60-Day Study Plan for CCNA 200-301

Who This 60-Day Plan Is For

This study plan is designed for working network engineers and career switchers who want to pass CCNA 200-301 in about two months while still working full-time. It assumes you can study around 1–2 hours per weekday and a bit more on weekends.

The goal is not just to memorize questions, but to build a solid understanding of networking fundamentals, practice configuration in lab environments and then use practice exams to close the final knowledge gaps.

High-Level 60-Day Roadmap

At a high level, the plan is split into three phases:

• Days 1–20 – Fundamentals & Core Topics: TCP/IP, VLANs, basic routing, subnetting.
• Days 21–40 – Advanced Topics & Labs: OSPF, security, wireless, automation, more lab time.
• Days 41–60 – Practice Exams & Review: mock exams, weak-area review, final preparation.

Study Materials You Will Need

• One main CCNA textbook or video course that follows the official exam blueprint.
• Access to a lab environment (home lab or cloud-based labs such as PASS EXAM labs).
• A reliable practice exam question bank for CCNA 200-301.
• A notebook or digital notes tool to track mistakes and questions.

Days 1–20: Build Your Foundations

In the first 20 days, the focus is to make sure you really understand how networks work at a fundamental level. This is where you lay the groundwork for everything else.

Key topics

• Network models (OSI, TCP/IP)
• IP addressing and subnetting (IPv4, basic IPv6)
• Switching basics: VLANs, trunking, access vs trunk ports
• Basic routing concepts: default gateway, static routes

Suggested weekly rhythm

• Weekdays: 60–90 minutes reading or watching lessons + 15–30 minutes lab practice.
• Weekends: Longer lab sessions (2–3 hours) to repeat configurations until they feel natural.

At the end of Day 20, take a short diagnostic quiz (20–30 questions) from your CCNA question bank to check how well you remember the fundamentals. Do not worry about your score; it is only to locate weak areas.

Days 21–40: Routing, Security and More Labs

In the second phase, you shift towards more configuration and scenario-based learning. The idea is to connect theory with the commands you type in the lab.

Key topics

• Dynamic routing with OSPF
• ACLs and basic security concepts
• Wireless LAN fundamentals
• Network services: DHCP, NAT, DNS basics
• Intro to automation and programmability at CCNA level

During this phase, try to lab almost every day, even if it is just 20–30 minutes. Use ready-made topologies in your lab environment and perform repeatable tasks: configure OSPF on three routers, apply ACLs, test connectivity, break and fix.

Days 41–60: Practice Exams and Targeted Review

The last 20 days are dedicated to exam-style practice and focused revision of your weak domains. This is where a high-quality question bank and realistic mock exams become essential.

How to use practice exams

• Take a full-length mock exam every 5–7 days under exam conditions (no notes, timed).
• After each exam, spend more time reviewing explanations than taking the exam itself.
• Group your mistakes by topic (e.g., OSPF, security, subnetting) and plan mini-review sessions.
• Use labs to reinforce concepts you missed, instead of only re-reading explanations.

Typical score progression

Many candidates start around 50–60% on the first mock exam and gradually move into the 80%+ range before their real attempt. The exact score is less important than the trend: you should see fewer “conceptual” mistakes and more small detail errors over time.

Integrating Cloud Labs and Question Banks

If you are using PASS EXAM’s cloud labs and CCNA question bank, one effective pattern is:

• Read or watch a lesson.
• Immediately perform the related configuration in the lab environment.
• Do a small set of 5–10 practice questions only on that topic.
• Capture unclear concepts in a “review later” list.

This tight loop between theory, practice and questions ensures you are building long-term understanding, not just short-term memory.

Exam Week Checklist

• At least 2–3 full mock exams completed, with stable scores in your target range.
• No major blind spots in the official exam blueprint domains.
• Comfortable with basic configurations in the lab: VLANs, OSPF, ACLs, NAT, wireless basics.
• Exam logistics confirmed: Pearson VUE account, ID documents, test center or online proctoring setup.

With a structured 60-day plan, the right materials and consistent effort, CCNA 200-301 is absolutely achievable even with a full-time job. Use this plan as a baseline and adjust the pace based on your background and weekly schedule.

Article Details

• Level: Cisco CCNA 200-301
• Focus: Study Strategy
• Audience: Network beginners & junior engineers

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