Exam Layout and Design

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

Multiple-choice questions are pretty straightforward when it comes to answers. Cisco exams predominantly use this type of question, in which you have to choose the best answer or answers. When presented with a question with a single answer, select the round radio button that has the most correct answer and click the Next button. When multiple answers are required, the question will instruct you to choose a specific number or perhaps all the 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 will not let you proceed if the question specifies a number of answers and you do not check enough boxes. The following demonstrates an example of a multiple-choice question with check boxes:

Question 1

Select the correct answers. (Choose two.)

• A. Not me

• B. Me neither

• C. I am

• D. Hey, me too

The SECUR exam also contains drag-and-drop questions. These types of questions ask you to drag source objects to appropriate target values in the supplied empty boxes. These questions might test your knowledge of a command syntax, the sequential order of events, or terminology definitions. Drag the correct values into the empty boxes until you fill all the appropriate blank spaces.

A short time ago, Cisco introduced a new format of questions, 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 weighted heavier than the rest of the test because of the multiple steps involved. They will most likely consume more time than the multiple-choice and drag-and-drop questions. Be sure to scroll any windows that appear above the simulation to get all the necessary information from the question. The simulation is graded based on your completion of the objectives. As long as you meet those objectives, you get full credit for the question.