30 days left before payment. Now is probably a good time for one last check whether the lab preparation strategy is all in order. Thus far the strategy was quite simple:
1. Begin with professional level theory via CCIP
2. Use professional level theory for preparation for the SP written
3. Pass the written
4. Book the lab
5. Practice individual technologies via focus/tech labs
6. Practice full scale labs
7. Attempt the Cisco lab
Well if only we lived in a stable perfect world. Since Cisco now introduced the core knowledge questions to the security lab and made it clear that they intend to introduce it to all tracks, it is obvious that SP or voice will be next. Speculation is worthless, but if the trend is something to go by, SP will be next. The trend being the most to least CCIE numbers: RS – Sec – SP – Voice. By the time I sit the lab almost a year would have passed since I started with the theory prep. It is unknown when Cisco will make the announcement but with only four months to go, the study schedule is quite tight. If I don’t prepare for the worst and Cisco make the announcement that core knowledge will be on the SP lab, I wont have enough time to recover. I would have to drop something in the lab preparation to make way to review the theory material. Therefor I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. I am considering to supplement practice labs with reading Cisco documentation in more depth or use two to three weeks before the lab to refresh on theory. I might have known the header fields and sizes for the written, but doubt whether I will still know them by September. I am hoping either strategy or a combination of both will work.
Gloomy figure: After making the adjustments to compensate for the theory, the hours scheduled for the last 120 days adds to 600 hours. This averages 5 hours a day. Somehow I know something will break. Me, the schedule or the lab.
