Hi, I recently took the CCIE written. I didn't pass, but I really wasn't expecting to. I missed it by 6 points. A while back when the beta was running, I was just getting ready to begin studying for the written when I found out the beta was on. I found out about the beta on a Wed. and the beta run ended on that Friday. So to evaluate myself, I paid the 50 bucks and took the test with no study. I missed it by about 6 points then as well. I thought, considering my level, at the time, it was not too bad and definately attainable.
I had to put my study off for a while after the beta attempt because of a project I had to get up to speed on and then recently started studying. I studied for a few weeks then took it to re-evaluated where I stand now. I saw on the board some people complaining about questions being too product specific. I saw little to no types of those questions. My test was mainly theory and heavy configuration and troubleshooting questions. Yes, some of the test is a test of your memory but what test isn't? Is there a test that exists that to some degree does not test your memory? And, yes, some of the information tested is sort of trivial in aspect, but the ultimate goal is not to pass the exam but to pass the lab. While studying the technologies for the written, studying that "trivial" information, you pick up alot of things you didn't know, or things you once knew but forgot. I think the better you do on the written the better you'll do on the lab. Not to say that a good score on the written will guarantee a passing lab attempt at all. But I think the more you study for your written, you will be all that much more prepared to study for your lab. I think I'm in pretty good shape. I have no pressure to pass as far as money goes when taking the tests, because my GI Bill will pay for all written and lab attempts, pass or fail. Plus I teach Cisco stuff during the day on 5 racks that Cisco donated to the college. So even when I'm not studying, I am. Plus the network I work on at my regular job has about 30,000+ Cisco devices. So I think all these "pluses" will equal a CCIE R&S cert one of these days. If not I will be dissapointed in myself. But I'm pretty confident right now. I noticed someone else mention that a down-side of the exam is that someone could take the written as many times as they wanted until eventually passing. I could do that, but I don't want to waste my money. I'm not going to attempt it again until I think I've picked up about 20 points. Although my GI Bill will pay for my tests and lab, I have finite funds and I want to save my money for the labs. But I don't think that just because that you can take the test as often as you like will cause the market to be flooded with CCIE's. Most people are persueing the CCIE cert because of money: they want more. People have fininte funds. It's not too bad to take the test several times but when you give the lab several pops that adds up. I'll bet there are alot of folks out there that have given up because of the money it would take them or because they have already spent too much money on their failed attempts. There are probably many, many more people that don't have the funds to take the test and lab as many times as they want, than people that have the money to take them over and over again until they pass. So, I don't think that it's an issue. Just a comparison note between the beta and the current exam, the current exam seemed much harder. Anyway, that's all I have to say this go 'round. Besides it's time to hit the books. ;). Thanks, Karl. Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=58805&t=58805 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
