CCIE Lab Advice

This was a past Lab Advice from someone attending a QA session with Bill Parkhurst a long time ago. I have updated it a little to be posted here, but most of it still holds true.

The #1 reason for failure is lack of knowledge.
- Study concepts. Do not try to memorize configurations or scenarios.
For example, understand how an OSPF DR is chosen. The lab proctors generally power cycle all of the equipment BEFORE grading. This could change your OSPF DR if you didn't configure the router you want to always be the DR properly.
- Practice each concept on its own. For example, practice OSPF WITHOUT also turning on BGP. This will ensure that any behaviors you see are attributed ONLY to OSPF and you don't confuse a behavior that was caused by BGP to be an OSPF behavior.
- Practice Labs should be used for self evaluation. Time yourself when using a practice lab to simulate the CCIE Lab Exam experience. Only use the practice lab 1 time.

The #2 reason for failure is anxiety.
- To reduce anxiety, travel to your lab location early the day before. Visit the CCIE lab facilities the day before if possible.
- Have confidence in your abilities. If you have been studying the technology and concepts, you are ready for ANY scenario. The core R&S concepts include Layer 2 switching, VLANs, IGPs, FR, and BGP.
- If you do get jammed up on a topic, try to drop it and come back to it, even if that means configuring a work around so you can move on. Let the solution come to you while thinking on other topics, or spend time at the end of the day on it, so you do not run out of time, and miss other topics because of it.
- If needed, take a break and go to the bathroom, or get a drink and a take a minute to relax. This may seem contradictory of having a time limit, but it will help clear you head to use the time you do have more effectively.

Practice good test taking skills.
- Skim the exam for the first 5 to 10 minutes once you get it.
- Spend a reasonable amount of time diagramming your network. This diagram will help you to understand things, as well as provide benefits throughout the rest of the exam.
- Use documentation or help commands to configure the remaining exam requirements that you are not familiar with LAST...remember this is a Pass or Fail exam. You only need 80 points. Not all 100 points.
- If you believe you have a hardware problem, do NOT spend more than 10 minutes trying to fix the hardware. Ask the lab proctor to investigate the issue. The lab proctor will stop the clock and send you away while he/she checks the hardware. If it is a hardware problem, the proctor will resolve and restart your clock. If it is NOT a hardware problem, you will at least KNOW it is not a hardware problem. On the other hand, if you have a hardware problem that you spend 90 minutes trying to resolve, you will not regain this time after you and the proctor finally replace the hardware.
- You are allowed to ask the proctor anything. But ask intelligent questions, as you need to convey to the proctor that you understand the material but just need clarification on the wording of the requirement. For example, if you are unsure of what a question is asking, ask the proctor something like this:
If I interpret this question this way......then I plan to do X. But If I interpret this question this other way......then I plan to do Y. Which way should I interpret it?

Miscellaneous:
- Lab exams are usually about 17 pages long.
- A new lab is written every month and an old lab is retired every month. There are more than 1 lab exams available to be given at any time. Each lab achieves roughly the same pass rate.
- The average person that passes the CCIE exam takes 2.5 lab attempts.
CCIE candidates can cancel a lab exam up to 28 days before their exam date WITHOUT being charged. Therefore, if you are willing to take an exam in 4 weeks, you can usually schedule it in 4 weeks. Otherwise, your lab exam will probably be 6 months out.
- Grading is done with an automated script. The script gives full credit for any question that works properly. If a particular question does not work properly, the lab proctor manually checks to validate whether or not the question was answered properly. Partial credit is not given. 5 point questions are rare. When they do occur, there is usually a modular piece to it so that 2 or 3 points can be earned without getting all 5 points