CCNP Routing and Switching SWITCH 300-115 Official Cert Guide (2015)

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Tools for Final Preparation

This section lists some information about exam preparation tools and how to access the tools.

Exam Engine and Questions on the CD

The CD in the back of the book includes the Pearson Cert Practice Test (PCPT) engine. This software presents you with a set of multiple-choice questions, covering the topics you will be likely find on the real exam. The PCPT engine lets you study the exam content (using study mode) or take a simulated exam (in practice exam mode).

The CD in the back of the book contains the exam engine. Once installed, you can then activate and download the current SWITCH practice exam from Pearson’s website. Installation of the exam engine takes place in two steps:

Step 1. Install the exam engine from the CD.

Step 2. Activate and download the SWITCH practice exam.

Install the Exam Engine

The following are the steps you should perform to install the software:

Step 1. Insert the CD into your computer.

Step 2. The software that automatically runs is the Cisco Press software to access and use all CD-based features, including the exam engine and the CD-only appendixes. From the main menu, click the option to Install the Exam Engine.

Step 3. Respond to the prompt windows as you would with any typical software installation process.

The installation process gives you the option to activate your exam with the activation code supplied on the paper in the CD sleeve. This process requires that you establish a Pearson website login. You will need this login to activate the exam. Therefore, please register when prompted. If you already have a Pearson website login, you do not need to register again; just use your existing login.

Activate and Download the Practice Exam

Once the exam engine is installed, you should then activate the exam associated with this book (if you did not do so during the installation process), as follows:

Step 1. Start the PCPT software.

Step 2. To activate and download the exam associated with this book, from the My Products or Tools tab, click the Activate button.

Step 3. At the next screen, enter the Activation Key from the paper inside the cardboard CD holder in the back of the book. Once entered, click the Activate button.

Step 4. The activation process will download the practice exam. Click Next; then click Finish.

Once the activation process is completed, the My Products tab should list your new exam. If you do not see the exam, make sure that you selected the My Products tab on the menu. At this point, the software and practice exam are ready to use. Simply select the exam, and click the Usebutton.

To update a particular exam you have already activated and downloaded, select the Tools tab, and then click the Update Products button. Updating your exams will ensure that you have the latest changes and updates to the exam data.

If you want to check for updates to the PCPT exam engine software, select the Tools tab, and then click the Update Application button. This will ensure that you are running the latest version of the software engine.

Activating Other Exams

The exam software installation process, and the registration process, only has to happen once. Then, for each new exam, only a few steps are required. For instance, if you buy another new Cisco Press Official Cert Guide or Pearson IT Certification Cert Guide, remove the activation code from the CD sleeve in the back of that book—you do not even need the CD at this point. From there, all you have to do is start the exam engine (if not still up and running), and perform Steps 2 through 4 from the previous list.

Premium Edition

In addition to the free practice exam provided on the CD-ROM, you can purchase additional exams with expanded functionality directly from Pearson IT Certification. The Premium Edition of this title contains an additional two full practice exams as well as an eBook (in both PDF and ePub format). In addition, the Premium Edition title also has remediation for each question to the specific part of the eBook that relates to that question.

Because you have purchased the print version of this title, you can purchase the Premium Edition at a deep discount. You will find a coupon code in the CD sleeve that contains a one-time-use code, in addition to instructions for where you can purchase the Premium Edition.

To view the Premium Edition product page, go to www.ciscopress.com/title/9781587205606.

The Cisco Learning Network

Cisco provides a wide variety of CCNP preparation tools at a Cisco website called the Cisco Learning Network. Resources found here include sample questions, forums on each Cisco exam, learning video games, and information about each exam.

To reach the Cisco Learning Network, go to learningnetwork.cisco.com, or just search for “Cisco Learning Network.” To access some of the features/resources, you need to use the login you created at Cisco.com. If you do not have such a login, you can register for free. To register, just go to Cisco.com, click Register at the top of the page, and supply some information.

