#25038

G'day all,

A note to say I passed on my first attempt in Sydney Friday just gone.

I Started down this path late last year, passed the Written exam in January
and probably put in a solid 25 hours a week of study over the 7 month period
between January to the lab date July 31. I actually booked the lab date in
February so I had a deadline to make which is something I highly recommend
as it kept me motivated.

For preparation I used IEWB1 and IEWB2, Doyle Volume 1 and 2, BCMSN and ONT
certification guides. I also attended Narbik's bootcamp 3 months before my
lab date which was incredibly helpful. After the bootcamp I followed
Narbik's advice and went through his books a few times and related every lab
to where it lives in the documentation and on weekends I did IEWB2v5 labs.

It's been particularly challenging with the introduction of OEQ and the
impending changes to the lab both announced during the time since I started.
The blueprint changes put a lot of pressure on me to pass first go, because
I knew by June that all the lab dates after July 31st would be taken and the
whole process would have been extended by 5 months at least.

I think what the OEQ has done is made some of the more conventional wisdom
redundant. Especially where you read people saying you can't cram in the
couple of days before you take the lab. I know for sure reading through
Cisco press books and the DocCD in the 3 days leading up to the lab date
gave me the answers to two of my questions. If I hadn't have done this I may
have still answered them but certainly not as decisively as I did. I went
into the configuration section of my lab with no doubt whatsoever about OEQ
and I attribute that to the time I spent cramming.

Lastly I need to thank God, my wife (who missed me!), my mates (who I
haven't had time for at all in the past 6 months!), Tom (who I studied with
and who listened to my rants through the emotional rollercoaster preparation
for this exam causes), Narbik, IE and all the other vendors and punters who
generously take the time to help people in this list.

Cheers and see you all again in 6-12 months for SP!

Evan

Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
Received on Wed Aug 05 2009 - 13:29:04 ART