I agree that the test is difficult, and I can understand someone being frustrated after taking it. When the correct answers aren't black-and-white, there's a lot more second-guessing that comes into play. IMO, in order to truly test a candidate's design abilities, every question would have to have a fifth multiple choice of "E: It depends" and a text box for the candidate to explain his or her answer. Of course, the grading of said exam wouldn't exactly be scalable... there would hafta be proctors reading through the responses and deciding if they're valid or not... but hey it'd be more jobs for CCDP's right?
Ok, bad idea. But I think the subjectiveness of many of the questions is what makes the test difficult, and when you take the test you get to decide if you're reading too much into a question, or not reading enough. Hal Logan CCAI, CCDP, CCNP+Voice Network Specialist / Adjunct Faculty Computing and Engineering Technology Manatee Community College > -----Original Message----- > From: Priscilla Oppenheimer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 3:47 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: popularity of the CID test [7:31081] > > > I don't agree that the CID test is badly written, although I > have not seen > the new version. (Is it really bad and in what ways?) > > I do agree that the CID test uses a different model from most > of the other > tests. (CCIE written is somewhat similar to CID). The test > writer assumes > that you know the basic technology answer. To get the right > answer you have > to think past the obvious, basic answer and think about the > caveats, where > and how to deploy the protocol or feature, the scalability, > performance > issues, etc. Answering correctly requires two-step thinking. > People who > remember that when they take the test get a better score and > feel less > frustrated. > > I think the test isn't popular because Cisco needs companies > to train and > certify droves of technician drones. Only a few gurus get to > design or > redesign networks. ;-) The mass majority of people don't think > conceptually. A lot of schools these days focus on "how to" > rather than > creative, analytical thinking. I hope that changes and that > the comment > doesn't start a flame! > > Speaking of flames, however, I'm still burning from the > idiotic comment > someone made about one of our illustrious members not having > operational > experience. Whereas it wasn't true, it also missed the > opportunity to see > what a blessing it is to have a protocol designer amongst us. > It would be > as if James Watson dropped in on a discussion group for lab > technicians. Or > if Picasso dropped in on a discussion amongst Web-page > graphics developers. > > There's more to Cisco certification than getting a job that > will let you > wear a beeper and spend time fixing stuff. Hopefully, you'll > also get to > create stuff. CCDPs and CCIEs get to do analytical, > innovative, strategic > work in addition to operational, tactical, configuration > work. And that's > where the adventurous, fun aspects of this industry come into play! > > Priscilla > > > At 12:06 PM 1/7/02, Robert Padjen wrote: > >I am also quite surprised at the reality and > >perception regarding this exam. Based on book sales, > >there is a lot of interest in design (not as much as > >CCNA unfortunately), but the corporate environment > >stressed the CCIE and only looked to the CCNP. I think > >this was due to two factors. First, testers didn't > >push the DP track (whether it was the DA or the DP - I > >would contend both) and business don't seem to stress > >the design component outside of the carrier space and > >more tech-driven Fortune 500. The second is the > >perception that the exam is hard, which is the focus > >of this board. > > > >I would argue, failures aside, that the test is hard > >because it is badly written and it focuses on a > >different model then the other exams/tracks. As such, > >preparation should do it, or at least get an applicant > >close. The poor quality of the exam (both versions) is > >a bit of a tweak for me, as it made writing a book on > >the exam more difficult - one had to focus on the test > >passing and the 'correct, non-Cisco answer' > >concurrently. The reality is that Cisco should again > >revise this exam and review the design tracks, in my > >opinion, although with the CCIE now a one day exam and > >other factors I doubt this will happen. > > > > > >--- "Steven A. Ridder" > >wrote: > > > It was the only test I ever failed. If you ask me, > > > there's not much market > > > demand for CCDP's (which makes the test a low > > > priority), and for the amount > > > you have to study to pass the test, it's not worth > > > it. It's good to learn > > > though, because it covers a lot of broad topics, > > > from SNA to ATM LANE, > > > AppleTalk, etc. > > > > > > Have fun at it. Study the BPX and IGX. > > > > > > > > > ""Juan Blanco"" wrote in message > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]">news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]... > > > > TEAM, > > > > > > > > Why the popularity of the CID test is very > > > low.......Tips on this test..I > > > > will take it next Saturday.... > > > > > > > > Thanks > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > >===== > >Robert Padjen > > > >__________________________________________________ > >Do You Yahoo!? > >Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! > >http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/ > ________________________ > > Priscilla Oppenheimer > http://www.priscilla.com Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=31272&t=31081 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
