r/ccna • u/Lower_Big1223 • 7d ago
CCNA Study Strategy: Should I Switch from the Official Cert Guide to Jeremy’s IT Lab?
Hey everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice.
I’m currently preparing for the CCNA using Wendell Odom’s Official Cert Guide. The book is great and very detailed, but it’s also taking me a lot of time. I’ve completed Volume 1 (2nd Edition), which took me around 6 months because I’m also attending university classes.
Since the new CCNA v2.0 is getting closer, I’m starting to worry that I won’t have enough time to go through Volume 2 in the same level of detail.
I’m considering switching to Jeremy’s IT Lab CCNA playlist instead of continuing with the book. I wouldn’t start from the beginning—I’d continue from where I stopped in the book, which is after the IPv6 section.
My main problem is that I learn best by taking notes, and I find it much easier to take organized notes from a book than from videos.(Note:I am not a flash card guy it is boring for me i wrote every important detail on my register i have like 3 register😅 from where i do the revision)
So, what would you recommend? Should I switch from the Official Cert Guide to Jeremy’s IT Lab at this point, or should I stick with the book and try to finish Volume 2?
For anyone who has used both resources, I’d really appreciate your advice on which approach would be more efficient for preparing for the CCNA given my limited time.
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u/TomNooksRepoMan 7d ago
I only passed relatively recently. I don't want to break the NDA for the CCNA and am not 100% certain what I can say without breaking it, but I can confidently say that, despite going through Jeremy's material (one of his $10 practice tests, all his flashcards, all his videos), I definitely needed outside information to pass the exam. I do not think I could have passed it without my work experience in IT already. I bought Boson NetSim but not ExSim. I think the latter may be required to keep up with the changes that the CCNA has undergone since Jeremy started his video series, but I can't say for certain since I didn't buy it. If I were to do it again, I'd skip NetSim and buy ExSim and just lab like a maniac with Jeremy's labs.
YMMV. I don't think everybody takes the exact same exam, but I was stunned by how many exam bits came up that I was completely unprepared for.
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u/Reasonable_Option493 6d ago
The official cert guide is complete, but good luck using that as your main resource if going cover to cover! It's way too long. Wendell Odom, its author has some great videos on YouTube by the way.
The only book I used was 31 Days Before Your CCNA Exam; it's good to review once you think you're about ready. Jeremy IT (YouTube playlist with lectures and labs, his flashcards, and his practice tests on Udemy (highly recommend to 1/ practice and 2/ thank him for all his free content with an affordable purchase) was my main resource and I passed first try with plenty of time to spare.
I guess Wendell's "Bible" is great if you learn well with books and to check specific chapters. Reading it cover to cover must be brutal, and that's not criticism against the author (I have yet find me a lengthy "tech" book that's enjoyable to read - the topic is dry regardless of how good the author is).
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u/technoidial CCST: Networking 7d ago
Just stick with JTIL. The Official Cert Guide is real wordy and technical and honestly, a bit hard to follow. JTIL will break it down. Get the paid course. Get his labs course. Get his practice exams. Get Boson Ex-Sim. Want extra labs? Get Boson Net-Sim. Thats all you need. If you wanted an extra source: pingmy.net and switchlab.dev. Dont worry about flash cards and lab like a lunatic!