From: Jay Hennigan (jay@xxxxxxxx)
Date: Fri Aug 17 2001 - 16:01:48 GMT-3
On Fri, 17 Aug 2001, Michael Snyder wrote:
> Where
>
> T=test takers
> P=Pass rate
>
> Thus,
>
> going from
>
> Total/month=T*P
>
> to
>
> Total/month=2T*P
>
> I feel sorry for the first one day takers, because Cisco will try (but fail)
> to prove the new pass rate is closer to P/2. Of course the pass rate will
> creep back up as the study groups gear up for new test. Thus, over the long
> term the pass rate will probably stay the same or drop just a bit. Doesn't
> matter thought because the number of test takers has doubled.
You're assuming that T is limited solely by the availability of testing
facilities. While such may be true to some extent now, if the number of
lab pods were to be increased by a factor of 100, this does not imply that
there will be 100 times as many CCIEs simply by making this change.
Increasing the availability of testing facilities (by going to the one-day
format) is to some extent offset by a more rigorous qualification exam.
In any case, there are other factors. One may be that the pass rate drops
simply because there are more facilities. The change to a six-month wait
for low first-day scores reflects this. A certain percentage of people
will take the exam even though unqualified, just to get a feel for it or
because of external pressure from work, etc. With more facilities available
the number of first-time takers can increase to some extent. I haven't seen
a corollary to the six-month wait for <20 mentioned for the one-day lab.
If such is not put in place, then there is likely to be a reduction in pass
rate because those who are not ready will attempt the lab more frequently.
There is a fundamental difference between industry certifications in general
and academics in terms of study strategy. In a college situation, you get
one chance to take a course, and your grade is your grade. If you flunk,
you can take the course again but the F is still factored into your overall
GPA.
This is not the case with industry certifications. If you fail a test,
you can take it again and again with the only penalty being financial.
Once you pass, your certification is every bit as valid as that of someone
who passed on the first try.
This is why, IMHO, if the number of testing facilities available is
increased the pass rate is likely to drop, barring increased waiting
penalties for poor scores. People will (continue to) use the exam itself
as a form of study aid, and as such the first few attempts will be a form
of practice.
The typical cost of a "bootcamp" style course is about five times the
cost of the lab, give or take. If the backlog of test slots goes away,
is it more sensible for a candidate to pay for a bootcamp or try the
lab five times? And how will this affect the pass rate?
> Hence more CCIE's and lower salaries than had they stayed with the two day
> format.
To some extent the salaries of CCIEs have been inflated by Cisco's Gold
and Silver partner requirements. Assuming that the CCIE remains the same
level of difficulty, then what it measures is the same in terms of knowledge
and skills. Salary is driven to some extent by external factors such as the
artificial demand due to partner staffing requirements.
> Don't know about you but the "a lower salary over my lifetime" issue, is
> important to me.
It is to all of us. There are other factors to one's value to an employer
than the letters after one's name, with the exception noted for Cisco
Partners who need to reach certain goals in terms of numbers. This should
in my opinion be regarded as a temporary anomaly by the CCIE candidate and
not something on which to base lifestyle and/or career choices. Forgetting
all of the arguments regarding testing availability, one-day vs. two-day
labs, etc, consider the impact of Cisco's sales and marketing group making
the decision to base Partner discounts solely on volume regardless of CCIE
staffing. This would be "out of left field" from the standpoint of the
CCIE program and unrelated to anything having to do with the length of the
exam or the number of testing facilities. What impact do you think this
would have on CCIE salaries, and is there anything you could do about it?
-- Jay Hennigan - CCIE #7880 - Network Administration - jay@west.net NetLojix Communications, Inc. - http://www.netlojix.com/ WestNet: Connecting you to the planet. 805 884-6323 **Please read:http://www.groupstudy.com/list/posting.html
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