Exam Contents

• There's no sure way to know precisely what will be on the exam, though the general exam contents are known. The exams consist of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and simulation questions covering subjects which include subnets, access lists, switching and routing protocols. The exam is meant to test practical application of subject knowledge, so questions will be geared toward network troubleshooting and setup.
  
  The single exam, 640-802 is 90 minutes and contains 40 to 55 questions. The 640-822 ICND 1 exam is 90 minutes with 40 to 50 questions and concentrates on small networks, while the 640-816 ICND2 exam is 75 minutes covering small to medium enterprise networks. The two ICND exams cover the same information as that contained in the single exam.
  
  

Courses

• For the most complete training there are multiple CCNA training courses available. In-person and online these training courses can offer you personalized instruction in all areas covered by the CCNA exams. Training courses can take from six weeks to six months, depending on the intensity and time invested. Along with instructors, most courses offer simulations to test your knowledge against and practice exams. Some may also offer actual equipment for hands-on experience.
  
  While these are most likely to give you the level of training necessary to completely understand the subject matter, training courses are the more expensive route to learning the information. Also, the time necessary to take a course may make them prohibitive if you're trying to take the course while working. For those without the ability to devote a large amount of appointed time to a course there's the self-study method or preparation.
  
  

Study Guides

• If you need to get the information and can't make it to a training course, your next best method to study for the CCNA is through some of the many books and study guides available. When choosing a study guide, it's best to go with several guides rather than a single one. Through a combination of book and study guides you can obtain all the theory for the exams you need. They cover every aspect of networking and can prepare you for most questions in the exams.
  
  What the study guides can't give you is the practical experience in dealing with setup and troubleshooting. While nothing can substitute for hands-on work with the equipment, the study guides with additional simulation software can provide the next best thing to being in front of an actual router or switch.