Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good reference for those with experience, September 25, 2006
This review is from: 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam: A Day-by-Day Quick Reference Study Guide (Paperback)
31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam is written for the Cisco Networking Academy student who is preparing for the CCNA exam. It is organized such that the student can break down important concepts into manageable chunks to study for the exam. The book could also be used for someone who is attempting to re-certify by taking either the 640-801 exam or the ICND exam.
Bennett does a great job summarizing the important concepts for the exam. Users should be cautioned, however, that this should not be the only source for study materials. There is very little in-depth coverage of the concepts. The book consistently refers the user back to the online Networking Academy curriculum for further information.
Bennett also goes a long way to alleviate the text anxiety that most students experience. He includes a section titled "Getting to Know the CCNA exam" that explains how the test is laid out, including types of questions that could be asked. He also includes a section titled "Exam day and Post-Exam Information" that gives exam-takers guidelines on what to expect after the exam, as well as what to do if they do not pass on the first attempt.
The Cisco IOS command line examples are a superb reference. However, I found the sections on Cisco IOS Access Lists to be lacking. Students struggle with Access List configuration, especially placement of the list. There is little to no coverage on Access List placement.
Diagrams and tables in the book are standard Cisco. Coverage of the OSI model is complete, as is the section on IP addressing. Wildcard masking is touched on to some extent; coverage could be more complete in this area. Coverage of LAN switching is also lacking.
Overall, 31Days Before Your CCNA Exam is a good reference. It is somewhat clumsy for the student to go back and forth between the book and the online curriculum. If this text is marketed to the Cisco Networking Academy Student, it would have been better if the book and the online curriculum were in the same order. I think that it is a much better reference for someone with experience on Cisco equipment who is attempting the CCNA certification initially, or someone who needs to re-certify. I also wish the book would have been bundled with some router simulation software for the non-academy user.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Must Get Reference Guide for CCNA!, November 1, 2006
This review is from: 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam: A Day-by-Day Quick Reference Study Guide (Paperback)
31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam is written exclusively for the Cisco Networking Academy student who is preparing for the CCNA exam. It is organized such that the student can break down important concepts into understandable chunks to study for the exam. This book does a very good job of preparing the reader by giving them a timetable to study and then finally take the exam.
Each day in this guide breaks down an exam topic into a manageable bit of information to review using short summaries from relevant parts of the four Networking Academy CCNA courses.
The author does a great job summarizing the important concepts for the exam, but this should not be the sole book to study in order to take the exam. The book refers the user back to the Networking Academy curriculum for reference and study help.
The author includes a section called "Getting to Know the CCNA exam" that explains how the test is laid out, including types of questions that could be asked. He also includes a section titled "Exam day and Post-Exam Information" that gives exam-takers guidelines on what to expect after the exam, as well as what to do if they do not pass on the first attempt.
The diagrams and tables in the book are standard Cisco artwork. Coverage of the OSI model is complete, as is the section on IP addressing. Wildcard masking is touched on to some extent; coverage could be more complete in this area. Coverage of LAN switching is also lacking.
Overall, 31Days Before Your CCNA Exam is a true gem. It really is for the Cisco student that has some experience and not just coming in "blind". The book really needed to have simulation software bundled with it since that is a major point of the Cisco CCNA exam. Use the day-by-day guide and checklist to organize, prepare, and review.
The best motivation for studying is scheduling an actual test date, so sign up and declare, "I am going to take the CCNA exam in 31 days, and this is what I will do to prepare leading up to the exam." Buy the book, it will definitely help you!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Detailed, Formal, Review of the Four Courses, December 16, 2006
This review is from: 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam: A Day-by-Day Quick Reference Study Guide (Paperback)
OK, so you've taken the four courses required for the CCNA exam. You know you need the piece of paper. You have one more task, Take The Test. Now what.
Now what you have to do is go back to all those courses and pull out what you need to review so your memory will be fresh, and of course unfailing.
This book is a guide to the review you need to make in the last 31 days before the test. It is broken down by days, with each day having six or seven pages of material you'll need to know. If you read these few pages and have no problems remembering the background and understanding in full what they are saying, you're in good shape.
But more important, it it brings up a subject that sounds like a foreign language, you'll know where to go back in the various text books to find the details. Remember this is not the course, this is a review of what you need to have gleaned out of the courses.
If you know what's here you'll be well on your way to passing the test.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
