on that survey.

So, first, let me share a few thoughts that might help regarding the worries and concerns before approaching any Cisco exam at the Associate and Professional level. (CCIE's a different beast in more ways than just the depth/breadth of topics.)

Major on the majors. In your final7  days of prep, repeating study and practice on the top 6-10 topics on the exam is one good strategy. They can't test you on every topic is 50-ish exam questions.

Rest is underrated. Whatever you do that helps you relax and get a good night's sleep, do it for the night before the exam. "Rest is a weapon" goes the old spy saying- I don't know if that's an original quote; I first read it in a Ludlum book back in the 80's. Rest is better than another 2 hours of study.

Talk to yourself. One of the joys of teaching is that it forces you to re-explain something you think you understand. Most instructors will tell you that they've been standing in front of a classroom, mid-sentence, and realize that they were wrong about some point, or just realized some finer meaning or reason for something they're talking about. As you approach exam day, while you're driving, exercising, whatever, talk through some of the exam topics. Turn off your Ipod and radio, and tell yourself what you know. If you can do this the last week before an exam, you'll quickly discover what you're having trouble with, build a short list of questions that you need to answer before the exam. That way, you're not having to do a general review of all topics.

Plan your exam day strategy before you go to the exam. Do you have a plan for how you're going to tell if you're doing well on time, or not? Do you know how long you'll devote to Sim questions before moving on? (Sims have partial credit - do all you can, by the way.) What, if anything, are you going to write on your note sheet as soon as you can in the exam? Are you going to drink a 64 ounce coke before signing in to take the exam? Whatever your personal preference for such things, figure it out before you're walking in the door.

Now it's your turn. If you have any other last-week suggestions of what you do that removes the pressure, helps you worry less, and helps you get some rest the day before the exam, please post. Also, while you're here, answer the survey below, which asks which CCNA topics you'd most like me to post about when I take a few days to post a sample exam-like question for technical discussion. I may even post a lab exercise or two on these topics, and put a pod up to let a few more of you try. Anyway, let me know what you think!

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