Hey, Thanks for visiting here. First of all I would like to Wish you all the best if you are planning to attempt or preparing for VCAP5-DCA Exam. Though I am not the first to share this experience here, however I hope you will definetly get some additional benifits and tips based on my exprience as I my self was new to Virtualization when I just had thought to give this exam. When I thought first time to give VCAP exam, I was not even VCP certified, so first thing what is prerequisite and you must have is VCP Certification to enrol for VCAP Exam. Since I was new to this, I explored so much on internet as well as with one of my best technical mentor #ChetanKMalvi to know how to prepare for VCAP Exam. On the basis of my experience and knowledge base I gathered during my prepration, I thought to share it across which could also help others to clear this exam. I completed my VCP in June 2014 and started preparing for VCAP which I had aimed for.
And finally attemped for 5.1 exam in Sep 2014 which somehow I could not clear by 30 marks, I got 270 in first attempt. Somewhere I had smile and hopes that I am near by my target. Though I was upset too because it was inches of difference If I could have done one more question correct. Anyway, my surroundings, my friends, and one of my best motivator #ShekharSaraswat didn't let me down my hopes. As "where is will there is way", I was trying to find available slots as soon as it could possible, I got it in within 20 days which is ralery difficult due to lack of available seats and less exam centers(only2-3) in India. I reattemped it on 13th October 2014 just after 20 days of first attempt, and finally I got my result after 2 hours of completing exam. It was like happiness in my Eyes, hopes in my heart. It was the day I started valuing my willingness, Yes, I was self obsessed, but clearing VCAP-DCA just within 4 months of doing VCP was a reason of happiness for me. I started thinking about Designing Exam which is VCAP5-DCD, you will get that experience in my next blog VCAP5-DCD (VDCA550) Exam Experience.
First point to remember is that there is no shortcut to clear this exam and you can't prepare for it in last minutes. It's completely based on real time practicle issues, not something like objective type questions. So we can not depend only on theortical learning. To clear this exam, any how you have to get practical exposure either in your office, or at your home lab. I would recommend home lab, as It won't possible to perform all troubleshooting in live environment. And also, we have to perform each lab atleast 5-6 times to get tips on finger, as time constraint and slowness in lab is a big challange here in this exam. The total time for this exam is 180 minutes. Candidates who take the VCAP5-DCA Exam and have a home address in a country where English is not a primary language will have an additional 30 minutes added to the exam time.
This post is only contains my reactions and experience. If you are looking for exam materials and planning on attempting the exam soon, refer my below posts.
That's about it. Cheers and Good Luck!
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