failed ICND1 exam - need advice

[JChief4040]

I'm kind of bummed out I purchased the Wendell Odom official guide and also took Bryant Advantage course for CCENT and was getting perfect scores on the test questions. The ICND1 exam actually surprised me because I didn't have hardly any questions that dealt with trying to find a valid range of IP addresses, valid subnets/hosts, binary math! Not only that I got a question on spanning tree protocol which seemed like it was for the ICND2? I was completely lost on one question that wanted me to complete the topology and want me to fill in the devices/ip addresses/etc and I skipped the question since I was spending too much time on it. Bad idea because that was my only opportunity to get the points for that whole category (hence 0%). Anybody here failed the test? I got 742.

Describe operation of data networks = 92%
Implement a small switched network = 63%
Implement an IP addressing scheme.. = 0%
Implement a small routed network = 69%
Explain tasks req'd for WLAN = 100%
Identify security threats to a network = 50%
Implement and verify WAN links = 75%

To me that's horrible but I was shocked since I aced the practice questions!! I was also dissapointed that they asked me which protocol was best effort delivery and did NOT offer UDP as a choice! This stuff is not covered in the Odom book, right? Any advice would be awesome. I need to study the Cisco way and apparently the ICND1 book doesn't cover everything that I will see on the test. It makes me wonder whether it would be a better choice to go straight to the CCNA exam.

[Kerry LeBlanc]

First, you need to remove your score before you get your hands slapped by the powers that be. It is not allowed. Second, don't feel bad, Many people fail Cisco exams on the first attempt. The trick is to learn from your experience. You have seen the exam and will be in a much better position to get ready for it the next time you write it. The two exam path is probably the best path unless you are recertifying. It is really design for those that have the experience with the Cisco technology already. The Odom book and the Bryant advantage material are great and have been shown to be sufficient in some cases. You really need to get on lab equipment or emulators as well. I found that McQuerry's books make some of the concepts much clearer. The quizzes here on Cisco's site will give you a great test as well.

Keep going and you will get it, just don't let it get you down.