Well I have just got back from the test centre from what was a pretty intense test from Cisco.
To skip right to the end…………I failed my first attempt of the CCIE Written exam (400-101).
I won’t post my exact results but it wasn’t too far off the pass mark.
To say I am not disappointed would be lying. I am quite disappointed and a little disheartened – I think its hard not to be when you put in so much time and effort to studying – However I am not going to let it beat me or let it get me down too much. There is always an upside – I now know what I need to improve on and can focus some efforts on more revision in these areas.
In hindsight (they say its a wonderful thing), there are a few things I have picked up along the way:
- The CCIE Official Certification Guide didn’t seem to cover everything you need to know in the detail you should really know it. I ma not sure if this is just me but will be going over sections of the books again as well as expanding the written material I am reading and delve a bit deeper
- Don’t just study for the Lab exam – Those other topics in the Blueprint for the written exam – These are just as important and need studying thoroughly as well
- Use the free Exam tests you get with the CCIE Official Certification Guide. This is a valuable resource. It will help identify the areas you are weak in or need to work on a bit more. Don’t just learn the answers to the questions because they will be different in the exam – Learn the technology!!!
- Take a short break off of studying before the exam. If you haven’t learned the technology by now then then next few hours wont make a difference and you will work yourself up even more.
- In the exam watch your time! – Timing is important and think it caught me out a bit.
- One last thing – get plenty of sleep. I find retaining information quite difficult if I am tired, and quite a few times I have been studying while tired and find a few days later I have forgot some of the information.
So based on the above my next plan of attack for the CCIE Written – Take Two is going to be the following:
I am going to give myself a break this weekend (given that its Friday) and spend some time with my family. No studying. Nada. Chill out and relax.
Monday I am going to get back into full switch……..I mean swing, draw up a plan of areas that I am weak on and revise/practice these areas as well as keeping on top of topics I already know. Going to read through some of the other Cisco Press books I have and practice more on the Pearson VUE practice exams that came with the Cisco Official Certification Guide.
I am going to try and have another attempt next month – hopefully with a better result – obviously will have to wait the standard re-take policy time first (which is 15 days) and then get another test booked in for June.
Disclaimer: I do not have any material relating to the Cisco CCIE 400-101 exam questions, nor will I provide any. Doing so would break the Cisco NDA you have to sign before going into the exam.