From: Troy Rader (troy@xxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Tue May 28 2002 - 18:07:24 GMT-3
If you are able to access CCO from the test workstation, you are not
supposed to. I had heard the same rumors, and asked my proctor when I
tested last Feb. He was clear that CCO access is not a resource for
candidates taking the exam. I think that CCO's description of what is
available as a resource, is fairly clear, since they say "doc cd, printed
doc, proctor" but they don't say "cco".
The proctor also said that anything discussed from the experience is a
violation, so the fact that I have now mentioned talking to the proctor
about this may mean I have violated NDA. He also subscribes to groupstudy,
so maybe he will chime in and clarify.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paglia, John (USPC.PCT.Hopewell)" <JPaglia@NA2.US.ML.com>
To: "'CCIE-Maillist'" <CCIE-Maillist@foxgal.com>; <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 3:21 PM
Subject: RE: CCIE# 9369
> CONGRATS ON THE PASS!!!
>
> Question for you (and for all)....People have been telling me that you are
> allowed to use the Cisco site (basically, the web on a whole) for
reference
> material, others say you can use only the Doc Disc.
>
> What are the resources available for the test??? I'm sure you can say
> without violating any agreement!
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: CCIE-Maillist [SMTP:CCIE-Maillist@foxgal.com]
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 11:44 AM
> > To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
> > Subject: CCIE# 9369
> >
> > I passed the CCIE Routing & Switching Lab Saturday, May 25, in RTP, NC,
> > making me CCIE# 9369.
> >
> > This was my third try and it has been a longer than anticipated journey.
> > Longer than expected as I thought that obtaining a CCIE would be like
> > obtaining my MCSE+I or other certifications. I was very wrong. I had
never
> > heard of the CCIE prior to May 2000 when I ran across an old friend
while
> > investigating Cisco products who worked for Cisco and was a CCIE. I
> > thought, "hmm, I should get this CCIE thing too". I was slightly
surprised
> > when he told me that it took him twice to pass and it was extremely
> > difficult. I thought that was strange considering he worked at Cisco and
> > had been working as a SE for them, and other companies, for a number of
> > years. I thought "how hard could it be?" and was again wrong in my
> > deductions.
> >
> > I had been working with 3Com LAN/WAN products for about 6 years prior to
> > obtaining my CCNA in 6/2000. I obtained my CCNP & CCDA in Jan 2001. I
> > passed the written in 4/2001 and sat for my first attempt in 8/2001 at
the
> > Sao Paolo, Brazil lab (as there was such a long wait). The first attempt
> > showed me that I didn't comprehend the magnitude or complexity of the
> > exam, at all. However, it was a good learning experience as then, with
the
> > two-day, the proctor sat down with me and went over the items that I had
> > done incorrectly during the first day. Then, I found out that the lab
> > changed to the one day version in October, 2001.
> >
> > After that, I did many practice labs and read a great deal. In Jan 2002,
I
> > made my second attempt in RTP. I left feeling quite confident that I had
> > passed. I was disappointed again to find that I had not and my
percentages
> > weren't even worth asking for a re-grading of the test. That was yet
> > another wake-up call that this exam is more difficult than any other
test
> > I had ever tried. The bar was much higher than I thought.
> >
> > Over the next 3-4 months I did more labs and studying and attempted the
> > lab last Saturday, May 25. I felt that I needed more time but there is
no
> > option for a last-minute reschedule. I went and saw Star Wars the night
> > before with my family. After sharing a bad breakfast at the Waffle House
> > with my wife, I arrived at the test site. There was myself and seven
other
> > there. From listening to the others talk, I believe everyone there was
> > "returning" except for one. The lab was brutal but fair and doable. My
> > strategy was to take my time reading the entire lab, make notes on the
> > tasks as to how I was going to do them and how many points they were
> > worth. I also drew a diagram that I used during the lab. I had to ask
> > Jeff, the proctor for more paper in the first 30 minutes. He said
> > "already, you need more paper?". Jeff was very helpful throughout the
exam
> > (thanks Jeff!). He answered what he could and was polite when he
couldn't.
> > In the last 45 minutes of the lab I had too many tasks !
> > le!
> > ft and not as much time as I had wanted. I was in a panic as had a
> > technical issue that was out of my control. The proctor told me that the
> > issue didn't affect whether I could complete the lab, to pretend I did
not
> > have this issue, and continue the test. This made me feel uneasy. Also,
I
> > didn't get to run my "fantastic ping script" as I had wanted, causing
more
> > uneasiness.
> >
> > As it was Memorial Day weekend, I had to wait Sunday and Monday without
> > any grade. Over that time my head spun with thoughts of "did I forget
> > this, or that?" and calculating the points that I probably missed and
> > would they cause me to fail... I know I drove my wife crazy with sudden
> > outbursts of "Oh my gosh, I think I forgot to configure the XYZ on the
> > fladoodle, great! Now I'm surely doomed!" I didn't get my report until
> > Tuesday morning. I was amazing to see that I had passed. Absolutely
> > amazing...
> >
> > I read all the same books and did most of the same labs that others have
> > done. I think everyone is familiar with that list. If not, it is in the
> > archives.
> >
> > First, I'd like to thank my wife and daughter for the patience and
support
> > they provided while I spent long hours and in the spare bedroom with the
> > door shut. Hopefully I can find some way to repay them for all the
things
> > they took care of for me and for all the times I had to tell them "no,
> > sorry, I can't go as I have to stay here and study". Also, I'd like to
> > thank my family for all their moral support. I'd like to thank my boss
for
> > supporting me with dollars and time to pursue this venture and my work
> > associates for taking care of things for me. Thanks to my study partner,
> > David, for his support. Finally, thanks to Paul for running this list
and
> > thanks to all the people on the list who took the time to answer my
> > questions- you are what make this list possible.
> >
> > One of the messages that I read on this list that was especially helpful
> > advice was from Gonzalo #8726 (in the archives) who said that the trick
to
> > passing is precision on the test, focusing only on the lab, enjoying the
> > test, knowing everything, making a commitment, and seeing a movie the
> > night before. Scott #9340 pointed out that the CCIE lab is a marathon,
not
> > a sprint, and should be considered as such. I tried to always keep these
> > things in mind and the advice seems to have paid off.
> >
> > Best of luck to all who are in the pursuit of the CCIE- don't give up,
it
> > can be done!
> >
> > David Davis
> > CCIE #9369
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Thu Jun 13 2002 - 10:59:11 GMT-3