Exam-Taking Basics

The most important advice about taking any exam is to read each and every question carefully . Some questions are deliberately ambiguous, some use double negatives , and others use terminology in incredibly precise ways. We may call them tricky while Cisco will say that they are problem solving questions; regardless, be aware.

Here are some suggestions for how to deal with the tendency to jump to an answer too quickly:

• Make sure you read every word in the question. If you find yourself jumping ahead impatiently, go back and start over, and be sure you have selected the answer you wanted to select, especially in the exhibit style questions.

• As you read, try to restate the question in your own terms. If you can do this, you should be able to pick the correct answers much more easily.

• Try to deal with each question by thinking through what you know about Cisco routers and their configuration ”the characteristics, behaviors, facts, and figures involved. By reviewing what you know (and what you have written down on your information sheet), you will often recall or understand things sufficiently to determine the answer to the question.

We are confident that if you are comfortable with the content of this book, then you will be successful in your quest for certification.