Exam Layout and Design

The questions are administered in several formats and the number will vary from test to test. It is important to become familiar with these question formats so you can focus on the actual questions without worrying about their design.

Multiple-choice questions are pretty straightforward when it comes to answering them. Cisco exams predominantly use this type of question. When presented with a question with a single correct answer, select the round radio button that corresponds with the most correct answer and click the Next button. In instances where multiple answers are required, the question instructs you to choose a specific number or perhaps all answers that apply. An excellent indicator of multiple answers is the presence of check boxes in the answer selection. Rest easy in the knowledge that Cisco does not let you proceed if the question specifies a number of answers and you did not check enough boxes. The following demonstrates an example of a multiple-answer question with check boxes:

Question 1

Which answer is the correct answer? (Choose two.)

• a. Not me

• b. Me neither

• c. I am

• d. Hey, me too

The CSVPN exam also may contain drag-and-drop questions. This type of question asks you to drag graphic or text source objects to appropriate targets in the supplied empty boxes. These questions might be used to test your knowledge of a command syntax, sequential order of events, or terminology definition. Drag the correct value(s) into the empty boxes until you have filled all the appropriate blank spaces.

A short time ago, Cisco introduced a new format of questions to their exams, in which they present a simulation of a configuration. These simulations appear like the actual equipment and are used to demonstrate your hands-on capabilities with the hardware. These questions are typically weighed heavier than the rest because of the multiple steps involved, and they are likely to consume more time than the multiple-choice and drag-and-drop questions. Be sure to scroll down any windows that appear above the simulation to get all the necessary information from the question. The simulation is graded based upon your completion of the objectives. As long as you meet those objectives, you will get full credit for the question.