The Routing and Switching Written Exam
The Routing and Switching written exam consists of a 2-hour exam administered at a proctored exam facility affiliated either with Pearson VUE or Thomson Prometric . The exam typically includes approximately 100 multiple-choice questions, with no simulation questions currently on the written exam. Because the written exam is typically followed at some point by an attempt at passing the lab exam, Cisco has little motivation to add simulator questions to any of the written exams.
As with most exams of any kind, everyone wants to know what is on the exam. Cisco provides general guidance as to topics on the exam in the Routing and Switching written exam blueprint, the most recent copy of which can be accessed at Cisco official site changes both the written and lab blueprints over time, and with , Cisco seldom, if ever,changes the exam number. (Cisco changes the exam numbers of the associate- and professionallevel certifications when it makes major changes to what is covered on those exams.) Knowing that the content will change over time, this book includes Appendix B, “ Exam Updates.” This appendix will include coverage of any newly added topics to the Routing and Switching written exam. When Cisco changes the blueprint, the authors will add content to cover the new topics at Ciscopress site, with that content also being available to all readers who have bought the earlier edition of the book. For future printings, Cisco Press will put that new content into Appendix B.The Routing and Switching written exam blueprint, as of the time of publication, is as follows:
I. General Networking Theory
A. OSI Models
B. General Routing Concepts
C. Standards
D. Protocol Mechanics
E. Commands
II. Bridging and LAN Switching
A. Transparent
B. LAN Switching
C. MLS
E. Ethernet
F. Catalyst IOS Configuration Commands
III. IP
A. Addressing
B. Services
C. Applications
D. Transport
E. IPv6
F. Network Management
IV. IP Routing
A. OSPF
B. BGP
C. EIGRP
D. Route filtering and Policy Routing
E. DDR
F. RIPv2
G. The use of ‘show’ and ‘debug’ commands
V. QoS
A. Traffic classification
B. Congestion management
C. Congestion avoidance
VI. WAN
A. Frame Relay
B. Physical Layer
C. Leased Line Protocols
VII. IP Multicast
A. IGMP/CGMP
B. Addressing
C. Distribution Trees
D. PIM-SM Mechanics
E. Rendezvous Points
F. RPF
VIII. Security
A. Access Lists
B. LAN security
C. Device Security/Access
D. Spoofing
IX. Enterprise Wireless Mobility
A. Standards
B. Hardware
C. SWAN
D. RF Troubleshooting
E. VoWLAN
F. Products
The blueprint tells you what major topics to study, and which not to study by implication. However,the blueprint does not provide many details about the scope and depth covered for each topic. For example, the blueprint lists BGP, without any details. While the lack of details on the depth and breadth of coverage may be a little frustrating, the positive perspective is that the lab can cover far more details-so it is never a bad idea to study too many details for the written exam, because the extra topics are probably topics that could be on the lab exam anyway.
Knowing what topics Cisco does not list in the blueprint is also useful, particularly topics that Cisco has removed from earlier blueprints. For example, Cisco announced the removal of ISDN/DDR, IS-IS, ATM, and SONET from the written exam blueprint during the summer if 2005, making it a reasonable strategy to simply not study those topics today. Also, there is a possibility that MPLS might be added back to the exam-check for the latest information regarding MPLS or any other new or deleted blueprint topics.

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