The CCNA Subnetting Questions Hit Different at 2 AM
Real talk. I studied for the CCNA while working full-time, and most of my study sessions happened after 10 PM. If you've ever tried to calculate a /27 subnet mask when your brain wants to shut down, you know exactly what I mean.But I passed. 870 out of 1000. And here's what actually helped.Forget the 200-page study guidesEveryone recommends the OCG (Official Cert Guide). It's like 1,500 pages. I read maybe 400 of them before I realized I was retaining nothing.What worked instead: lab everything. I set up Packet Tracer and literally built networks. VLANs, trunking, OSPF, ACLs — I configured them all by hand until the CLI felt natural.The three topics that matter most1. Network Access (20%) — VLANs, trunking (802.1Q), EtherChannel, WLAN configuration.2. IP Connectivity (25%) — Routing is 25% of the exam. OSPF single-area, static routes, default routes.3. Security Fundamentals (15%) — Port security, DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, AAA concepts.Subnetting — the make-or-break skillYou need subnetting to be automatic. Not "let me think about it" — automatic.My trick: I wrote subnet charts on flashcards and drilled them during lunch breaks. /24 = 256 hosts, /25 = 128, /26 = 64... all the way down to /30 = 4 hosts (2 usable).The exam experience120 questions in 120 minutes. Mix of multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and simulations.I scored weakest on automation (10% of the exam). Cisco added network programmability, REST APIs, and JSON/YAML to the CCNA. Spend time on it.Is the CCNA still worth it in 2026?100%. Networking isn't going away just because cloud exists.The CCNA 200-301 practice test questions on ExamCert are solid for testing whether you're actually ready.Start subnetting. Start labbing. Stop just reading. And maybe study before 2 AM.
