Re: Open-Ended Questions - by Darby

More or less the way I see it:

-Rewards the people that have done thorough troubleshooting and
learning through the lab. Simply memorizing which commands fix which
scenarios isn't enough. Brain dumping your written and brute-forcing
labs also won't pay off.
-Now you only need to get 75% of the lab points to pass. .75(79) + 21 = 80

But you can only miss one. Miss more than one, and you're done. ( No
pressure ).

-nick

On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:47 AM, michael haynes <mghaynes_at_gmail.com> wrote:
> I pretty much agree with everything you laid out here. What is holding me
> back in mentally preparing for this section (or accepting its inevitability)
> is simple fear of the unknown. There are indeed so many rumours abounding
> on the 'net about what this section IS and what it IS NOT. It's really easy
> to get into the trap of taking the anecdotal evidence of several vocal
> candidates who failed this section across several forums and jump to the
> conclusion that the CORE knowledge section is exceptionally difficult or the
> proctors are out to get specific candidates.
>
> I am not willing to buying to buy into the 21 points assumption that's been
> going around lately - the implication has been that the lab configuration
> portion is easier now or covers less tasks or material. I suspect that the
> lab configuration is just as difficult overall as it was prior to the
> implementation of the CORE section and that the knowledge test is more or
> less a 2nd prerequisite to sit the exam rather than a true component of the
> exam.
>
> I admit it bugs the heck out of me that I might pony up $1400 plus expenses
> to travel to RTP and sit the exam only to fail, essentially in the first
> half hour. Fortunately, my wife is very supportive of my efforts and tells
> me to look at it more positively - at least I'll have the chance to go
> through the actual lab to familiarize myself with the types of questions
> asked, the wording, the physical space, and, most importantly of all, after
> sitting the first time I expect a lot of the awe and fear I currently hold
> for the exam process to fade away and let me concentrate on passing despite
> the best efforts of Cisco to challenge me.
>
> Michael
> On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 10:22 AM, Darby Weaver <ccie.weaver_at_gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Guys...
>>
>> The Open-Ended Questions are "General Questions" about the fundamental
>> operations about the various technologies a candidate might be expected to
>> face in the CCIE Lab.
>>
>> Simple as that.
>>
>> After much research, deliberation, qa, and making my own questions for the
>> process and yes like everyone else I bought the others and tried IPExperts'
>> version. My thought process is better to have than to "have not"...
>>
>> Some things start to occur to me.
>>
>> 1. A well-qualified candidated would be expected to know the technologies
>> of
>> the CCIE Lab and thus these short answer questions would not be considered
>> much of a bother.
>>
>> 2. I've reviewed a lot of Networkers slides.
>>
>> 3. A formerly common resource I used to refer to a lot is no longer
>> available.
>>
>> 4. The Cisco 360 Program has emerged.
>>
>> 5. A few more things I'm not telling you publicly, but hey... you wanna
>> know what I know you gotta sell your soul and promise to never sleep again
>> till you die. Your choice.
>>
>> So...
>>
>> My recommendations:
>>
>> 1. If you have access to the Networkers / Cisco Live Techtutorials - I'd
>> recommend you take a peak under the hood.
>>
>> 2. If you ever heard of a guy named Caslow - you might remember he once
>> offered a book for sale and it is filled with Core Knowledge that might be
>> expected to be "Common Knowledge" of many of the technologies that are
>> still
>> offered today. Not all but most of the ones most of us will probably need
>> to be concerned with.
>>
>> 3. Cisco offers something called Frequently Asked Questions about the "Core
>> Knowledge" of each Routing Protocol and/or technology and they are
>> amazingly
>> "FREE" and they also happen construct a nice sized little book if printed
>> out - Save a tree.
>>
>> 4. Cisco offers little Tech Notes and some of these also contain well-known
>> caveats - The kind of caveats every CCIE Candidate might be expected to
>> know
>> and to know well. Hmmm? Ya think?
>>
>> 5. Having been to the lab a few times before this and answering a million
>> questions about "Core Knowledge" in every corner of the Internet - even the
>> deepest and darkest crevices... it comes to my attention that certain
>> concepts trick the mind and play games...
>>
>> Example:
>>
>> Split-Horizon - Give an example in OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, and RIP.
>>
>> Now take this example and amplify it.
>>
>> Give a practical example of each and explain why.
>>
>> Now go back and read the question again... Many will fail this series and
>> lineup of questions.
>>
>> Why? Because they have not considered all of the issues with each protocol
>> and perhaps may think that one or none of them is applicable to the
>> question. Common Knowledge - Common Mistake by the "Less than Expert".
>>
>>
>> No suppose I asked you about the basic underpinnings of each protocol
>> commonly seen on the CCIE Lab... We all know them... those of us who
>> studied. Gunmen may or may not be expected to be able even guess at them.
>>
>> Read that again...
>>
>> Nope, I don't think you got it.... Try again.
>>
>> Ok - Now go and do your homework.
>>
>> That's what this is going to come down to.
>>
>> How many CCIE's feel comfortable explaining the "Technology" to a peer, a
>> junior tech, a boardroom, or even their spouse?
>>
>> Yep - you got it... and that is why even a question about Split-Horizon,
>> Mutlicast, or IPv6... and the basic operation of each technology is scaring
>> the hell out of the majority of everyone.
>>
>> Now - Candidates will say it is unfair if they fail and easy if they pass.
>>
>>
>> Hah!
>>
>> Perception is in the eye of the beholder.
>>
>> Hindsight is 20/20.
>>
>> I hear a lot of people say... I found 1 of the 4 or 5 in a CCNA book
>> somehwere and I knew 1 or 2 of the others... and I don't know how they
>> expected me to know the last one...
>>
>> Or... I interpretted the question wrongly.
>>
>>
>> Yep - If you are like me and the Internet is your playground then you may
>> well have heard (I daresay) every story on the net by now.
>>
>>
>> The biggest rumor I like is that the questions are valued at explicitly "21
>> points".
>>
>> And the test is now only 79 points.
>>
>>
>> Hmmm...
>>
>> Ok - I heard something to that effect from an authority.
>>
>> Sorry, I don't buy it.
>>
>> I like the other story better:
>>
>> 4-5 questions and then go take the lab.
>>
>> Score Report said... Passed.
>>
>> Score Report said either 0, 75, or 100% for the live questions.
>>
>> And x percent for the rest of the questions...
>>
>>
>> Hey - You can drink whatever coolaid you need in the morning and before you
>> go to bed.
>>
>> Effectively if you fail the questions - they might as well be 21 points.
>> Agreed.
>>
>> However, if you do well on that section... I think you still better plan on
>> chalking up your 80 points.
>>
>> I won't know with my own eyes till I get back in the ring with the beast.
>>
>> All things in due time.
>>
>>
>> Go back and rre-read this and if you can read between the lines - and are
>> strong in the ways of the wind.... what I've written is as clear as glass
>> if
>> not it is going to sound like I'm behind a steel wall.
>>
>> Hint: If you still don't know what I mean... You'd better stand up and
>> scream, cause there's things going on that you don't know.
>>
>>
>> Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
>>
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Received on Thu Apr 23 2009 - 21:02:58 ART