10 Most Useful Tips For Passing Cisco Certification Exams

The reasons most engineers want to get a Cisco Certifications are: your employer is asking for one; and/or other people you know got one. So finally you studied and crammed for a few months to get certified and then forgot everything in one week after being certified. It is waste of time because this way to get it is not beneficial.

The certifications that you get from Cisco exams do have an expiration date, and there are good reasons for this. You want to know what these expiration dates are and why they exist so that you can use this information to your advantage. To learn everything you need to know, just keep reading.

  • When Do Exams Expire?

The exams that you need to get your Associate, Professional, and CCENT certifications have expiration dates of 3 years after each exam was successfully completed. The expiration date is not the same for the Specialist certification exams, however. These exams are only good for 2 years after each exam was successfully completed.

  • Why Do Exams Expire?

After you put so much work into passing exams, why do they expire? The reason is that some certifications require that you pass a number of different exams, and in order to demonstrate that your knowledge is up-to-date, you need to have taken and passed them fairly recently. The content of these exams changes over time, and for your knowledge to be deemed current, you need to have recently passed a current version of the exam.

  • How To Pass Your Exams In Time Every Time

TestsLive is a website that can help you to pass your exams in time every time. It can help you to obtain all the certifications that you need and to keep them all current. Remember TestsLivewhenever you have a Cisco Certification Exam to take because this site is all that you need to pass.

What is the CCNA?

Have you ever wondered what those four letters, CCNA, really mean? If you’re aiming for a career in networking, then it’s time to get familiar with this term. CCNA stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate, a certification offered by Cisco, the world’s leading provider of networking solutions. Simply put, obtaining your CCNA certification is like earning your black belt in networking—a proven testament to your skills and expertise in the field.

Gone are the days when experience alone could land you a job. In today’s competitive market, employers want proof, and a CCNA certification is one such golden ticket. This entry-level certification opens the gateway to higher Cisco certifications and most satisfying careers in network security, automation, and much more. So, if you’ve been pondering over whether to go for it, now might be the time to make that decision.

With its core focus on network fundamentals, routing and switching technologies, and hands-on skills, the CCNA provides a holistic foundation for anyone looking to make it big in networking. Alright, now that you’re up to speed on what the CCNA is all about, let’s dive into some of the most useful tips for passing Cisco Certification Exams.

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10 – Relax before exam

In order to avoid last minute stress, make sure that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and relax before exam.

09 – Mentally prepare yourself

Seriously think about on why are you getting CCNA and why do you want to be CCNA certified. You have to firmly decide and believe that you will get CCNA within next 3-6 months or so. Try to budget your study time well. If you are a very social person you will have to give up some of your social time for the next couple of months. Your friends and family will understand. Once you get that cert you can make up for the lost social time.

08 – Familiarize yourself with exam

Before taking the CCNA exam, you are given an option of to familiarize yourself with the way the exam is carried out (the exam interface). You must make sure to take advantage of this.

07 – Manage Time Spent On Each Question

The duration for the exam is 90 minutes. You must determine how much time you will spend on each question. While determining this take into consideration that simulations take more time to answer. Also keep in mind that some other questions are weighed more heavily and may take more time to answer (e.g. difficult subnetting problems).

06 – Be Sure Of Exam Interface

Clear your doubts, in case if you have any, regarding the rules for the CCNA exam or using the testing computer/software with the supervisor after he sets up your machine and before you start the exam. Remember that the exam is timed and you may loose your valuable test time for such questions, which you could have asked earlier.

05 – Jot Down Important Points Before Exam

Before you start the exam, ask for scratch paper and jot down points that you may require to recall when taking your exam. This is always allowed and proves to be very helpful while taking the exam.

04 – All Answers Are Final

Remember that you cannot return to a question once you have answered it. So, be very careful while answering to the questions and don’t rush as it might cost you valuable marks.

03 – Don’t Panic. There Is No Negative Marking

Although the exam software does not allow you to review questions you’ve answered, there is no negative marks for a wrong answer. The CCNA exam does not penalize you for wrong answer, so never leave any question unanswered. If you are not able to find out the correct answers to some questions, eliminate the possible answers that cannot be correct and narrow down your guess.

02 – Read both books one more time to refresh

This is optional. If you read both books in a three week that will give you one more week before the test to cram which is subject of the next step. So by now you should’ve read both books three times over. Re-read questions and answers from both books one more time.

01 – Certification is Only Half the Battle

You finally got your certification and have a rigorous understanding of the technology. You also have what it takes to be compliant to the standards and guidelines, but it takes dedication for certification holders to sink in the knowledge you learned so that you can perform up to the standards.

The Unbeatable Guide to Preparing for Your CCNA Exam

Now, having decided to get a CCNA, the question is, how do you go about it? Preparation is crucial, and without it, even the most talented will falter. Think of it as running a marathon; you wouldn’t just go out one day and start running 26.2 miles, would you?

First off, hands-on experience is invaluable. Purchase a cheap router or switch from eBay or use Cisco’s Packet Tracer for simulation. Next, don’t overlook study tips like time management and creating an effective study schedule.

Books are your best friends when preparing for the CCNA exam. Consider investing in resources like the Official Cert Guide from Cisco Press. Furthermore, join online forums and communities where tips to pass the CCNA are frequently discussed. More perspectives mean more insights.

Finally, consider a boot camp. These are short, intensive courses designed to immerse you in the curriculum, so you come out the other end ready for the exam. Just ensure it’s from a reputable source. Boot camps aren’t a replacement for study but a supplement to it.

Can a Beginner Take CCNA? Is it Better Than Network+?

As we wrap up, you might still be contemplating whether the CCNA is for you. Can a beginner attempt it? And how does it stack up against other certifications like Network+?

If you’re a beginner, yes, you can take the CCNA. However, having some foundational knowledge of networking concepts will certainly be beneficial. The CCNA is designed to be an entry-level certification, but it assumes a basic understanding of networking fundamentals.

Now, when it comes to comparing it with Network+, each has its pros and cons. Network+ is vendor-neutral, making it more versatile but also less specialized. On the other hand, CCNA is Cisco-specific, which can be advantageous if you’re looking to work in environments that rely heavily on Cisco technologies.

So, if you want a certification that offers in-depth knowledge and opens the doors to more specialized training, CCNA might be the better option for you.