How many hours IT studying do you do per week?

[jk2447]

Hi All,

I'm hell bent on getting my MCSE in a timely manner mainly because I've just started for a global company and I can work my way into almost any career if I'm suitably qualified. I've worked in IT for 10 years so have enough experience.

I've progressively increased the number of hours training per week I do and I estimate I'm up to about 30 hours per week now, bearing in mind I can get a few hours done in work because of the nature of my job.

What are you guys managing? And if its a lot of hours what are you working towards?

Cheers

Jim

[Qs]

Hi All,

I'm hell bent on getting my MCSE in a timely manner mainly because I've just started for a global company and I can work my way into almost any career if I'm suitably qualified. I've worked in IT for 10 years so have enough experience.

I've progressively increased the number of hours training per week I do and I estimate I'm up to about 30 hours per week now, bearing in mind I can get a few hours done in work because of the nature of my job.

What are you guys managing? And if its a lot of hours what are you working towards?

Cheers

Jim

Depends on how I'm feeling and what I'm studying for.

For my 70-271 I was doing 1-2 hours a day.
For my 70-272 I was doing 2-3 hours a day.

For my 70-621 I'm hitting 4-5 hours a day, purely due to the content of the exam (that it's a combination of two, 620 & 622).

I'm in the same boat as you. I want to get everything done quick sharp because there's no point in waiting around and I can progress quite easily given I'm qualified enough.

There was no gap between 272 and 621 though, so I might take a week no revision once (if) I pass.

All booked up for the 13th

So yeah... 20 hours + for me.

Qs

[ericrollo]

I study in spats, at the moment very little in a few days a lot.

[Evilwheato]

I try to do between 2-3 hours a day, but generally do more on the weekends. I spend time reading notes while on the bus which adds up

[soundian]

Depending on which part of my study cycle I'm in and work/social commitments I can do anything from about 10 to over 40 a week.
At the moment I'm in my "overview" stage of the studying so I allow myself more time off (I can't study the morning after the night before) and generally take it easy on the studying, working towards targets each day rather than time limits. Maybe 2-3 hours 5 days a week.
Once I'm targeting my weak spots I ramp it up a little, probably hitting 3-4 hours 6 days a week.
In my final run in I can easily hit 40 hours a week.

That averages out around 21 a week I think.

[jk2447]

For my 70-621 I'm hitting 4-5 hours a day, purely due to the content of the exam (that it's a combination of two, 620 & 622)

Probably a wise move as there was enough to cover when I passed 620 alone. Good move taking a week off if you pass mate. Get some beers down ya and rest before the barrage of info starts all over again

[jk2447]

I think a lot of us probably tailor the amount of time to how difficult your finding the material. When I am finding it easy I tend to ease off a bit. For 291 I revised like a demon. Still failed tho HA! Resit in 2 weeks

[Qs]

I think a lot of us probably tailor the amount of time to how difficult your finding the material. When I am finding it easy I tend to ease off a bit. For 291 I revised like a demon. Still failed tho HA! Resit in 2 weeks

Agreed. For my 272 I didn't even read the MS Press book. Purely used CBT Nuggets and Readiness Review Suite.

It's all down to how much you already know, how confident you're feeling and how difficult the material is.

Qs

[dmarsh]

It varies a lot. Not doing much at all at the moment struggling to find the motiation to finish MS221.

On average over the last 18 years probably around 25 hours per week.

I tend to read a lot of computer books in my spare time. I mainly read non certification related IT books.

I also play with various stuff.

If I'm reading an interesting book, learning new tech on a project or cramming for an exam it can be 40+ hours.

[jk2447]

On average over the last 18 years probably around 25 hours per week.

Wow thats a lot of studying mate. IT is constantly changing and the need to know something new is constant I feel.

Ideally I want to get to a stage where I've achieved the Certifications I need, progress into my new area of IT and then take maybe 2 or 3 years out of studying for Certs to just concentrate on gaining more experience and reading articles, forums, white papers etc.

I look forward to the day I can pick up a good non IT book as I used to read a lot before my degree. Not any more

[Pheonicks56]

Seeing as my main job ATM is stay at home father and full time Uni student I do a lot of study. I put in about 20+ a week for the Uni which is all IT at this point, and then maybe another 10-15 for certs depending on what I'm working on and how much homework I've got.

[jk2447]

Seeing as my main job ATM is stay at home father

Sounds like you've already got a great job then mate! I'd love to spend more time with my 4 month old. I say that now, watch me pull my hair out if I come out of work ha ha

[nugget]

I haven't studied at all for roughly a year and a half.

I want to pick it up again but I can't really decide what to do, the comptia security+ and or server+, 70-620/21/22, 70-536, continue to mcsa with 291 and 350......aaargg my brain hurts.

[BosonMichael]

I don't study much. I'll usually skim a book before taking an exam.

[greenbrucelee]

If I reading up on a specific exam then I will do 2-3 20 minute session per day but since I am using and doing IT stuff all the time I try to retain that knowledge which helps better than any book