Memory Tables

Like most Certification Guides from Cisco Press, this book purposefully organizes information into tables and lists for easier study and review. Rereading these tables can be very useful before the exam. However, it is easy to skim over the tables without paying attention to every detail, especially when you remember having seen the table’s contents when reading the chapter.

Instead of simply reading the tables in the various chapters, this book’s Appendixes C and D give you another review tool. Appendix C, “Memory Tables,” lists partially completed versions of many of the tables from the book. You can open Appendix C (a PDF on the CD that comes with this book) and print the appendix. For review, you can attempt to complete the tables. This exercise can help you focus during your review. It also exercises the memory connectors in your brain; plus it makes you think about the information without as much information, which forces a little more contemplation about the facts.

Appendix D, “Memory Table Answer Key,” also a PDF located on the CD, lists the completed tables to check yourself. You can also just refer to the tables as printed in the book.

Chapter-Ending Review Tools

Chapters 1 through 22 each have several features in the “Exam Preparation Tasks” section at the end of the chapter. You might have used some or all of these tools at the end of each chapter, but it can also be useful to use these tools again as you make your final preparations for the exam.

Study Plan

With plenty of resources at your disposal, you should approach studying for the CCNP SWITCH exam with a plan. Consider the following ideas as you move from reading this book to preparing for the exam.

Recall the Facts

As with most exams, many facts, concepts, and definitions must be recalled to do well on the test. If you do not work with every Cisco LAN switching feature on a daily basis, you might have trouble remembering everything that might appear on the CCNP SWITCH exam.

You can refresh your memory and practice recalling information by reviewing the activities in the “Exam Preparation Tasks” section at the end of each chapter. These sections will help you study key topics, memorize the definitions of important LAN switching terms, and recall the basic command syntax of configuration and verification commands.

Practice Configurations

The CCNP exams include an emphasis on practical knowledge. You need to be familiar with switch features and the order in which configuration steps should be implemented. You also need to know how to plan a LAN switching project and how to verify your results.

This means that hands-on experience is going to take you over the top to confidently and accurately build or verify configurations (and pass the exam). If at all possible, try to gain access to some Cisco Catalyst switches and spend some time working with various features.

If you have access to a lab provided by your company, take advantage of it. You might also have some Cisco equipment in a personal lab at home. Otherwise, there are a number of sources for lab access, including online rack rentals from trusted Cisco Partners and the Cisco Partner E-Learning Connection (PEC), if you work for a Partner. Nothing beats hands-on experience.

In addition, you can review the key topics in each chapter and follow the example configurations in this book. At the least, you will see the command syntax and the sequence in which the configuration commands should be entered.

Using the Exam Engine

The PCPT engine on the CD lets you access a database of questions created specifically for this book. The PCPT engine can be used either in study mode or practice exam mode, as follows:

Study mode: Study mode is most useful when you want to use the questions for learning and practicing. In study mode, you can select options like randomizing the order of the questions and answers, automatically viewing answers to the questions as you go, testing on specific topics, and many other options.

Practice exam mode: This mode presents questions in a timed environment, providing you with a more exam-realistic experience. It also restricts your ability to see your score as you progress through the exam and view answers to questions as you are taking the exam. These timed exams not only allow you to study for the actual 300-115 SWITCH Exam, they also help you simulate the time pressure that can occur on the actual exam.

When doing your final preparation, you can use study mode, practice exam mode, or both. However, after you have seen each question a couple of times, you will likely start to remember the questions, and the usefulness of the exam database may go down. So, consider the following options when using the exam engine:

Use the question database for review. Use study mode to study the questions by chapter, just as with the other final review steps listed in this chapter. Consider upgrading to the Premium Edition of this book if you want to take additional simulated exams.

Save the question database, not using it for review during your review of each book part. Save it until the end so that you will not have seen the questions before. Then, use practice exam mode to simulate the exam.

To select the exam engine mode, click the My Products tab. Select the exam you want to use from the list of available exams, and then click the Use button. The engine should display a window from which you can choose Study Mode or Practice Exam Mode. When in study mode, you can further choose the book chapters, limiting the questions to those explained in the specified chapters of the book.