Re: My first LAB attempt

Maarten:
You are not alone in your experience. A lot of folks run into the same
thing.
When you are studying, how are you keeping track of time and points? What is
your "set" approach to doing a lab? - do you read the whole lab up front, do
you make any of your own diagrams, etc?
You definitely want to be using the "practice like you fight" mentality so
you do the same things in the real lab that you do during study.

If you want to email me offline I'd be glad to discuss with you further.

Thanks
Larry Hadrava
CCIE #12203
Check Out My Blog http://ccie12203.wordpress.com

> From: Maarten Vervoorn <mr.vervoorn_at_gmail.com>
> Reply-To: Maarten Vervoorn <mr.vervoorn_at_gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:15:22 +0200
> To: Brad Ellis <brad_at_ccbootcamp.com>
> Cc: Cisco certification <ccielab_at_groupstudy.com>
> Subject: Re: My first LAB attempt
>
> Hi Brad,
>
> I follow the complete 360 program and completed all assesment lab, followed
> the two workshops.
> The stupid thing is that there wasn't a technology I did not know. it was
> just my time management and stress from the troubleshooting section. Next
> time I know what to do and to expect. I will work on my time management and
> some topics I wasn't very good at.
>
> I will take all your advices and prepare for my next attempt the best I can.
> I know I can do this. When I look back at the exam I know I could have
> (maybe) passed it. If I just be calm and take it step by step, follow my
> stratagy
>
> Thanks
>
> Maarten
>
> 2010/7/14 Brad Ellis <brad_at_ccbootcamp.com>
>
>> Maarten,
>>
>> Hi! Sorry to hear you didnt make it. You mentioned "panicking" several
>> times below. That's probably one of the worst things you can do during a
>> lab exam (or any exam for that matter). If you panic, it will through
>> you off your game, you won't think straight, and you'll make extra
>> mistakes. If you calmly try to think through the problem and solution, I
>> think you'll find much better results. The key to not panicking or
>> stressing about a situation is proper preparation and knowing what to
>> expect. Since this was your first lab attempt, there's typically a
>> little learning curve involved when it comes to the unknown of the lab
>> exam...think of it this way, at least you know what to expect next time
>> - this should help calm your nerves. Good luck in your continued
>> preparation. You should check and see if there is a Cisco 360 provider
>> in your region and take a few practice graded labs. :)
>>
>>
>> thanks,
>> Brad Ellis
>> CCIE#5796 (R&S / Security)
>> CCSI# 30482
>> CEO / President
>> CCBOOTCAMP - Cisco Learning Solutions Partner (CLSP)
>> Email: brad_at_ccbootcamp.com
>> Toll Free: 877-654-2243
>> International: +1-702-968-5100
>> Skype: skype:ccbootcamp?call
>> FAX: +1-702-446-8012
>> YES! We take Cisco Learning Credits!
>> Training And Remote Racks: http://www.ccbootcamp.com
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nobody_at_groupstudy.com [mailto:nobody_at_groupstudy.com] On Behalf Of
>> Maarten Vervoorn
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 11:39 PM
>> To: Cisco certification
>> Subject: My first LAB attempt
>>
>> 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 Wed Jul 14 2010 - 13:43:00 ART