Practice tests sometimes get short shrift in articles about preparing for the CCNA. We toss them around like dog biscuits, 10 questions here, 10 questions there.

That’s too bad, because ccna practice questions play an important role in your study regimen.

Studies show that practice tests or quizzes not only give you a barometer of your progress, they actually improve your retention, recall, and understanding. In fact, of all students who study, those who also take quizzes have better long term recall.

Repetition is certainly part of the value of ccna practice tests. If you’re mastering any skill, it helps to repeat the core tasks many times until it becomes second nature.

But repetition isn’t everything. That’s why you should favor well-designed collections of test questions over simple braindumps.

Brain dumps reproduce actual test questions word-for-word. They may seem like a good idea, but they give you only samples to memorize and repeat.

A good ccna practice test package includes much more. And you use them quite differently. A CCNA practice test should include questions, answers, and justifications.

Each question, even those you get right, represents another opportunity to dig a little deeper into the material so your skill and knowledge always expand. As you work, you become adept at handling a greater variety of situations.

So, sure, take the little practice questions you’ll find free on the internet. But also consider the value of acquiring a good set of practice questions and how much better prepared you’ll be as a result.

Also see our review of TrainSignal’s Cisco CCNA Training with built-in practice tests.