Getting ready to take my Network+, very Scared

[OceanPacific]

Im nervous as ca be dudes! I cant fail this test, my career depends on it. I have until September to take this test and I need to do it soon but im afraid of failing it.

Any tips, thoughts of encouragement?

sorry about the double post, my internet is acting funny

[OceanPacific]

Im nervous as can be dudes! I cant fail this test, my career depends on it. I have until September to take this test and I need to do it soon but im afraid of failing it.

Any tips, thoughts of encouragement?

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by OceanPacific

Im nervous as ca be dudes! I cant fail this test, my career depends on it.

Chill out mate, it can’t be that bad.

[GiddyG]

Originally Posted by OceanPacific

Im nervous as ca be dudes! I cant fail this test, my career depends on it. I have until September to take this test and I need to do it soon but im afraid of failing it.

Any tips, thoughts of encouragement?

Assuming that you've been using either the Groth or the Meyers book to study, and if you're getting good scores on the tests, you'll be fine.

Make sure you concentrate on your weak areas in the time available to you between now and the exam - you will know what they are from the tests you've taken.

In the exam itself, give yourself plenty of time to read through all the questions (and your answers) again. Also, make sure you read the questions fully. As an example, there may be some where the question says something along the lines of "Which of these is not a valid client IPv4 address?". Make sure you see the "not". It means the difference between a right and a wrong answer.

Oh, and all the best...

[Bluerinse]

Exams are daunting for sure, but the N+ as far as i can tell, isnt one that is likely to bite you in the ass. Study hard and sit the exam.. job done.

I trust you have read Mal's N+ Blog, pinned to the top of the N+ forum?

[Mitzs]

do you have an exp at all? Have you been studying for it? What books do you have? If you have untill Sept you have more then enough time to prepare for it if that is what your worried about.

[greenbrucelee]

If you have studied and practiced for it then you should be ok.

Good luck

[BosonMichael]

Fear and nervousness can absolutely cause you to fail; they can cause you to miss crucial details, to overthink the questions, and to second-guess the knowledge you worked hard to gain. Relax. The best you can do is the best you can do.

Nobody wants to fail... but what's the worst that'll happen if you do? The worst-case scenario is that you fail the exam and you have to pay to take it again. If your career truly depends on passing the exam, then paying for the exam a second time is a small price to pay, is it not?

That said... don't go into the exam expecting to fail. Expect to pass. If you're weak on a subject, study that subject.

Don't just memorize the material... strive to understand the material. When you truly understand it, it's a LOT easier to remember it.

It all sounds simple... but sometimes, these things need to be pointed out, if for no other reason than to provide a morale and confidence boost... so you can know, "Hey, I *can* do this."

[sunn]

You're so scared you posted this twice...
If you've been preparing go in with confidence. Go in determined and ready (and rested). If, in the end, you fail - you fail! Pick yourself up and prepare again, with emphasis on the weak points.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves... because you're gonna pass -right?

[tripwire45]

Readiness for a test is a very subjective experience, however there are some things you can do to objectify it (and thus let us understand a little where you are in your readiness).

I think some of this has already been mentioned but here it is:

• What books and other resources have you used to study for this exam?
• Have you been testing yourself with some sort of mock testing software (i.e. Trancender, Boson, etc...)?
• How long have you been studying?
• Which areas do you feel the strongest in and the weakest in?

Do you absolutely *have* to pass the first time or do you just have to pass by September? I'm asking this last question to try and put some perspective on the urgency of the situation. If you must past the first time but you don't have to pass until September, you still have six months to prepare and that should be sufficient time...even if you've just started studying.

If you've got some time left, start by answering some of these questions here in this thread. Perhaps together, we can all get a handle on this situation and organize a study plan for you in which you can be successful.

Cheers.

-Trip

EDIT: I merged the two threads since each one had responses. It'll look a tad disjointed, but at least the conversation is now contained in a single thread.

[OceanPacific]

Sorry about the double post guys, stupid internet in that satellite office i was in today was horribly slow.
Thanks so much for your responses!

Anyway, yes, ive taken the N+ class, aced it with a 98. However, that was two years ago. I still use it on a daily basis at work. See, I do IT support for four different offices. It includes basically everything from desktop support, network and server installations and deployment, and active directory administration. The only thing I dont do is work on the exchange server and the citrix metaframe server.

I work with basic network stuff on a daily basis and I feel pretty confident, the only thing im not real familiar with are fiberoptic stuff, like (i think im saying this right) FX/TX1000BT, and the like. And I usually flub up on questions on the OSI model.

Im nervous because I took my MCSA two years ago and didnt pass. I wasnt really ready. I think im ready for this but I want to be totally sure as im bucking for a raise and this is whats going to land it for me, and help me to find a new job when I eventually try to move back to the coast.

I have mike myers Network+ Passport, and I have the Thompson Network+ guide to networks that I used in my class in college two years ago.

So, I guess im ready, im just nervous.

[tripwire45]

Originally Posted by OceanPacific

I have mike myers Network+ Passport, and I have the Thompson Network+ guide to networks that I used in my class in college two years ago.

So, I guess im ready, im just nervous.

When is the last time you studied from those books? If you haven't looked at them more than casually in two years, you might want to go over them so see how familiar the content feels.

From what you say about your day-to-day experience, I'm sure you're in the right place to be ready for this test, but if you aren't sure, you might want to invest in some mock testing software such as are put out by Transcender or Boson and use that as an objective measuring stick. If you do well on one of those exams, you'll probably do well on the real thing.

If your boss isn't shelling out the dough for the exam, just book it and take it. If you pass, you can use the cert to ask for a raise. If for some reason, you don't pass, you'll have valuable information about where you need to improve (don't tell your boss). Study up on your weak areas and take it again (passing this time, of course).

Oh...if the OSI model is a weak area for you, you'd better study up on it hard. The exam really requires that you know it frontwards and backwards.

[OceanPacific]

Yeah, the passport book came with a free software by Learnkey, and ive been acing it. The OSI model is a weakspot for me, I really need to study up on it (its just one of those things you dont think about on a daily basis, you know?)

But I have been studying the passport book, I like the way its laid out.

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by tripwire45

...you might want to invest in some mock testing software such as are put out by Transcender or Boson and use that as an objective measuring stick.

Thank you kindly for the props, Trip. However, Boson does not yet have an ExSim-Max product available for Network+, and I'm not sure of the quality of the old ExSim stuff. I'd rather be honest than promote a product I am unsure about.

OP, you might want to check with Mike Meyers regarding new stuff in the Network+ not covered by his books. He was kind enough to develop additional material specifically for the mini-update that occurred recently. You can find information here: link

Hope that helps!

[tripwire45]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

Thank you kindly for the props, Trip. However, Boson does not yet have an ExSim-Max product available for Network+, and I'm not sure of the quality of the old ExSim stuff. I'd rather be honest than promote a product I am unsure about.

Wow! I'm shocked. I assumed (I know...my bad) that they would since the Network+ exam is so basic.