03-15-2022 02:44 AM
Hello guys. I’m studying hard and going forward to take the CCNA cert. I’m 26yo and I made a lot of mistakes in my life. I like networking and I’m sure CCNA can improve my life or at least introduce me to a job. As I said before, I’m studying hard but I fear that it’s not enough. I always read of people complaining about the exam questions, and I’m really scared. Do really the exam questions are so tricky and poorly written? Or is it just a legend? I’m scared Also because english language is not my native language. Thanks everyone for answering eventually...
03-15-2022 05:36 AM
I can not answer your question correctly, but i suggest to focus on the studies and what you doing ? do more labs and basics. rather thinking what others saying how hard and tough, nothing is easy until you put some effort to make it easy.
read the blue prints and start cover each topic to become expert.
03-15-2022 09:45 AM - edited 03-15-2022 09:48 AM
". . . I’m sure CCNA can improve my life or at least introduce me to a job."
I believe you're expecting too much from obtaining a CCNA, or pretty much, any certificate.
Usually, certificates (or college degrees) act a a first cut filter to what resumes will be considered or they will be used as a "tie breaker" if all else is equal.
For obtaining a job, work history is important. (Of course, there's the old catch-22 - i.e. employers want to hire experienced employees, but how do you get the experience if they don't hire you?)
Possibly most important is how you do in job interview(s).
Don't misunderstand the above. Obtaining a CCNA is a "good thing"!!! Besides what you'll learn, it demonstrates a commitment to the profession. Again, though, don't think you'll automatically get a job because you have a CCNA.
To your other questions, most of a quality exam's questions shouldn't be tricky, but they do try to determine if you know the subject being tested. If you do, you should be able to pass the test. Regarding English not being your native language, if the test is in English, I can see that will make it more difficult. Not much you can do on that front besides working, also, to improve you proficiency in English or insuring that the test cannot be taken in your native language.
BTW, personally, the first certificate test I ever took was for the ICCP's (then) CDP. (Billed, again then, as the computer industry's version of Accountants CPA.) This test allowed five hours to complete it. (If also had five separate sections, which you passed/failed individually. You needed to pass all five sections to obtain the certificate. You could later, retest, just on failed sections.) It also (at least then) had 2/3s of candidate taking the test fail it.
A book I was using to help study for the test, had sample questions, which I was "lucky" to get 50% correct. No way, at 50%, would I pass the "real" test.
However the actual test was, somewhat easier, so I managed to pass all on the first attempt.
Once I had this difficult to obtain certificate, did jobs doors open left and right? Nope. In fact, to most, what's a "CDP"?
At least Cisco's certificates have a bit more "brand" recognition.
If you wade through my bio, I have three Brocade networking certificates, which probably are comparable to Cisco's CCNA through CCNP levels, not quite to Cisco's CCIE level. At the time, I had read (2009) Network World: Brocade's BCNE most valuable on earth along with being questioned "but you don't have any networking certificates?" Trust me, after obtaining the BCNE, employers didn't start beating down my door with job offers (laugh).
Again, obtaining some like Cisco's CCNA is good(!), but your value, to employers, will come more from understanding what you need to know, to pass the certificate's test, than having the certificate, itself.
03-15-2022 05:48 PM
No, there are no tricky or poorly written questions on CCNA exam as far as I know; There might be some misunderstandings on higher level exams like CCNP, CCIE. Most of issue happened when new cert exams are released right after the change. Last such change was in Feb 2020 , so you should be OK.
Regards, ML
**Please Rate All Helpful Responses **
03-17-2022 10:31 AM
Any certification exam might have some questions that are poorly written, and therefore considered confusing or tricky. And perhaps the higher level exams are more likely to have some poorly written questions, but I don't think CCNA is exempt from that. But the number of poor questions is quite small percentage of total questions. If you have studied well and understand the material I do not believe that a few poor questions will cause you to fail the exam.
03-17-2022 01:51 PM
"Any certification exam might have some questions that are poorly written, and therefore considered confusing or tricky."
Indeed!
BTW, once upon a time I worked at ETS (Educational Testing Services). Assuming whoever is managing Cisco's certification works similar to ETS, new questions are sometimes not actually "scored" (toward the test result). The tester analyzes how well test takers do on specific questions, especially "newly" added questions, and if the result is out of "norm", the question is either revised or dropped.
What the tester is tying to accomplish, is that anyone, with the expected/desired knowledge, will pass the test.
03-17-2022 02:25 PM
This is a very helpful insight.
03-17-2022 03:09 PM
@Richard Burts, you might also be interested to know, for many ETS tests, questions differ between the "same" tests. I.e. you and I take the "same" test, on the same day, our actual tests may not have the same questions! They "norm" these different tests, so, in theory, regardless of which actual test you take, your score will be the same.
At ETS, it seemed, half the staff were statisticians!
Discover and save your favorite ideas. Come back to expert answers, step-by-step guides, recent topics, and more.
New here? Get started with these tips. How to use Community New member guide