From: Gary Duncanson (gary.duncanson@googlemail.com)
Date: Wed Feb 27 2008 - 11:26:51 ARST
Jeffrey,
Im sorry to hear this as I know you are 'timeserved' on the list. You should 
take heart that many good engineers take 4 or more shots to clear this exam. 
You should also be encouraged that many people have passed the exam in 
similar circumstances to yourself busy with work and family and trying to 
shoe in the necessary study time.
For my part I also work fulltime and with a 5 month son Im very busy on the 
homefront myself.  I have to keep my energy levels high where Im needed at 
work and at home so like yourself I can't just lock myself away for extended 
periods studying. So it's a slow process but no less rewarding.
To improve your chances of passing you have to get to certain level. With my 
programme I expect to peak in June by which time I should have finally 
accumulated enough racktime to go for my first attempt. I still require 
three or four months elapsed time to prepare properly for the test. I expect 
to be taking a couple of weeks off before my lab test.
You are probably not far away now. It might be prudent to give yourself an 
extended window of preparation (say three more months) so that you can 
revisit all the areas you need to work on without being rushed. The 
alternative may be to hammer things and risk another fail. I use IPExpert 
myself and have found the technology labs very useful, but Im also 
reinforcing the experience by working patiently through the Solie labs and 
examples in Doyle and Im finding that this really helps understand better 
the things I am doing in labbooks and pick up the things I need to know that 
are not covered in labbooks.
All of this takes time. Later next month I will start a battery of mock 
exams over the course of 6 weeks to see where I am at, and continue to read 
and lab technology examples on the rack at home.
If you need an email study partner send me a question of the day anytime. Im 
on UK time so that should help out when you are studying early in the 
morning.
All the best
Gary
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeffrey Biggs" <j.biggs@myactv.net>
To: "'Cisco certification'" <ccielab@groupstudy.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 11:53 AM
Subject: Down for the count.....
> Took the RS Lab for the 3rd time..no go.
>
>
>
> I am getting to the point where all the time and money I am spending is 
> out
> weighing the reward here.  Not to mention the family sacrifice that my 
> wife
> and kids are making to allow me the time to study.  The frustration is
> kicking in big time, I lab with Netmaster and IPExpert (this is not a 
> knock
> on them, they have been GREAT) but I am just missing something.
>
>
>
> I have no one to study with because I live out in the middle of nowhere in
> Northern Maryland, so I have to rely on what I read or do and have no one 
> to
> bounce it off of.  I know I have the GS site, but that is not the same as
> having a couple of study partners to work with on a topic over a weekend. 
> I
> am beginning to think that the "3 strikes you're out" rule is coming into
> play.
>
>
>
> I am not sure what else to do; is there anyone who can offer some 
> assistance
> here?  Been in this position and made it?  I just have had it with the 
> long
> drive down to RTP and back, spending $1500 (hotel cost and lab) for lunch
> and getting pissed off at every return.  I put in at least 4+ hours a day
> studying and lab'ing.  I have my own rack of equipment that I can access
> from work, so when things are slow there, I am lab'ing.
>
>
>
> Signed.
>
> Frustrated to NO end.
>
> JB
>
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