Advices for college students preparing CCNA Exam

A college student Email asked me how to prepare CCNA Exam. I gave him my advices, and I also would like to share them with you all!

Get books and always from Cisco Press first

Why Cisco Press? My exam experience these years taught me that other publisher's book might be helpful to understand topics, they are not that helpful for "exam" itself.

Books about CCNA on Cisco Press web site: http://www.ciscopress.com/markets/detail.asp?st=44711

I can pick two recommendations for you:

• Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 1 (ICND1): CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND1 Exam 640-822, Second Edition
• Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices, Part 2 (ICND2): (CCNA Exam 640-802 and ICND Exam 640-816), Third Edition

Above two book's chapters and sections are exactly the same as Cisco's official ICND1 and ICND2 courses materials.

Another tip for you: you can find some good deals of "used books" or even borrow one from your school mates. Most people do not keep the book after they pass the exam!

Acquire working experience on switches and routers

Working experience can give you more confidence on CCNA exam. Many topics in the textbook are not so concrete until you encounter them live at work. Another hidden benefit is, the colleagues around you would be a great source to discuss with and ask questions!

You can try some intern jobs in school labs/computing center, or research projects.

Make good use of official CCNA Prep Center

Clip from "The Cisco Learning Network" web site. CCNA Prep Center is part of it.

Cisco officially have a "CCNA Prep Center" web site. Contents inside are the most relevant to CCNA Exam. The best news is, it is totally free to sign-up!

The URL changes very often so the best way to find the right URL is to search on Google with keywords "ccna prep center". It should be on the top. CCNA Prep Center site is part of "the Cisco Learning Network" site.

Take Cisco Network Academy CCNA courses in your college

Cisco Network Academy CCNA courses cost less than official Cisco training courses, and can be counted as credit for your graduation. You will have a companion tool "Packet Tracer" during the course, which is a great simulation software so you do not need real router/switch hardware to practice.

Remember to make friends with your academy course instructor, and the classmates!

With time pressure, find a instructor-led Cisco official course

Cisco's Instructor-led courses are very time-effective. However, this is the most expensive choice! Most people I know take such course only when their employers sponsor the cost. If you can afford the cost and have urgent deadline of time, this is the best one!

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I wish you all successfully pass and get your CCNA certification!