The 8 hours lab exam will assess candidate’s skills through the entire network lifecycle of designing, deploying, operating and optimizing complex network scenarios.

The exam consists out of 2 modules that are fixed in time and will be delivered in a fixed sequence 

Module 1: Design (3 hours)

Module 2: Deploy, Operate and Optimize (5 hours)

Automation and Network Programmability skills, as per Exam Topics, are an integral part of both modules.

Candidates will be tested on varying technologies and solutions listed in the Exam Topics throughout both modules. While both modules independent from each other, there is a progressive storyline that will be built upon throughout the entire 8 hours lab practical exam. Candidates will not be able to navigate back-and-forward between modules.

Module 1: Design (3 hours)

The goal of this module is to measure ability to create, analyze, validate and optimize network designs, which is the base for all deployment activities. Candidates will need to:

• Understand capabilities of different technologies, solutions and services.
• Translate customer requirements into solutions.
• Assess readiness to support proposed solutions.

The module is scenario-based, without access to any devices. Candidates will be provided with a set of documentation required to discern before answering web-based items.

Examples of documentation include email threads, high-level design, network topology diagrams, customer requirements and restrictions, etc. Examples of web-based items include Drag-and-Drop, Multiple-Choice-Single-Answer, Multiple-Choice-Multiple-Answer, Dropdown items, etc.

During this module backward navigation will be disabled. As such, candidates will not have full visibility on all questions within this module. Points value(s) associated to each item are not displayed within this module.

Module 2: Deploy, Operate and Optimize (5 hours)

In this module, candidates will be deploying, operating and optimizing network technologies and solutions.

Deploy: Candidates will build the network according to the design specifications, customer requirements and restrictions. All steps required for a successful network implementation will be covered, including configuring, integrating and troubleshooting the commissioning of technologies and solutions, as per Exam Topics.

Operate and Optimize: Candidates will operate and optimize network technologies and solutions. This includes monitoring network health, network performance, configure the network to improve service quality, reduce disruptions, mitigate outages, reduce operating costs, and maintain high availability, reliability, and security, as well as diagnose potential issues and adjust configurations to align to changing business goals and/or technical requirements.

Documentation

Cisco documentation is available on-line during the exam using the Product Pages. Any documentation that can be navigated to (when not logged in), is available during the exam. Please note this website is Cisco hosted, and access may be limited or even unavailable occasionally due to system upgrades (or for other reasons). Candidates are not allowed to bring in any outside reference material into the lab.

Exam Score Evaluation and Reports

Each module has both a minimum score and a pass score. Both minimum and pass scores are set on a per-module basis, based upon exam difficulty level.

• The pass score corresponds with expert level competence.
• The minimum score is the absolute minimum score expected from an expert level candidate.

To pass the exam, candidates need to score higher than the aggregated pass score of both modules and score higher than the minimum score set on each of the modules individually.

If candidates score less than the overall aggregated pass score of both modules OR score less than the minimum score set on 1 (or more) of the individual modules, they will fail the exam.

Upon passing the exam, candidates will not be provided any additional score details.

Candidates that fail the exam will be given a score report, indicating what module(s) they passed or failed. Additionally, candidates will be provided cumulative scoring percentages on a per domain level, across both modules.