Re: OT: Anyone pass V4 lab exam?

As someone who has not taken the lab exam yet I can't honestly say what it
takes to pass this exam, but these are my thoughts based on other people's
comments.

It is not going to require 7-10 years experience to pass the lab exam. Other
than a few people who are unlucky enough to work in a large environment that
is a hodge-podge of routing protocols and bad practices over the years, very
few engineers and consultants work on networks that are anything like the
lab exam. It takes focused study, consistent effort and good habits. This
isn't your driver's license exam, you can't cram for 1 day before the exam,
walk in and take it expecting to pass.

As Scott has said, this lab makes you think differently. Troubleshooting is
an art. You can learn troubleshooting skills, but the truth of the matter
is, some people are great at troubleshooting and others are just plain
horrible. Why? Because the skills used for configuring something and fixing
what is broken are different. I have seen this in other technical fields.
Some people just don't get that you have to build from the ground up. Some
people misread things and so they miss out on a small detail that is
important. I myself do this quite often. I fixed this by putting my finger
on the screen when I read a question. It forces me to read EVERY word I
touch. I touch the routers on the screen. I touch it all. It makes me slow
down and pay attention to detail.

Open Ended Questions - this is something that people are worried about as
well. I'm preparing for these by reading a little bit each night. So far my
feeling has been that if I have read the appropriate documentation or book,
I do well when answering these questions. I'm using INE's OEQ simulator to
make myself more comfortable with these. It has helped me realize I am able
to recall a lot more information than I thought I could. As far as the OEQs
are concerned, you either know the material or you don't. If you are
preparing for the lab, this is stuff you should know. I haven't really seen
anything that is outside of what my realm of knowledge should include.

People have complained about the configuration section and the lack of time
and not being able to look up stuff in documentation during the exam and the
new interface and this and that. Blah... A lot of the pass reports I have
read on the list from people who took v3 more than once: they completed the
exam in less than 6 hours AND looked stuff up in documentation. SO, it can
be done with success. You also have an idea of what the new user interface
is. Simulate it as much as you can. Clutter your screen and use hyperterm to
cripple yourself. I take it is a windows based work station in the lab since
it using SecureCRT. Learn to use Alt+Tab to shuffle between windows. If you
have to touch the mouse, you are going to slow yourself down and lose those
precious seconds you are worried about.

My final thoughts, put on your big boy (or girl) pants and start studying.
Cisco has made it clear who they are looking for.
Justin

P.S. my lab date is January 12, 2010 in case you're wondering. And yes I
feel good about it.

On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 8:21 PM, Scott Morris <smorris_at_ine.com> wrote:

> It's purely thought process. Lots of people have been told, but nobody
> is listening enough. :)
>
> This new lab "thinks" differently than the old lab does. So when
> everyone studies in the same way they always have, it doesn't help.
>
> One of these days someone will get through it. Nothing to worry about.
> It's merely time.
>
>
>
>
> *Scott Morris*, CCIE/x4/ (R&S/ISP-Dial/Security/Service Provider) #4713,
>
> JNCIE-M #153, JNCIS-ER, CISSP, et al.
>
> JNCI-M, JNCI-ER
>
> evil_at_ine.com
>
>
> Internetwork Expert, Inc.
>
> http://www.InternetworkExpert.com <http://www.internetworkexpert.com/>
>
> Toll Free: 877-224-8987
>
> Outside US: 775-826-4344
>
>
> Knowledge is power.
>
> Power corrupts.
>
> Study hard and be Eeeeviiiil......
>
>
>
>
>
> Jose Padilla wrote:
> > Kermit-Why is it taking long to pass? Where are people failing? Core
> > knowledge? TS? Configuration? I need more information to better prepare
> my
> > studies.
> >
> >
> >
> > _____
> >
> > From: Radioactive Frog [mailto:pbhatkoti_at_gmail.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 2:45 PM
> > To: Jose Padilla
> > Cc: ccielab_at_groupstudy.com
> > Subject: Re: OT: Anyone pass V4 lab exam?
> >
> >
> >
> > here we go gain.... world war 2 started all over again!
> >
> > Jose, there is already a thread and so far nobody has claimed that he has
> > passed v4 exam.
> > It will take a while till you see any pass.....
> >
> > One thing I can say, the pass you'll see now will be a person with 7 or
> 10
> > yrs + experience and not just the academic/dynamapper!
> >
> > Kermit
> >
> > On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 9:29 AM, Jose Padilla <jpadilla141_at_gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > I have heard nothing. Not see anyone pass recently.
> >
> >
> > Blogs and organic groups at http://www.ccie.net
> >
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Received on Fri Dec 11 2009 - 10:09:31 ART