Re: Telepresence install and setup exam 642-188

dwilk2008 · ‎03-18-2010

hello I have recently taken the Cisco 642-188 exam three time in 3 weeks and have failed.

This exam has alot of errors. The questions sometimes ask about telepresence in general but the answers are model specific. Also there has been question with the exact same answers in the pool of answers. For instance one question was for 2 of the best answers and one of the best answers was duplicated twice in the answer pool word for word. So How do you pick the right answer? I know this is a new exam but someone needs to go over it with a fine tooth comb. I feel I could have passed it if the test was written correctly. I feel know there were about 20 questions that needed to be re-written. Has anyone else seen this problem?

gogasca · ‎03-24-2010

Hi David,

Thanks for your feedback I have passed this information to one of the Exams proctors

They will verify/ check this

Thanks again

bill.sheldon · ‎05-25-2010

Hi, I have seen no update to this message.

I am about to undertake the exam and would like to know if the exam has been fixed.

The cost of these exams is not insigniicant and I would hate to think I was wasting my time and money if the answers are still wrong.

Also, is there a mechanism for review of the exam if there is a dispute with answers.

Bill

harrisn · ‎03-30-2010

David,

I just took this exam and I agree that it is very flawed. In addition to some questions and answers not being written very well, there are a number of questions involving electrical, environmental, acoustic, and lighting that are not covered at all in the recommended preparation materials. I understand that Cisco wants to ensure that installers are qualified, but howabout providing a resource that one can actually prepare with.

dwilk2008 · ‎03-30-2010

Thanks Harrisn for your input. There are alot of questions that are not in the material cisco suggested to read.

I am sure if they go through the exam question pool in detail that they would have to change or just through some

of those questions. I have logged several comments during the exam and am waiting for cisco to respond.

gogasca · ‎05-25-2010

This is the material used for TP 642-185 exam:

I know that both exams are different and 188 covers more in detail RRA process

You may want to take a look at Chapter 8 of TelePresence Book nad last portion of these materials (4 and 5)

TelePresence book
SRND Guide

5. Cisco E-Service Traning

http://www-tss.cisco.com/eservice/est_sitemap/TelePresence/cts_family/index.php?username_signin=gogasca

bill.sheldon · ‎05-25-2010

Hi ,

I am aware of all this, however, could you please answer my questions regarding the exam

I am about to undertake the exam and would like to know if the exam has been fixed.

The cost of these exams is not insigniicant and I would hate to think I was wasting my time and money if the answers are still wrong.

Also, is there a mechanism for review of the exam if there is a dispute with answers.

Bill

gogasca · ‎05-26-2010

Hi Bill I have passed this message to the Exam PM, she will be able to check on this.

What I do know is that all the comments that you submit are reviewed at some point, you will hear back from us soon in regards this with a better answer.

mcotherman · ‎06-18-2011

All - The test is not fixed, even a year later.

gogasca - I have had issues with Cisco cert/specialization tests since 1998, I have been an active CCIE for over 10 years.. I just took this 642-188 test yesterday after doing the PEC training and the troubleshooting videos referenced by another post that mentioned issues with this exam. I can say with certainty that things have not changed... I missed by a 13 points, which is probably 1 question. I can recall very clearly many questions that are *improper* in one way or another... More than enough to allow me to pass if the questions were valid... If the question asks for three answers to be marked and there are four valid answers and I can prove it with a reference on Cisco.com in less than 10 seconds of searching, it should have never gotten past the proofers. I have filled out comments for 13 years and NEVER received any response from Cisco... Some of these comments were scathing. I used to complain until I got a voucher, but I have given up doing that, not worth my time... Mentioning my issues here will at least warn others that the exams are flawed.

I have even sat in on sessions at Networkers regarding certification exam security and loudly voiced my opininion that if the test were proofed by a competent person, there would be less demand for the 'study guides' found on the internet. The people in that panel holding the session were unwilling to believe that the tests could have those kind of errors.. I am happy to discuss actual examples in a private, proper environment with any exam proofer that reads this.

