From: Diment, Andrew (Andrew.Diment@qwest.com)
Date: Mon Mar 19 2007 - 18:58:28 ART
I didn't finish by noon, but I was done at 1:30. I went over everything
twice, rebooted the equipment several times and forced myself to leave
at 2:30. How did I do it?? Luck. On my 5th attempt after 3 years I
passed. My theory is a person probably knows 70% of the material hands
down. If you're lucky enough to get a test that just so happens to
cover that 70% you are done early. And yes it does help when things
work right away. :)
At lunch I thought I was way behind. I was surprised when not too long
after lunch I turned the page and realized it was the last one. So
don't be too critical on how far you are at what time. It is very
frustrating, believe me I know. One thing I will tell you is that most
of the time you are your own worst enemy. Don't get frustrated and
panic, take a deep breath and think things through. My 5th and last
time was also the most relaxed I was during all my attempts. Hang in
there.
Andy #10685
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
briapolo@wm.com
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 3:31 PM
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: On the behalf of mere mortals like myself...
Like many who have posted on GS, I came up short on my 1st attempt
Friday at RTP. Things looked promising at the beginning though. After
one hour into the lab, I had read twice through the lab, spotchecked the
issues, drawn all diagrams I would need and came to a startling
realization there was hardly anything unfamiliar blocking my path to the
magic number. Trying to contain my excitement, I began to score points.
Shortly after, I ran into a major issue, definitely not one of those
"duct-tape and move on". I had to resolve it to have a chance at
passing. I will spare you the painful details, but I wasted 1.5 hours
to finally get this working properly. This was devastating and by now I
found my excitement being rapidly erased by a feeling once experiences
when running late for an important appointment - realizing it is
mathematically impossible to make it there on time. To make the long
story short, I punched and kicked quite well in round 2 and 3, but the
heavy hemo!
rrhaging I sustained in round 1 left me incapable to secure enough
points in the remaining time to win the fight. So sad...
Groupstudy archives contain encouraging replies of those who failed at
one time yet pressed on to claim the prize - I do not seek those at this
time, though I do appreciate the kind intent as well as time spent. This
time, I would like to solicit advice from the alien species living among
us who manage to mysteriously finish up the lab before lunch or so (we
know who some of you are and that your stories are true, not legends or
myths). How Does a Mere Mortal Get to Be Even Just a Little Bit Like
You? I know what it will take for me and scores of others to get the
number - SPEED (not the mind-altering substance). I have read a
considerable amount of the nebulous "to get faster you need to get
better" posts (i do not mean to offend anyone). What are some of the
techniques do you, superior forms of life, use to get there?
I have studied for about 10 months, am armed to teeth with worn-out
Cisco Books, DOC CD (which I navigate faster than the corporate
network), two workbooks (pretty sure do not need more), approximately
600 hours of personal lab time, attended a bootcamp, completed numerous
vendor labs, set up even more of my own scenarios to gain understanding
and speed. My biggest issue - most of the time, after carefully
dissecting a particular technology, getting it to work, making notes,
after 2 -3 weeks (when I have moved on to other problems) I find myself
rusty with the technology I felt so comfortable 2 -3 week earlier. I am
too painfully familiar with this scenario from my own studies - to
forget is human. At the same time, someone finishes the lab by lunch...
Can those who have passed share what got your faster (or better,
whatever you want to call it) and put your over the top? Specific
examples/strategies would be wonderful. I really think there are many
(including myself) studying for the lab who cannot quite work out how to
be faster at OSPF or how to be faster at Layer 2. How does one jump from
doing the lab in 8 hours to finishing in 4 - that is a significant leap
that seems indeed superhuman to those of us unable to defeat the exam.
How can a mere mortal jump from being able to configure networks to
making them appear in front of your eyes in a matter of minutes/seconds
(that is with verification)? My post is not that of desperation
(possibly more of frustration of not being able to squeeze more out of
myself). Those that pass after 4 hours are doing something different
from what I am doing. For instance, there are guys at my work working on
their CCNPs. I had to pass it once and know there are longer roads and
short!
er roads (not shortcuts) to get somewhere. For the most part, I have
had to take many longer roads only to discover that there is a shorter,
less traveled road. As someone said, "the secret of walking on water is
knowing where stepping stones are." Your thoughtful comments will be
appreciated.
A less intelligent form of life,
Homo sapien, no CCIE #.
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