What Does the Cisco CCIE Exam Cover?
Update time：2025-09-19
Many network engineers wonder:“What exactly do I need to study for the CCIE?Can I really survive the 8-hour lab exam?”
As someone who has gone through it, let me break down the CCIE exam structure, core content, and preparation strategies—so you’ll know how to plan your path to success.
1.Exam Structure: From Technical Operations to System Thinking
As Cisco’s top-level certification, CCIE requires passing both a written exam and a lab exam.Unlike CCNA/CCNP, which focus on “individual technical tasks,” CCIE evaluates end-to-end system design and troubleshooting.
It’s not just about how to configure something, but also:
Why choose this solution?
Is there a better approach?
If something fails, how quickly can you fix it?
The goal is to identify experts who can independently manage the entire lifecycle of a large-scale enterprise network.
2.Core Content: The Double Challenge of Written + Lab
1) Written Exam – 120 minutes
Format: 90–110 questions, 1000 points total, 825 to pass.
Question Types: multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and scenario-based (about 40%).
Exam Code: varies by track (e.g., Enterprise track is 350-401).
Six Major Domains:
Network Architecture (20%): enterprise layered design, SDN vs traditional networking, WAN technologies (SD-WAN vs MPLS VPN).
Routing (25%): BGP path selection (AS_PATH, MED, Weight), OSPFv3 + IPv6, EIGRP named mode, protocol integration.
Switching (15%): VLAN/VTPv3, spanning-tree optimization (RSTP/MSTP), link aggregation load balancing.
Network Security (15%): firewall zones, IPSec VPN + GRE, AAA with RBAC.
QoS (10%): CBWFQ queueing, VoIP bandwidth assurance, prioritizing critical services.
Automation & Programmability (15%): Python scripts, Ansible automation, NETCONF/YANG usage.
2) Lab Exam – 8 hours
Passing Score: 800 points.
Structure:
Diagnostics (1 hour, 15%): analyze a broken topology, identify the cause, no config changes allowed.
Configuration (4 hours, 55%): build a full enterprise network from scratch, covering routing, switching, security, QoS, and automation.
Troubleshooting (3 hours, 30%): resolve 3–5 complex issues, explain reasoning, and work under time pressure.
Biggest Challenges:
Strict time management.
Maintaining end-to-end thinking (e.g., voice failure → check QoS → check VPN tunnel → check routing).
3.Preparation Roadmap: A 6–12 Month Plan
1) Foundation Stage (2–3 months)
Review CCNP-level knowledge.
Use Packet Tracer or EVE-NG to practice labs daily (e.g., OSPF multi-area configuration).
2) Focused Training (3–6 months)
Written exam (1 month):
Study official materials.
Use latest dumps and practice scenario-based questions.
Review mistakes and connect them to real-world cases.
Lab exam (2–5 months):
Build topologies step by step.
Practice configuration, troubleshooting, and diagnostics repeatedly.
Use CCIE dumps with lab-style practice tasks to simulate real exam pressure.
Mock scenarios help you master the “exam rhythm” without depending on rare, costly rack rentals.
3) Final Sprint (1–2 months)
Take full-length mock exams.
Review weak areas.
Develop strategies (e.g., solve easier sections first, leave complex tasks for later).
4.Key Takeaways
Preparing for CCIE requires long-term commitment + targeted practice.With 2–3 hours daily, most candidates pass within 6–12 months.
But remember—what truly matters is not just the certificate.The architecture mindset and troubleshooting ability you develop during preparation are the real assets for your career.
Using updated CCIE dumps ensures you practice the right topics, simulate real exam conditions, and improve your pass rate efficiently.
As someone who has gone through it, let me break down the CCIE exam structure, core content, and preparation strategies—so you’ll know how to plan your path to success.
1.Exam Structure: From Technical Operations to System Thinking
As Cisco’s top-level certification, CCIE requires passing both a written exam and a lab exam.Unlike CCNA/CCNP, which focus on “individual technical tasks,” CCIE evaluates end-to-end system design and troubleshooting.
It’s not just about how to configure something, but also:
Why choose this solution?
Is there a better approach?
If something fails, how quickly can you fix it?
The goal is to identify experts who can independently manage the entire lifecycle of a large-scale enterprise network.
2.Core Content: The Double Challenge of Written + Lab
1) Written Exam – 120 minutes
Format: 90–110 questions, 1000 points total, 825 to pass.
Question Types: multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and scenario-based (about 40%).
Exam Code: varies by track (e.g., Enterprise track is 350-401).
Six Major Domains:
Network Architecture (20%): enterprise layered design, SDN vs traditional networking, WAN technologies (SD-WAN vs MPLS VPN).
Routing (25%): BGP path selection (AS_PATH, MED, Weight), OSPFv3 + IPv6, EIGRP named mode, protocol integration.
Switching (15%): VLAN/VTPv3, spanning-tree optimization (RSTP/MSTP), link aggregation load balancing.
Network Security (15%): firewall zones, IPSec VPN + GRE, AAA with RBAC.
QoS (10%): CBWFQ queueing, VoIP bandwidth assurance, prioritizing critical services.
Automation & Programmability (15%): Python scripts, Ansible automation, NETCONF/YANG usage.
2) Lab Exam – 8 hours
Passing Score: 800 points.
Structure:
Diagnostics (1 hour, 15%): analyze a broken topology, identify the cause, no config changes allowed.
Configuration (4 hours, 55%): build a full enterprise network from scratch, covering routing, switching, security, QoS, and automation.
Troubleshooting (3 hours, 30%): resolve 3–5 complex issues, explain reasoning, and work under time pressure.
Biggest Challenges:
Strict time management.
Maintaining end-to-end thinking (e.g., voice failure → check QoS → check VPN tunnel → check routing).
3.Preparation Roadmap: A 6–12 Month Plan
1) Foundation Stage (2–3 months)
Review CCNP-level knowledge.
Use Packet Tracer or EVE-NG to practice labs daily (e.g., OSPF multi-area configuration).
2) Focused Training (3–6 months)
Written exam (1 month):
Study official materials.
Use latest dumps and practice scenario-based questions.
Review mistakes and connect them to real-world cases.
Lab exam (2–5 months):
Build topologies step by step.
Practice configuration, troubleshooting, and diagnostics repeatedly.
Use CCIE dumps with lab-style practice tasks to simulate real exam pressure.
Mock scenarios help you master the “exam rhythm” without depending on rare, costly rack rentals.
3) Final Sprint (1–2 months)
Take full-length mock exams.
Review weak areas.
Develop strategies (e.g., solve easier sections first, leave complex tasks for later).
4.Key Takeaways
Preparing for CCIE requires long-term commitment + targeted practice.With 2–3 hours daily, most candidates pass within 6–12 months.
But remember—what truly matters is not just the certificate.The architecture mindset and troubleshooting ability you develop during preparation are the real assets for your career.
Using updated CCIE dumps ensures you practice the right topics, simulate real exam conditions, and improve your pass rate efficiently.
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