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A how to on prepping for a cert exam.

Step 1: Select a path

This step may seem obvious but you first must choose which certification path you want to go down. Are you interested in networking? Server administration? Wanting to manage a help desk? This is a critical point as you need to decide which track you want to go down.

Step 2: Training and Reading

Now that have you a certification you wish to pursue it’s time to begin learning! I highly recommend you first go through a video course such as those offered by companies like CBT Nuggets. Video’s won’t give you everything but they give in visual form and from a real human a good foundation. After going through a video series I recommend actually reading a book for your certification. Reading goes in to much more detail than training video’s. It also helps fill the gaps and go over some of the material you have all ready learned.

Step 3: Schedule your exam

It’s important that you actually schedule your exam early on. This does a couple of things. First it gives you a end goal so that you have a “finish line”. It’s also motivates you to get through and study the material.

Step 4: LABS

If you are pursuing a cert if Cisco or Microsoft I highly suggest setting up a lab environment. Whether it be virtual or actual hardware there is no better practice then actually doing configurations. This also helps provide you with a better understanding of procedures and provides experience for in the field in the future.

Step 5: Practice Exams

If you have reached this point you should begin taking practice exams. These can help you judge where you are at in your learning/training. If you score a 90%+ it’s fair to say your understanding the material well enough that you are probably ready for the real exam. If you don’t do well it can help you fine tune your study to the areas you are having trouble with. A big tip is to not take the same practice tests over and over again as then you will just be memorizing answers and this isn’t a true test of your knowledge.

Step 6: Test Day

Prior to the test day get a good night’s sleep. Make sure on test day you eat a healthy breakfast. Also arrive to the test site at least 30 minutes early to prevent any possible delay’s. Most cert exam’s have a tutorial in the beginning. I recommend taking this as it first shows you how to answer the questions, but also it gives you time to calm your nerves. Lastly just remember to breathe and stay focused, if you are ready you are going to do well!

GOOD LUCK!

33 Spice ups
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I think your first step should be enhanced. You mentioned the choice of domain. I recommend to add the choice of kind of certification too (vendor specific versus vendor independant).
And concerning your 5th step has to do with ambiguity and limited value of many certifications. There is an unspoken question behind. Do you learn because you want a certain certification or do you learn for some competency and accept a certification as confirmation? I prefer the latter. And I consider it worth to include that question into your guide. Both motivations have their sense. It’s just different preferences and motivations, nothing to judge per se.

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In terms of labs, there are going to be ways to practice what you are learning/have learned to help beef up real world experience. For example, I’m working on Security+, with some LInux and basic SQL tossed in. I have a virtual Linux on my Windows system, and I have been able to find online Linux and SQL training (usually free - I’ve got a limited income) that are helping reinforce what I need and teaching me new things.
Thank you for this article; it’s great info as I get ready for some certification exams!

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decide which track you want to go down <= in other word you choose wanna be specialist or generalis

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There is a time when we want to get a specific certificate that will help us in our careers. This is my method of preparing for each certification exam. I passed all my exams at first attempt thanks to it.

The system is pretty easy. It’s divided into 8 steps:

  1. Select a specific certificate
  2. Understand the scope
  3. Get materials
  4. Understand the scope
  5. Understand the exam structure
  6. Repeat
  7. Test exams
  8. The exam

Yes, I know. 8 steps? Seriously? Don’t worry it’s much shorter than you think. So now let’s get to work.

In all my certification exams only one thing was common and that was Certification preparation questions that I got from JustCerts .com platform. At this site, you can get all kinds of IT Certification Exam practice questions at cheap price. You should try this.

Good Luck!!!

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Nice write up. Wish I had followed it a few times that is certain.