Re: My first LAB attempt

Hi Maarten,

In contrast to what you think you did not fail this time. You just got one
step closer to your final target. You've seen one set of questions and now
you know what they expect you to perform.

Need a golden piece of advice? "spend at least 80% of your time on the PSA
website (cisco.com); read through every single configuration, command
references and features guide page." .

Any time issues? take a couple of mock labs and try to get things done using
only 80% of your available time.

BTW, does this experience mean you're now a TS guru?

Not at all. It simply means you got the right questions at the right time!
The next time you may get much tougher stuff - so be super careful. Keep
working on this as well.

Just do follow these simple steps and tell me your number in October mate.

Cheers,

Kambiz Agahian

CCIE Instructor/Consultant
CCIE# 25341, CCSI# 33326, MCSE, MCSA

On Tue, Jul 13, 2010 at 11:39 PM, Maarten Vervoorn <mr.vervoorn_at_gmail.com>wrote:

> 30 june, my first lab attempt.
>
> The day before 29 june. Tried to relax, have a nice diner and went to bed
> early.
>
> Next morning 30 june I woke up early I needed to drive 1 hour to Brussels.
> I
> took 2:15 hours for it. I arrived at 7:30 and talked to some other
> candidated who arrived early, one whas from kenia he did wireless, and one
> from norway. I didn't spoke to the other ones.
>
> About 8:10 the proctor arived and brought us to the exam room. He explained
> the rules and gave us our rack numbers. I put all my things in the lockers
> and sit down on my chair. I look arround to make my self as comfortable as
> I
> could. Nice big screen. I had a bit worn keyboard. I think there were 7
> candidates in total, most of them did R&S. After everybody sit down the
> proctor explained the last exam rules and made everything very clear, Than
> we could start.
>
> Troubleshooting section:
> I started off with the troubleshooting section the questions were very
> clear
> and good to understand. When I got at question 2 I couldn't solve this
> instantly I spended much time on this and kind of paniced out here. I went
> to the next questions. I whatched the time and noticed I didn't got very
> much time left I rushed a bit and started to worry about failing in
> troubleshooting. I knew I had one question wrong. Then the time ended. Wtih
> worries in my head I started at the configutation section
>
> First question paniced me out I couldn't solve instantly what they were
> asking. I spended to much time thinking what was wrong here. After 20
> minutes (way too long) I continued. I knew those things I configured,
> configured and configured at some point I looked at the time I had and then
> how may questions I needed to do. I kind of scared out of the many tasks I
> still had to do. So I stept a way from my stratagy (very wrong to do) I
> went
> on question by question just to finish the exam. I didn't verify well
> enough
> and didn't reboot my routers. I finished every questions but didn't verify
> it well enough and hadn't time to read it over again.
>
> The proctor tells us to finish the exam and save our configurations.
>
> I went back in my car thinking and thinking(....troubleshooting went bad,
> finshed configuration, not much time, didn't verify well enough...) I
> thought maybe, maybe I did it. When I arrived with my wife I talked it over
> and thought maybe is not well enough you need to be sure.
>
> Next day logged in to Cisco
> Troubleshooting pass
> Configuration Fail
>
> So I paniced out on troubleshooting which I passed and screwed up my
> configuration part. This first time added lots to my experience. of the
> real
> exam and what to expect.
>
> I was dissapointed about the configution result I thought I did it better
> then that. I think the lack of verification and carefully reread of the
> question is the cause of this because I knew the technologies and what I
> needed to do. Well I need to go on.
>
> What I learned for the next time.
> - Take a hotel near the Cisco building where no driving is required.
> - Stay focused and keep calm during the exam, skip TB question after 10 min
> - Just stick to my stratagy
> - Verify verify and verify
> - Read the question, read it again and once more to verify your
> configuration meets the requirements
> Planning to do the next on 7 Oktober.
> I planned 250 hours of studing in between now and the lab date. I'm still
> thinking what my study stratagy shall be. I think doing for about 13 labs
> and study on technologies which I am the least good at in the evenings.
> During the practice labs I will try a couple of different strategies and
> look which one best fits me. I especialy want to practice in reading the
> questions well enough and verify every requirement.
>
> Any new good advise for my second time are very welcome. Also some good
> advise in my study approach is welcome
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Maarten Vervoorn
> http:\\ccie.forumotion.com
>
>
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Received on Tue Jul 13 2010 - 23:55:13 ART