From: Antonio Soares (amsoares@netcabo.pt)
Date: Mon Nov 26 2007 - 16:21:18 ART
Congratulations !!! Now it's time to spend more time with your family.
Regards,
Antonio Soares
CCIE #18473 (R&S),CCNP,CCIP,JNCIA-ER
http://pwp.netcabo.pt/amsoares/
-----Original Message-----
From: nobody@groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody@groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
Stephen Lee
Sent: segunda-feira, 26 de Novembro de 2007 14:27
To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
Subject: #19413
Well, after 8 months and 4 attempts I finally passed on 11/21. I found out
Thanksgiving morning and it was the best Thanksgiving I ever had. I passed
the written in January and spent the next couple months putting together a
home lab. I really started studying in April and took my first attempt in
mid May. I came really close to passing with about 75 points. I thought
sweet I will nail it on my second attempt, well not so much. I took it again
in June and failed miserable not even 50%. So I really buckled down and got
after it and took it again in August. Well I got about the same score as my
second attempt. So I really started doubting it and took a few weeks off to
regroup. So after the summer was over I got back after it and had an October
date scheduled, but my wife broke her leg and I had to take care of her and
the kids for a few weeks until she got back on her feet. So I rescheduled
for Nov. I was thinking if I don't get it this time I am going to have to
take a break. All the studying was really starting to affect my family life
as Daddy was locked in the office every evening and all weekend.
What got me the entire time was question interpretation. I felt like I knew
the material the entire time and had a good base of knowledge. My problem I
think was question interpretation. On my 4th attempt it was like I could see
through the vague wording and finally understood what they wanted. I only
asked the proctor 2 questions as I found it pretty clear.
To all those that are struggling with this I hear ya. But just know if you
stick with it you can pass.
What I used to pass:
- 10 years experience designing and implementing Cisco networks for various
Fortune 100 companies.
- Internetwork Expert V4.0 workbook and the Advanced Technologies VOD and
the 5 day bootcamp VOD. These are really great products and I learned
immensely from them. I would highly recommend their material for learning
the technologies.
- NMC CheckIt labs. I think these are most closely aligned with what the
real lab is like. The wording and vaguearies are very close to how Cisco
does it. It would recommend this to people who are close to their date and
want a good lesson on question interpretation.
- The Cisco Press CCIE R&S book. Good for the written and has some good
tables for reference.
- I built my own home lab made to the IEWB V4.0 format. I decided I wanted
my own lab that I could use anytime I had time to study and didn't want to
deal with rack rentals or dealing with all the Dynamips issues.
- Finally but definitely not least was my wife. She supported me through the
tough times and entertained two kids every evening and every weekend for
about 8 months straight. I could not have done it without her.
Steve
#19413
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Dec 01 2007 - 06:37:31 ART