Part I: Introduction to the Cisco CCNA Exam


Chapter List

Questions Commonly Asked About the Cisco CCNA Exam
Analysis of the Exam

Part Overview

Welcome to the exciting world of Cisco certification! You've picked up this book because you want something better-namely, a better job with more satisfaction. Rest assured that you've made a good decision. Cisco certification can help you get your first networking job, or more money and a promotion if you're already in the field.

Cisco certification can also improve your understanding of the internetworking of more than just Cisco products: You'll develop a complete understanding of networking and how different network topologies work together to form a network. This is beneficial to every networking job and is the reason Cisco certification is in such high demand, even at companies with few Cisco devices.

Cisco is the king of routing and switching, the Microsoft of the internetworking world. The Cisco certifications reach beyond the popular certifications, such as the MCSE, to provide you with an indispensable factor in understanding today's network: insight into the Cisco world of internetworking. By deciding that you want to become Cisco certified, you're saying that you want to be the best-the best at routing and the best at switching. This book will lead you in that direction.

The CCNA certification was the first in the new line of Cisco certifications and was the precursor to all current Cisco certifications. Now you can become a Cisco Certified Network Associate for the cost of a study guide, the price of a hands-on class, and the meager cost of this book, plus $125 for the test. And you don't have to stop there-you can choose to continue with your studies and achieve a higher certification, called the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). Someone with a CCNP has all the skills and knowledge they need to attempt the CCIE lab. However, because no textbook can take the place of practical experience, this book was designed to help you practice for the CCNA exam once you've finished your classroom studies.

Cisco, not unlike Microsoft or Novell, has created the certification process to give administrators a set of skills and to equip prospective employers with a way to measure skills or match certain criteria. Becoming a CCNA can be the initial step of a successful journey toward a new, highly rewarding, and sustainable career.

The CCNA program was created to provide a solid introduction not only to the Cisco Internetwork Operating System (IOS) and Cisco hardware, but also to internetworking in general, making it helpful to you in areas that aren't exclusively Cisco's. At this point in the certification process, it's not unrealistic to imagine that future network managers-even those without Cisco equipment-could easily require Cisco certifications for their job applicants.

If you make it through the CCNA and are still interested in Cisco and internetworking, you're headed down a path to certain success.

The way to become a CCNA is to pass one little test (CCNA exam 640-801). True, it's just one test, but you still have to possess enough knowledge to understand what the test writers are saying.

However, Cisco has announced a two-step process that you can take in order to become a CCNA that may be easier than taking one longer exam. These tests are:

  • Exam 640-811: Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices (ICND)

  • Exam 640-821: Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (INTRO)

Understand that this book is designed to prepare you to pass the 640-801 exam, although it will likely help you pass both 640-811 and 640-821 as well.

I can't stress this enough: It's critical that you have some hands-on experience with Cisco routers. If you can get hold of some 2500, 2600, or 2800 series routers, you're set.

One way to get the hands-on router experience you'll need in the real world is to attend one of the seminars offered by GlobalNet Training Solutions, Inc., which is owned and run by myself. The seminars are 5 days and 11 days long and will teach you everything you need to become a CCNA (or even a CCNP, CCSP, and CCVP). Each student gets hands-on experience by configuring at least three routers and two switches.

Pearson VUE/ Thomson Prometric

When ready to sit for one of the four exams, the candidate can choose to test with a Pearson VUE or Thomson Prometric authorized testing center. Generally, the decision is made based on which group offers a testing facility closest to the candidate or which one has a center with available testing slots that match the candidate's schedule. Cisco standardizes the exams so that the candidate's experience with either type of facility is roughly the same as with the other. Visit VUE at www.vue.com and Prometric at www.prometric.com to sign up for an exam and explore testing center locations, test scheduling and cancellation policies, the procedure to obtain a testing ID, and more.

Open table as spreadsheet

Format of the Examinations

Cisco Certified Network Associate (640-801)

Approximately 55 to 65 questions

Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (640-821)

Approximately 45 to 55 questions

Introduction to Cisco Networking Devices (640-811)

Approximately 40 to 40 questions

Open table as spreadsheet

Passing Scores

Cisco Certified Network Associate (640-801)

849

Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies (640-821)

825

Introduction to Cisco Networking Devices (640-811)

849

Each test is a computer-based, proctored exam and is scored out of a maximum of 1000 points. The exams aren't adaptive, which means the content and length of your exam won't change dynamically based on how well you're doing. You have 90 minutes to complete each exam. You'll receive a score report at the end of the exam indicating whether you were successful and in which objectives you missed questions, if any.



Cliffs TestPrep. Cisco CCNA
CliffsTestPrep Cisco CCNA
ISBN: 0470117524
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 21
Authors: Todd Lammle

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