CCIE# 6771

trunyan · ‎07-05-2011

I would like to better understand what you call "improper" when it comes to the questions. I think one of the issues with the certifications is that candidates are taking the test with little or no hands on experience with the product. I will tell you that comments left on this exam are reviewed and have caused questions and answers to be re-examined. I know the actual impact of the comments arent always apparent to the end user but they are reviewed and changes are made. Watch for an upcoming IP Expert or Facebook session this Fall which I plan on hosting on how to prepare for these test. If you are planning on taking the test again be sure to read through the SRND listed above and the actual product install guides covered in the exam. I am tied by the same non-disclosures that you are when it comes to discussing the test. Where ever possible I've tried to keep the distractors as distractors and not as another right answer when I have reviewed or authored the questions. Keep in mind that some answers may be right for product A but not at all accurate for product B - so when considering the answers you have to make sure they apply to the product specifically questioned. I did not author all the questions but the ones I have and the ones I have reviewed can all be answered from materials off of CCO. I cannot address any issues with the training materials although I believe they are also being addressed. Hopefully you should see some improvement soon in the questions based upon the comments and cases that have been opened thus far.

Tom

mcotherman · ‎07-05-2011

Improper is a question whose answer is dependant upon the software version and that software version is not given..

Improper is asking what is the first step and then having one answer that is encompassed by another answer.. both are right, one is not 'more right' or a 'better answer'..

Improper is asking for three required things for somethign to be correctly configured, and not only are there 4 answers that are correct, and 4 things that need to be done, there are 4 variables to the command line that does what you are trying to do...

Improper is asking a question based upon material in one reference, and having two other references contradict it.

Improper is making a test taker decide between two answers, one that looks like there is a typo and the other that is 99% correct

Improper is expecting a high level of knowledge from a test taker, then not having the coutesy to refer to a part of a system by the proper name

Improper is doing a blind find and replace on 'Tandberg' with 'Cisco' (more for the 279 exam)

Improper is having a command line command have a slight diffference between to products, and nto beign specific as to which when asking for the correct syntax for the command

Improper is not taking the time to undestand that when Cisco says somethind is 'acceptable', it is not 'recommended', and then making a question that refers to something that is 'acceptable' as being 'recommended'

Have you taken this particular exam?

CCIE# 6771

MARTIN STREULE · ‎07-14-2011

100% agree.

These tests are really, really bad - at least consistently

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPad App

bill.sheldon · ‎07-05-2011

On 26/05/2010 gogasca posted this

26/05/2010 4:14 PM (in response to William Sheldon)

Re: Telepresence install and setup exam 642-188

Hi Bill I have passed this message to the Exam PM, she will be able to check on this.

What I do know is that all the comments that you submit are reviewed at some point, you will hear back from us soon in regards this with a better answer.

Nothing heard back. This is the biggest problem.

I have been actively building TP systems for 4 years having rolled out in excess of 100 endpoints of all types ,including the NPA, RRA and server buids, so believe I am qualified to talk regarding this matter.

I eventually passed the exam at a second try. After the first attempt, I had a better idea of what to study and recap and sat about 2 weeks after 1 fail.

There are several questions on the exam, that are not covered by the training material as such and are really 'experience' questions, ie. you know from your experience what the answer is.

This is simialr to the Tandberg equivalents, where you have to determine the answer, rather than have it spoonfed from the course.

This exam should not be undertaken by anyone that has not actually been through a full TP delivery, Tthis imeans not only the actual build, but the Room assesment and infrastructure setup. Experience if troubleshooting helps as well.

marrachart · ‎06-19-2011

I had the same issued with the 642-185, posted comments during the exam and opened a case at Cisco Certsupport.

They forwarded the problems to the BU for analysis but after several months of asking questions I still haven't received an answer (failed with 5 points).

After escalating to our CAM, I received a voucher to have another free try to pass for an exam full of errors....

Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

awander · ‎06-19-2011

650-297 also has several question that either have more than one right answer, or no right answer.

Reporting which ones is difficult, as it is not easy to get a printout of the exam.