DESGN Exam 640-861: Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions
E X A M D I F F I C U L T Y
SYNOPSIS • CCDAvs
Cisco’s exam 640-861, Designing for Cisco Internetwork
Solutions (DESGN), is the one exam required to achieve the Cisco Certified Design
Associate certification. It is an entry level exam for IT professionals who
have a foundation or apprentice knowledge of network design for the Cisco Internetwork
Infrastructure, and who can design routed and switched network infrastructures
involving LAN, WAN, and dial access services for businesses and organizations.
There is no specific prerequisite for this exam but Cisco states that a CCNA
certification is highly recommended, as well as that a candidate should have
the knowledge and skills to install, configure, and
operate basic network infrastructures.
Cisco does not publish the
pass score for this exam, which can include these types of questions: multiple-choice single answer, multiple-choice multiple
answer, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blank, and simulations. The exam has
around 64 questions and lasts 90 minutes.
Make sure you know your goals and constraints like the back of you hand. Not to technical a couple IP addressing ? and a few Protocol ?, most on the goals and constraints. I have taken it once and failed still studying for the second try.
Passing score high
grodoni on Friday, December 02, 2005
exam doen on 2.12.05 passing score 825/100 !!
did 818/1000 not passed !
In 2001 the passing score was 750/1000 !!
Difficult but definatly doable
everqueztz on Monday, May 16, 2005
Know Business/Technical Goals along with constraints like the back of your hand before you even think of trying this exam. Be thuroughly familar with IPv6. Understand Prototype networks extensively. Have fun
Average to hard
drax2799 on Friday, December 17, 2004
Take it more than once (yes, on purpose) to get a great feel for the exam. Conceptually based... very nice. Have a crystal clear knowledge of business/technical constraints vs. goals (And I mean *crystal* clear)... Not a topic to half-ass if you want to pass. 55 ?'s, 4 of which were 4-part questions.
Not very pratical or useful.
cmx on Saturday, October 09, 2004
Failed it first time with an 802 (824 needed I believe). OK my bad. However the exam relies on significant memorization (not skill) of impractical procedures that will almost never come up for an entry level tech/engineer, which is all anyone will get with a CCNA/DA. I work with a Cisco/Juniper engineer that has more than 12 years experience and he even said having the CCDA would never get me any additional consideration for a job in most markets. If you don't require the CCDA, skip it and move on to the CCNP.
Tech or not again
sfmframe on Wednesday, June 23, 2004
I know they're tough but its still a funny feeling -strangely not too much of a downer - walking out from an exam with 80% and knowing I've failed. S'pose you know 4 out of 5 ain't bad.
The pain is that it is not so technical - more qualitative than quantitative and there is a distinct head twist for any techie to get around.
The usual Cisco nippy 825 to pass, I pumped out an 883 second time around.
Afterwards, pass or fail, have a drink, go on.
network specialist
orkunsenturk on Thursday, March 04, 2004
I want to be Big network Specialist
Hope you're a fast reader!
ICowan on Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Lots of IPv6. 72 questions in 90 minutes makes this a test of fast reading, quick comprehension, and immediate decision of your answer. You haven't got much time to think about your answer. Decide quickly and move on!
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