CCNA written exam study plan

Certification: Cisco CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate

Cisco provides various certifications which includes CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). It is a second level certification offered by Cisco. This certification validates the skills of the professional to install, operate, configure and troubleshoot routed and switched networks that include implementation and connection verification of remote sites in a WAN.

CCNA is the most respected certification at the Associate level in the world. The professionals having a CCNA will have better prospects in their career. If the person is looking for the CCNA certificate he/she should be prepared to work hard compromise on certain issues. The Cisco provides materials and some guidelines to prepare for the CCNA certification. The student should go for the Cisco approved training that focuses on the various details of the blueprint of the CCNA certification.

Getting the Study material

To get the CCNA Certification one requires to have updated study material and books for the test. There are a lot of confusions and controversy about the books and guides most of the time. Some of the students get overboard with the books to read. The two books from the Cisco press ICND 1 and ICND2 third edition are enough to prepare for the CCNA certification. Another book that is provided by Cisco itself “31 Days Before your CCNA exam’’ helps through exam. This book is handy if you go for revision, as it has precise concept and help in remembering. The students will need a simulator with lot of questions that will help you practice as many questions as you can. There are different approaches to study for the test. If you are reading from books read carefully and sincerely. You should install the CDs that you get with the books and practice the questions in the CDs. You should not get worried if you get most of the answers wrong. You have enough time to get them right.

Schedule the Exam

As soon as you seem that you are ready to take the test, schedule it. If you schedule the test a way before you complete your preparation, you will have deadline for yourself, and you will work harder towards the exam. The scheduling of the test will allow you to have a deadline in front of you and you will not waste your time. You don’t have to master few chapters and then sit back and enjoy. You have to master all the chapters and the questions along with it. Master one chapter at a time and solve the question as many times till you get sick of the chapter and questions. This will help you retain the concepts longer. At the end you will master both the books and can solve the questions given in the CDs.

Revise both the books

This is not mandatory for you to do, but incase you go for this. This will ensure that you didn’t miss any point or chapter. You have time in your hand to practice more questions. Solve sample question papers available so that you can have your weak areas in front of you. If you know that you can work on that areas and rectify it. By knowing your weakness you can read that topics or sections from the book again before you go for the test.

Practice questions

Once you are done with the syllabus and blueprint o the CCNA exam you need to practice as many questions as you can. You have to work hard to achieve your goal. So you can’t get disheartened at this point of time or get overboard studying the same thing again and again. This is where the exam dumps come handy. The dumps are the questions based on memory by students who gave the test earlier. The exam dumps refers to the questions that are recalled by the previous exam takers and are uploaded on various sites. Some are paid while some offers it for free. The students should not rely on those dumps; they can be used for practice once you finish your preparation. The dumps vary in relevancy and accuracy; but they can be used practice test paper to measure your knowledge and level of preparation of the exam as the dumps have questions asked n the actual test.

The day before the test

The night before your test will be a big night for you. Don’t get tensioned, study but not stress yourself by keeping cram sessions, by tiring you. You need to be relaxed a night before your big day. Take a good sleep and have your food properly. Plan your work of action for tomorrow. This well help you sleep calmly. Don’t think too much about the test.

The day of Exam

Now you are at the time to decide you will be having the certification or not. Don’t panic; answer the questions slowly and carefully. Don’t push yourself too hard. Read the question twice and then answer them. Have check on the time too; don’t waste too much time on one question. If a question seems tricky to you and seems you can’t solve it, don’t let it weaken your confidence. You should give that question a fair guess and move to other question.

The day after your exam

Once you finished your exam, start evaluating yourself, by your memory. How much you did right and how many you did wrong. You pass with an amazing score or you missed it, it doesn’t matter evaluate your performance and be prepared for the result. There are chances that you cleared the test with flying colors. Don’t get worried.

Now that you know hoe to prepare and how to go fro the test; you should study well and prepare yourself to clear the exam and have the certification in your name. The certification will give you boost in your career so plan accordingly.

Related IT Guides