Exam Layout and Design

Some exam questions require you to select a single answer, whereas others ask you to select multiple correct answers. The following multiple-choice question requires you to select a single correct answer. Following the question is a brief summary of each answer selection and why it is either correct or incorrect.

Question 1	The Catalyst 1900 and 2820 switches support 1,005 VLANs, of which how many can be configured to support Spanning Tree Protocol? A. 1005 VLANs B. 10 VLANs C. 512 VLANs D. 64 VLANs E. 128 VLANs
A1:	Answer D is correct. On a Catalyst 1900 or 2820 series switch, Spanning Tree Protocol can be configured on only 64 VLANs. You can have up to 1,005 VLANs, but STP must be disabled on all but 64. By default, STP is enabled on VLANs 1 through 64.

This sample question format corresponds closely to the Cisco Support Certification Exam format. The only difference on the exam is that questions are not followed by answer keys. To select an answer, position the cursor over the radio button next to the answer and then click the mouse button to select the answer. See the practice exam CD that comes with this book for a general idea of what the questions will look like.

Next, we examine a question that requires choosing multiple answers. This type of question provides check boxes rather than radio buttons for marking all appropriate selections. These types of questions can either specify how many answers to choose or instruct you to choose all the appropriate answers.

Question 2	What are the two basic methods for implementing VLAN boundaries? (Choose two.) A. WAN topology B. End-to-end VLANs C. Local VLANs D. LAN wire speeds
A1:	Answers B and C are correct. End-to-end and local VLANs are both basic methods for implementing VLAN boundaries. A WAN Topology is the mapping of an entire Wide Area Network, and LAN wire speeds are the speed of the physical wire in the local network.

For this type of question, more than one answer is required. Such questions are scored as wrong unless all the required selections are chosen . In other words, a partially correct answer does not result in partial credit when the test is scored. If you are required to provide multiple answers and do not provide the number of answers the question asks for, the testing software indicates that you did not complete that question. For Question 2, you have to check the boxes next to answers C and B to obtain credit for this question. Realize that choosing the correct answers also means knowing why the other answers are incorrect!

Although these two basic types of questions can appear in many forms, they are the foundation on which most of the Support Certification Exam questions are based. Some other complex questions might include exhibits, simple fill-in-the-blank questions, as well as simulation questions. For some of these questions, you will be asked to make a selection by clicking the portion of the exhibit that answers the question or by typing the correct answer(s) in the testing interface. Your knowledge and expertise of router configuration must go well beyond merely memorizing the purpose of various commands. The Support exam tests your ability to configure a router in a variety of scenarios and configurations.

Do not rely simply on your success at answering traditional multiple-choice questions. Although these represent the core of the exam, your failure to answer the many fill-in-the-blank, simulator, and configuration scenario type questions will lead to an unsuccessful testing session.

Other questions involving exhibits use charts or diagrams to help document a network scenario you'll be asked to configure or troubleshoot. Careful attention to such exhibits is the key to success. In these instances, you might have to toggle between the exhibit and the question to absorb all the information being shown and properly answer the question.

You also might see a question or two where you must enter a simple command into an input box. You will be presented a long list of available commands as part of the testing interface. You will also encounter from two to five simulation questions. You will be given a simulated scenario involving a procedure you must complete in the Cisco IOS environment. This generally involves performing a series of steps at the command line or possibly dragging and dropping the correct order of a certain procedure. Therefore, actual experience with the Cisco operating system interface and real-world practice are critical to success on the Support exam.