How to prepare CCIE

I was irresolute about it when I decided to enter for CCIE , being at a loss about whether it can benefit me a lot like a fresh graduate. Especially others’ comments such as CCIE only a certificate unable to demonstrate your practical ability, there was alternative to take this exam after you were employed with enough money, all these words left me in a dilemma. Although what they said seemed to make some sense, I insisted that taking the CCIE exam is just the beginning, rather than the end. There are few people who can boast the competence and strength perfectly matched with the certificate as soon as gaining the CCIE certification. I reckoned, moreover, that it would be more twists and turns than do it now, if I chose to take CCIE exam when I became well-deserved CCIE. Taking CCIE exam was intended not to prove that I already possessed the equivalent expertise as the paper certificate, but to become real CCIE at a higher pace, to be determined to become CCIE, to pave the way for becoming CCIE. Thereupon I followed what I thought inside my mind, resolving to become CCIE as early as possible.

I waited for a whole month to obtain my CCIE certificate which process was different from others.

The experiences from the day I set off to Beijing to the day I was seen “pass” , were full of unexpected changes.

 I arrived Beijing on April 20 when was also my birthday. I was kind of excited, counting on passing the CCIE exam as my birthday present. I read the test questions, as delighted as the weather in Beijing. However, I met with some troubles when doing TS tests. As I speed-read the allocation out of time urgency, I did badly in the first three test questions. I felt hopeless and tried best to do the rest. Then I calmed down gradually to cautiously deal with the allocation and error troubleshooting, which were totally debugged beyond my expectation. Although it took more half an hour than usual, at least all the bugs were discovered.

I continued to take the allocation seriously for the following DIAN and version test. As it is, I accomplished the two tests smoothly. Stepping out of the lab room, I was confident about my result. After Reporting the test performance to Hui Ge, I returned to the guest area for a rest.

I waited for the CCIE results in a state of fevered anticipation, cannot help logging in to check it some minutes. The funny thing was that I was restricted to log in when the mail relating to result inquiring was received. I kept on refreshing the log-in until 2: 00 AM but in vain. So, I forced to give up. What a joke on me, I thought, maybe it can be seen in the next morning.

After waking up, I hurried to check my result, but to my disappointment, I failed. I can’t accept the heart-broken failure which sent me into a downward spiral. Huige told me that something special happened to me and asked me if I was willing to choose the make-up examination which in fact was difficult for me to make a decision. On the one hand, I was sure to pass the second exam. On the other hand, I got stuck with the re-exam fee 6000 Yuan. If it passed, the fee can be returned back to me. Instead, the fee was not refundable if you were a loser. But I cannot afford to the fee now. Helplessly, I turned to my parents who were ignorant of what CCIE is like and wondered if I was cheated when they are told that 6000yuan were needed for the re-examination. I understood fully their concerns. It was such an unbelievable thing to spend so much money on CCIE for the people who were not familiar with CCIE. Meanwhile I was aware that I had to find other solution to raise fund secretively. eventually I put together the needed fee via credit card.

I entered for the re-exam and followed the long and torturous wait.   

On May 20^th, two emails of result notice were finally sent to me. When I read the Emails, confirming that I passed it with my own CCIE certificate. Nothing can describe what I felt at the moment. Recalling the whole process, all sorts of feelings filled in my mind. I informed Huige this good news at once as the last result disappointed him.

I felt very lucky to choose SPOTO among the variety of institutions. Thanks to SPOTO, it led me into the CCIE road. I extend my sincere gratitude to a group of excellent teachers, lovely and humorous SPOTO partners, hoping they are better and better.