| There are basically five different categories of BSCI exam candidate: -
Those who have taken the BSCN/BSCI course -
Those who have attended the Cisco Networking Academies -
Those who will not be taking any classes and have not had much experience -
Those who will not be taking any classes but have some experience I've Taken BSCINow What? First, let me say that you've taken the best path to prepare yourself. Let me temper that with the fact that if you retain more than 50 percent of what you heard in class, you are an extraordinary person. That said, in my opinion, you need to follow these strategies: -
Strategy 1 Use this book exactly as described in the opening pages of Chapters 1 through 18. Each of the core chapters begins with a quiz that helps you assess what you need to study. It then directs you to the appropriate sections in the chapter, rather than requiring you to read the entirety of each chapter. -
Strategy 2 Use the directions at the beginning of Chapter 19 to direct your final study before the exam. Chapter 19 is designed to review many concepts; in addition, it outlines a good process for study in the days leading up to your exam. By using these strategies, you will fill in your gaps in knowledge and will be confident taking your BSCI exam. I've Taken the Cisco Networking Academy CoursesNow What? First, I'll start by congratulating you on having the foresight to get into the Cisco Networking Academy program. For those of you who did not take the Cisco Networking Academy track and are wondering what it is, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/index.html and click to the Cisco Networking Academy page. The Networking Academy curriculum does a great job of preparing you with the skills and knowledge that you need to pass the BSCI exam. Unfortunately, your study was probably spread over several semesters, and possibly over a couple years . So, you might have forgotten the details that you do not use frequently. On to the strategies for success on CCNP/CCDP/CCIPand, in particular, the BSCI exam: -
Strategy 1 Pull out your Networking Academy curriculum and notes and reread them. Most people find that their memory is exercised better by seeing familiar material, and even more so when they wrote it down themselves . -
Strategy 2 Use this book exactly as described in the opening pages of Chapters 1 through 18. Each of the core chapters begins with a quiz that helps you assess what you need to study. It then directs you to the appropriate sections in the chapter, rather than requiring you to read the entirety of each chapter. -
Strategy 3 Make it a point to read the sections in this book that cover some of the conceptual topics and standards. This focus will be helpful because the Networking Academy is more oriented toward building skills, not imparting theoretical knowledge. -
Strategy 4 Use the directions at the beginning of Chapter 19 to direct your final study before the exam. Chapter 19 is designed to review many concepts; in addition, it outlines a good process for study in the days leading up to your exam. I'm New to Internetworking with Cisco, and I Will Not Be Taking the BSCI CourseNow What? You can take and pass the BSCI exam without taking any courses. Cisco wants you to take the recommended courses for all the exams, though. The Cisco motivation is that the more people who understand Cisco products, ultimately the happier the customers will be and the more efficiently the networks will run, which is in everyone's interests. In addition, Cisco believes that its official training is the best way to teach people about its products. If you are not taking the course, you will need more than just this book to prepare. Here are my strategy suggestions for your case: -
Strategy 1 Read CCNP Self-Study: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) by Cisco Press. Although BSCI is not entirely a course-based test, the BSCI course is listed as the recommended course for that exam. In CCNP Self-Study: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) , the basic text and illustrations come from the course material but are expanded and reorganized to work well in a self-study format. -
Strategy 2 After reading CCNP Self-Study: Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks (BSCI) , use this book exactly as described in the opening pages of Chapters 1 through 18. Each of the core chapters begins with a quiz that helps you assess what you need to study. It then directs you to the appropriate sections in the chapter, rather than requiring you to read the entirety of each chapter. -
Strategy 3 Use the guidelines at the beginning of Chapter 19 to direct your final study before the exam. Chapter 19 is designed to review many concepts; in addition, it outlines a good process for study in the days leading up to your exam. I've Learned a Lot About CCNP Topics Through Experience, but I Will Not Be Taking the BSCI CourseNow What? If you feel like you know a fair amount about professional-level routing topics already (at a level that makes taking the BSCI course not very worthwhile), but you are worried about the few topics that you simply have not worked with, then the following strategies are for you: -
Strategy 1 Use this book exactly as described in the opening pages of Chapters 1 through 18. Each of the core chapters begins with a quiz that helps you assess what you need to study. It then directs you to the appropriate sections in the chapter, rather than requiring you to read the entirety of each chapter. -
Strategy 2 Use the guidelines at the beginning of Chapter 19 to direct your final study before the exam. Chapter 19 is designed to review many concepts; in addition, it outlines a good process for study in the days leading up to your exam. |
