Greetings
Just stumbled upon this group today.
I've just finished nine months of non-stop hardware and software courses in preparation for taking the A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, CCNA and MCSE exams. So far I've only managed to complete the two A+ exams. I'll schedule Network+ for sometime next week, since I'm starting a co-op program tomorrow.
Having been immersed in this stuff for nearly a year, I feel confident when I say that:
#4 comes from my experience with the CCNA exam. I did very well in my CCNA class, and felt confident when I walked into the room to take the cert. I was then hit with half a dozen questions about mostly-obsolete protocols that were only mentioned in passing in the official Cisco book. That cost me the exam. When I wrote the A+ Software exam, I had a lot of questions about NT4, which I've never worked on. Fortunately, the A+ has a lower pass mark (505), so I passed anyway. The CCNA's pass mark (825) doesn't leave much room for error.
I've just finished nine months of non-stop hardware and software courses in preparation for taking the A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, CCNA and MCSE exams. So far I've only managed to complete the two A+ exams. I'll schedule Network+ for sometime next week, since I'm starting a co-op program tomorrow.
Having been immersed in this stuff for nearly a year, I feel confident when I say that:
1. A formal class is incredibly useful, provided there's a qualified instructor and in-class labs. (My instructor was a former high school science teacher who has all of the certifications he teaches, along with the MCT designation.)
2. No single book has all the answers, but the Microsoft Press books are among the worst when it comes to studying W2K3.
3. Things like TestKings and ExamCram books should be used as study aids. Memorizing the answers to three or four hundred questions is actually much harder than getting a handle on the material.
4. When it comes to writing a cert exam, especially one with a huge pool of questions, don't feel bad if you don't pass the first time.
#4 comes from my experience with the CCNA exam. I did very well in my CCNA class, and felt confident when I walked into the room to take the cert. I was then hit with half a dozen questions about mostly-obsolete protocols that were only mentioned in passing in the official Cisco book. That cost me the exam. When I wrote the A+ Software exam, I had a lot of questions about NT4, which I've never worked on. Fortunately, the A+ has a lower pass mark (505), so I passed anyway. The CCNA's pass mark (825) doesn't leave much room for error.