Blog

How I passed the CCNA IT Certification Exam!

Sun, Dec 28, 2024 08:07 am by Julie Lee

I wanted to share my story of how I was able to pass the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) IT certification exam while working full-time. I hope this could be helpful to you to pass your desired exam.

Whenever I start a new certification journey, I am so excited and eager to begin. However, I warn myself that I need to prepare well before I begin my journey because sooner or later I will experience pain, loneliness, and resentment during the course of learning. This is like a long marathon. I start with a clear reason why I need this certification. I need motivation to finish my race successfully. 

My purpose of this particular certification was to excel in my new role, and I wanted to pass within five to six months. My company sent me a CCNA online boot camp worth $5000. Since many colleagues knew that I was studying for the CCNA exam, I had no choice but to pass. I didn’t want to start my new job with a bad reputation. When I announce my plan to people around me, this gives me pressure to stay in study mode. I know that they will constantly remind me about the exam. In the past, I had an experience where I took the wrong version of the test. Also, as a previous certification exam proctor, I had seen candidates who came to the testing center without even not knowing what the test name is. In fact on the actual testing day, you need to fill out the form with the name and number of the test. I even had a student who took the wrong test and did not even realize it was the wrong version of the test until he finished the test. Therefore, I started my research on the exam version and found out the current exam is expiring in a few weeks. I had to make a decision whether to take the old version or new version. The new version will be harder, but I know that one month is not enough time to prepare all the objectives. So, I purchased a CCNA Exam Safeguard offer voucher where I had 2 attempts with an additional $75, and I must use both attempts within 3 months. This gave me huge relief with the pressure of the new version. Once I bought the voucher, I couldn’t return it, so it forced me to prepare for the test more seriously.

First, I had to know myself. Metacognition! I have to be honest with myself about my knowledge, time, and situation. Since I am working full-time, I have limited time to study.  It is very difficult to focus at work, and there are always some projects going on, so I had to allocate consistent study time during the non-working hours. I could cram the old version of the exam, but I knew myself better. I am not learning anything. The new version had only 10% of new materials, and I learned that it took a few months to create new test banks. Therefore, I need to take the test within 2-3 months before the new questions are affected.

Second, I need the right resources and maps to guide me in the right direction. I collected all the resources from the people who passed the exam. Some of them I talked to in person or learned online, especially those who had a similar situation as me. I liked to use several different resources to make sure I covered the concepts in different points of views. Based on the research, I learned that there were a total of 89 multiple choice questions and 3 labs during the test that randomly appeared in emulation mode, which is very similar to actual cisco production. Additionally, I used the paid resources since they have reliable explanations. Fortunately, I found a 20% discount code online. I picked the 2-3 resources and made sure I learned 100 percent.  During the course of the study,  you might have the temptation of other books, such as video courses, practice questions better than the ones I picked. That is why I spent enough time to choose the right materials for me. I need official exam objectives, video courses, books and practice questions. I tried to do as many labs as possible in practice and at work as well. 

Third, stick to the plan. Once I found the materials, I needed to find my chunk of time. I need 2-3 hours of daily dedicated commitment. This is my appointment time with myself, and I must take it seriously every day.  Find the location where I can focus. It could be the library, home, school, or work. I chose to study at home where I can study in comfy clothes and save transportation time.

Some days, I could not study for thousands of reasons. Then, instead of blaming myself, I revisited my plan and saw if I made my study plan reasonable. I only studied new materials during the week and reviewed them over the weekend so that I have time to complete the missing parts. Although I had missed the planned study, I tried to maintain my confidence level and complete it the next day.

In addition, I used the 30 minute time planner. This was especially helpful during the last few weeks prior to the test because I saw myself watching Youtube shorts, cooking for a long time, or cleaning the house. I wrote down what I did every 30 minutes and I was able to see how I spent my day. I was proud of myself when I had productive days. I wrote Congratulations! Pass CCNA!!! on a sticky note top of the daily planner to set the positive mind set. Each day, I transferred the sticky note to reassure myself and imagine the day I passed. Last four weeks I filled out the time planner, and it really motivated me to stay focused on my goal.

When I was so sleepy, I sprayed my face with mist. I used a few different scents depending on mood. Sometimes, I applied a face mask, then I felt refreshed. I don’t drink coffee, but the last few days before the test, I was so sleepy, so coffee was very helpful. Some people use cough drops and gum to stay awake as well. Another quick snack I personally used was frozen grapes. I ate 2 frozen graphs whenever I was sleepy. Also, I made sure I intake vitamin jelly in the morning to keep my immune system because I cannot get sick.

The maximum I was able to study daily was 5 hours. After intensive study of 3-5 hours, I felt my brain capacity was full. It was meaningless if I kept sitting down and reading the ones I don’t understand. Instead, I tried to take a break such as showering, eating, walking, watching funny clips, motivational videos, and listening to music. I tried the many happy buttons and used them during the break time. I even tried to avoid the talkative people because they not only wasted my time but also drained my energy. To reduce the stress, I met friends who make me happy. I ate delicious food and watched movies. It is too risky to take the entire weekend off, so I studied a few hours in the morning and enjoyed the rest of the day. Then, before I went to bed, I reviewed the ones I studied. I was mocking the test during the morning. I was scheduled to take the practice test to simulate the actual test. Also, I concentrate as much as I can during the practice test time. Since I will use the dry eraser and board during the test, I used the dry eraser pen to solve the problems rather than paper to feel the same as actual testing day. I tried to wake up at the same time around 6 – 7 am to stay awake during the day. When I studied at 4 am, I was dizzy, I could not concentrate all day. When I could not absorb new information, I listened to my recorded voice to review the questions. This is my secret recipe I use every time I take the certification exam. I record the questions I missed and keep listening to them pretending I am listening to the music in public. Once I passed all the practice tests over 90 percent, I knew I was ready to take the test. I scheduled the test in the morning on Friday, which was a holiday. I choose the testing day which is either a holiday or Saturday. Otherwise, I take two days off.

I took the test and passed the certification exam after studying for about 2 months. Now, I am enjoying my normal life. I travel, watch the netflix, and hang out with my friends and families. I rewarded myself with gifts. I was so happy when I saw the screen with Congratulations! I even received a one day complimentary day off by passing the certification exam at work. I am proud of myself and will take Linux+ next.