From: John Howell \(DHL US\) (John.Howell@dhl.com)
Date: Thu Jan 12 2006 - 20:01:30 GMT-3
Congratulations Anthony!
I have done eight Checkit labs, a Mock lab from Network Learning, and
the CCIE Assessor lab.
I have to agree that the Checkit labs are the best I have found. There
reports are thorough and most importantly, objective. I didn't get the
same value out of "ad hoc" graded mock labs. The CCIE Assessor lab was
interesting, but they only have one and the four hour length didn't have
the same endurance factor as the eight hour mock labs. I should also
mention that India at NMC was very interested in doing whatever NMC
could to help me prepare.
I was encouraged to hear your feedback on the NMC Checkit Labs. My
highest score was a 76... now I am not quite so down.
Best Regards,
John Howell
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Jonathan Stevens
Sent: Thursday, January 12, 2006 2:13 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: Re: How I Passed the CCIE Lab Exam
Congratulations!
It was interesting to hear your view of the Netmaster CheckIts. My lab's
two weeks tomorrow, and I have just done my second CheckIt. I have three
more before the lab, and as many DoIt's as I can fit in... It's
reassuring you feel they are difficult enough to prepare you for the lab
(Thanks!)
Just gotta get me faster!!!!
Hooman Parta wrote:
>Thanks Anthony for sharing. It is great and congratulation for your
>achievement.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
>Anthony Sequeira
>Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 10:49 AM
>To: Cisco certification
>Subject: How I Passed the CCIE Lab Exam
>
>I began seriously studying for the CCIE-R/S in the summer of 2004. I
had
>completed my CCNP a year earlier and was starting to pile up more and
more
>hands-on router time, so I figured I had to be close. Boy was I wrong.
>
>I had two "old school", two-day format CCIEs tell me what to expect on
the
>lab and give me a rough outline of how to attack it. My company then
>volunteered to pay for my first and last attempt at the lab.
>Armed with this I took my first attempt in January of 2005.
>
>FIRST ATTEMPT
>This was the most disastrous attempt of them all. Rather inexplicably,
I
>become so nervous the night before that I sleep for 2 hours total. I do
not
>function well on little sleep, and this proves to magnify my lack of
>preparedness dramatically. The proctor calls time while I am in the BGP
>section! I do not attempt about 35 points of the lab.
>Swell!
>
>FINDING INTERNETWORK EXPERT
>I quickly realize that I need a lot of help to actually have a chance
to
>pass such a test. Thanks to Group Study I quickly find Internetwork
>Expert. I examine their free workbook lab sample and I am stunned at
the
>excellent representation of the lab that it presents. I immediately
purchase
>the Volume 1 workbook and begin renting rack time from them and my
>favorite rack rental vendor racktimerentals.com.
>
>SECOND ATTEMPT
>In June of 2005 I feel ready for another go at it. I had worked on my
>approach to the lab a bit using the various checklists that float
around
>on Group Study and I had really increased my hours of hands-on thanks
to
>the workbook and hours of rental racks.
>
>During this attempt I meet Tim from Group Study at RTP. We have kept
in
>touch ever since, and I begin to realize the importance of becoming
more
>involved with Group Study and extending study relationships as much as
>possible beyond the group.
>
>I complete the last task of the lab as the proctor calls time. I feel
>convinced that I have passed. I am stunned to receive my failing mark
and
>learn that I scored poorly even on sections where I thought I did well.
>
>MORE HELP FROM INTERNETWORK EXPERT
>It is clear to me that the workbook is not enough for me as far as
>Internetwork Expert products go. I quickly purchase the COD series and
begin
>to really learn the technologies more deeply and most importantly
learn
>how to verify and troubleshoot my work more effectively.
>
>I also do a Mock Lab. I score a 63. Brian McGahan indicates I better
tread
>lightly regarding scheduling another attempt. I tell him he is crazy
and
>that his Mock Lab is just too hard.
>
>THIRD ATTEMPT
>In September of 2005 I try again, ignoring some key advice from
Internetwork
>Expert. Sure enough I score about a 65 eerily similar to my
performance
>on the Mock Lab.
>
>I realize one of my main problems on this attempt. I am SLOW
painfully
>SLOW at making configurations. I really need to work on my speed.
>
>FORTH ATTEMPT
>November 2005. I am now completely addicted to trying to pass the lab
>regardless of what others are telling me. I have tried two more Mock
Labs
>from IE I have not passed them and sure enough I fail to pass the
>actual lab once again. This time, I run out of time again! It seems
like I
>am working backwards.
>
>DROP EVERYTHING
>After the forth failure I decide that enough is enough. It is time for
me to
>drop everything else that I enjoy writing, poker, flying, playing
music,
>etc and focus 100% on passing the lab. Thanks to Group Study I meet
another
>CCIE candidate, Jerry Hulbert of Fluke Networks.
>He is right where I am in preparation it seems and is able to help me
>dramatically through lab strategy discussions and practice methods.
>
>I also become addicted to Group Study. Helping others whenever I can
and
>reaping the rewards of assistance from such greats on this list as
Scott
>Morris and Chris Lewis.
>
>CHECKiT LABS
>Because of my poorly thought through study approach, I realize that I
have
>not made the most of Internetwork Expert's materials. In not taking
their
>advice in how to use the workbooks and Mock Labs I have become fairly
good
>at completing their labs, and fairly bad at approaching the actual
exam. I
>decide to mix it up as I prep for my
>(hopefully) final attempt. I speak with India Teller at NetMasterClass
and
>end up (per her advice) completing three of the CHECKiT labs from
>NetMasterClass. These labs are absurdly difficult. I mean ABSURDLY.
>They really test my approach and abilities. I finally score in the mid
70s
>on one and I feel pretty darn ready for the real animal. Funny to think
that
>I never pass any Mock Lab from any vendor.
>
>FINAL (FIFTH) ATTEMPT
>On January 5, 2006 I pass the lab. During the entire lab session all I
can
>think of is THIS IS IT YOU ARE CRUSHING THIS. Apparently, this was
not
>far from the truth. For the first time ever I finish early go back
and
>find some errors, fix them, and feel pretty darn solid after the exam.
>
>TIPS FOR PASSING
>1. Listen to what people like the Brians and India tell you to do.
>They know. Trust me. This journey would have been cheaper, less
painful, and
>more rewarding if I had trusted Brian and Brian out of the gate.
>2. Whatever vendor you pick and like me you should consider
using
>multiple vendors make sure you are getting the most from their
products.
>They can help you to do that and so can Group Study.
>3. During the lab exam, re-diagram even if there is only a slight
>chance the new diagram can help you. I tended to quickly diagram just
about
>every task.
>4. During the lab exam, use a TCL script for reachability testing
>after your IGPs are complete. Then use a TCL script again before you
finish
>the lab. Make sure you leave time for troubleshooting problems you may
>discover after the second TCL test.
>5. Master use of the DOC-CD.
>6. As Internetwork Expert taught me verify everything that you
can
>before you move on.
>7. As NetMasterClass taught me know to spot the issues. Is the
task
>really as simple as it sounds or are there hidden pitfalls?
>8. Try the different proctors at your facility with your questions.
>Some seem more helpful than others.
>9. Stay positive and relaxed through the entire process. I had to
turn
>to the writings of Dr. Wayne W. Dyer for help in this area.
>
>I will maintain my Group Study subscription and I will be one of those
that
>is here to help you whenever I can. I hope to chat with you soon.
>
>Anthony Sequeira
>CCIE #15626
>
>_______________________________________________________________________
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>
>_______________________________________________________________________
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