Cisco CCNA Certification Exam

This article will give advice on taking the Cisco CCNA Test which will hopefully give you the confidence to successfully pass.

In your preparation for the CCNA test have in mind that passing the exam is but the beginning of the journey. The CCNA certification curriculum will give you a sure foundation to build for other higher Cisco certificates. Do not have the mindset of fear but say to yourself "I can pass this exam". Tell yourself that you will conquer the exam. You will serve yourself well and follow Cisco's advice by taking the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) v1.0 and the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2) v1.0 courses. Use your favorite search engine and type in the ICND course. For example, if you live in Belgium type "ICND2 courses in Belgium". Cisco also has resources for searching courses. Type in LPCM in your search engine. Some courses also attract a 250-dollar Amazon.com Gift certificate for free.

Not everybody prepare for exams in the same way because there is a sense of uniqueness about us. How boring and dull would it be if we were all the same? Even robots can be created with a sense of uniqueness and difference through artificial intelligence. The point is, for a person to achieve the end goal is not always followed in the same fashion. Vendor specific qualifications like the ccna however, has set topics which need to be studied in order to pass the CCNA test. How you go about studying them is entirely up to you but make sure you do concentrate on them. These are the general guideline topics which Cisco recommends:

Describe how a network works Configure, verify and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications Implement an IP addressing scheme and IP Services to meet network requirements in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network. Configure, verify, and troubleshoot basic router operation and routing on Cisco devices Explain and select the appropriate administrative tasks required for a WLAN Identify security threats to a network and describe general methods to mitigate those threats Implement, verify, and troubleshoot NAT and ACLs in a medium-size Enterprise branch office network. Implement and verify WAN links

Each of the above topics carry sub-topics and these are what needs to be digested. A useful way to master these sub-topics before you take the CCNA Exam is to write down in your own words on an A4 piece of paper the requirement. For example, Configure, verify and troubleshoot a switch with VLANs and interswitch communications and sub-topic - Explain network segmentation and basic traffic management concepts - you would do what is says on an A4 paper. This exercise would reinforce your knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. This will also enable you to pass the CCNA exam with flying colors.

After taking the CCNA test you will find that a pass is a pass and a fail is a fail but with percentage. There is no option to go back on a question once you click 'Next. You cannot go back to previous questions you have to move forward. You will do more damage to yourself if you do not answer a question and move on than if you were to answer the wrong question. So it pays to answer every question since the total score is accumulative. As Captain Kirk said to Mr. Spock in Star Trek, take your best guess. Mr. Spock does not make guesses but if he had to this would be more accurate than most people's best knowledge statement.

Ah! For us then, study hard so you don't have to guess.

There are a number of aides to help you in your journey to pass the CCNA Test. First there is the mention of Ciscopress documentation. Ciscopress are generally well written by Cisco Certified Internetworking Experts (CCIE). Just to note, CCIE's gave up their social life to achieve their highly recognized status and is the best example of study, study, study and more study. These people are the 'cream of the crop' in networking but more on that in another article. As well as Ciscopress books there are also other reputable publishers that have contributed immensely to Cisco CCNA curriculum. Here follows are a listing of books as recommended by Cisco and then non Ciscopress literature.

There are two CCNA paths at present:

CCNA 640-801 and CCNA 640-802 where the former exam track expires in November 2007. You can read further information on the two exams in CCNA Certifications article at the website below.

• CCNA 640-801:
• CCNA 640-801 Titles
• Learn: CCNA Portable Command Guide
• Learn: CCNA Self-Study: Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices (ICND)
• Learn: CCNA Self-Study: Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (INTRO)
• Learn: CCNA Preparation Library
• Experience: CCNA Video Mentor
• Experience: Cisco CCNA Network Simulator
• Prepare: CCNA ICND Exam Certification Guide
• Prepare: CCNA INTRO Exam Certification Guide
• Prepare: CCNA Official Exam Certification Library, Second Edition
• Practice: CCNA Flash Cards and Exam Practice Pack
• CCNA 640-802:
• CCNA 640-802/CCENT 640-822 Titles
• Learn: CCNA Portable Command Guide, Second Edition
• Experience: CCNA Video Mentor
• Prepare: CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide, Second Edition
• Gain early access to the contents of this book with the Rough Cut edition on Safari.
• Prepare: CCNA ICND2 Exam Certification Guide, Second Edition
• Gain early access to the contents of this book with the Rough Cut edition on Safari.
• Prepare: CCNA Official Exam Certification Library, Third Edition
• Practice: CCNA Flash Cards and Exam Practice Pack, Third Edition
• Practice: CCNA Quick Reference Sheets: Exam 640-802
• Practice: CCENT Quick Reference Sheets: Exam 640-822

The CCNA 640-802 has just become available in 2007 so there is limited content. As the course develops this document will be updated to include the latest literature so please bookmark this page

So you are ready to take the CCNA test. Go with full confidence knowing that you have studied hard and pass that exam. The fee for appearing in the CCNA examination is about $125-$150 per sitting. In the UK the price for taking the exam is approx £90 per sitting. Good success.

I"m a freelance writer and blogger and would like to share my thought on popular platforms to improve my skill and to make new connections.