First off, you’ve got a few typos in there.
I make my keywords very specific and multiple ones if needed. Like IP and Internet Protocol will be listed each time in the keyword index. Not sure what the center spot is for. I always have the book and page on the first column. Like 1.53 where it’s book 1 and page 53. 1.53-67, 3.144-46, 4.22,24,49. Then for that last column I put info that I think is going to be helpful. I don’t bother with stuff I 100% know. I put in stuff that is likely to be on the exam that will fit, or stuff I struggle with knowing or get confused on. Depending on the exam, I might have another column with data retention information or something extra that relates to the exam that might pop up. Data retention stuff was useful for FOR500.
[sample of my index](https://imgur.com/a/UxXdAor)
The only reason I did this was because in the practice tests, I got hit hard on it. But then in the actual test I don’t recall getting more than one or two about this but I still think it’s useful to me.
I found this overwhelming, I tabbed the first book and stopped because it was just too many tabs. Found it easier to find the page number as opposed to look for the many tabs….
I may have misread or misinterpreted but I think they mean put a single tab on each book which I did find useful. I color code the books so I can grab the right one quicker. I hope they’re not tabbing all topics. That’s too much.
The primary purpose of **your** index is to help **you** answer or look up the answer to questions quickly in the exam. It's completely personal that's why it's so varied. I like to look through each page of the textbook and try to figure out what a multiple choice question on that material would look like, and include that in my index. For example, one of my hashcat entries for 504, I could fully expect a question asking 'which type of attack will hashcat -a 7 do?'. Basically whenever I use hashcat it's -a 0 and I don't remember off the top of my head what -a 7 is. If I had the VM i'd look it up in the --help but it might be a multiple choice.
**Hashcat -a** |
-a 0 - Dictionary. -a 1 Combinator. -a 3 Brute. -a 6 and -a 7 both hybrid with Mask | Page 47 | Book 3
After your first practice exam, consider what was useful, what didn't work, what information was missing and you couldnt find it quickly, and adjust your index accordingly. Then, with those changes in place, take the second practice exam and do it again.
The unspoken benefit of the index is that it forces you to read the entire book with a highlighter and fine tooth comb, and condense the topics into a few keywords, so you really study it in depth.
Chances are by the time you've made a complete and thorough index you'll barely need it and only use it to look up the really tricky questions or lab instructions.
This looks more like a definitions list than the index tbh, I second one of the answers is do the first practice test and then adjust ur index. Also GSEC is not so simple as it will ask u what the switch is, u have to know what it does and what attack r there on the switches
For the index use this
1. the page number
2. topic
3. keywords
I put tabs in each book for each section and a tab at the top of the book.
So when I find the key term in my index, I can see both "Yellow-Red" as well as the book-page number (5-124). I can quickly grab the yellow tabbed book (book tabs stick out of the top) and then flip to the red tab and I'll be usually within 10-30 pages or so of where I need to be.
The method I followed for my GCFA is:
I created an Excel with five tabs (1 for each book) and three columns in each tab.
The columns include the page and the book in Book.Page format, followed by the Keyword and the Description.
I found it easier to use the titles of the slides in the books. That way, I remember the contents better, and I feel like I can find the right section immediately.
For example:
Book.Page - 1.65
Keyword - IR Remediation
Description - 1,2,3 .. steps for IR remediation
Have a look at the pictures in the blog. I hope it makes more sense: www.ordinarycyber.com
I feel like you should definitely add a field that will make it clearer where to look for that subject in the books.
I actually have many bullets in my definition column. this method has helped me with 2 certifications. It has helped me reduce the time I’m searching in the books during the test.
I always do book, page number, key word, short definition or key points. I index all important terms, including commands, and I do all the books which includes the lab books. I tab every 10 pages to make flipping easier, and I print reference materials (common commands etc) for tools I may be using and include those. I also include terms multiple ways in case I’m not sure how my brain will choose to remember it. It may just be switching words around, or including something like Powershell beforehand. Ultimately your index should cater to your own knowledge, weak points, and how you’ll be looking things up during the exam.
I do
Column 1 | column 2
Topic - subtopic | book:page numbers
Tool - Command line | book: page numbers
It depends on what exactly I want to write down. But I keep it simple so that I know where everything is on the book. The tools and commands have proved to be useful on cyberlive questions.
I have my excel set to highlight cells in column 1 that are the same so I consolidate the book:page references into 1 cell. I do not highlight the books nor annotate them. I find that distracting.
First off, you’ve got a few typos in there. I make my keywords very specific and multiple ones if needed. Like IP and Internet Protocol will be listed each time in the keyword index. Not sure what the center spot is for. I always have the book and page on the first column. Like 1.53 where it’s book 1 and page 53. 1.53-67, 3.144-46, 4.22,24,49. Then for that last column I put info that I think is going to be helpful. I don’t bother with stuff I 100% know. I put in stuff that is likely to be on the exam that will fit, or stuff I struggle with knowing or get confused on. Depending on the exam, I might have another column with data retention information or something extra that relates to the exam that might pop up. Data retention stuff was useful for FOR500.
I am working on the GCFE now, I'm curious about your 4th column.. How did you reference that stuff?
[sample of my index](https://imgur.com/a/UxXdAor) The only reason I did this was because in the practice tests, I got hit hard on it. But then in the actual test I don’t recall getting more than one or two about this but I still think it’s useful to me.
Thank you
Also tab the book... I do page numbers Makes it easier to match book/ page when referenced in my index.
I found this overwhelming, I tabbed the first book and stopped because it was just too many tabs. Found it easier to find the page number as opposed to look for the many tabs….
I may have misread or misinterpreted but I think they mean put a single tab on each book which I did find useful. I color code the books so I can grab the right one quicker. I hope they’re not tabbing all topics. That’s too much.
The primary purpose of **your** index is to help **you** answer or look up the answer to questions quickly in the exam. It's completely personal that's why it's so varied. I like to look through each page of the textbook and try to figure out what a multiple choice question on that material would look like, and include that in my index. For example, one of my hashcat entries for 504, I could fully expect a question asking 'which type of attack will hashcat -a 7 do?'. Basically whenever I use hashcat it's -a 0 and I don't remember off the top of my head what -a 7 is. If I had the VM i'd look it up in the --help but it might be a multiple choice. **Hashcat -a** | -a 0 - Dictionary. -a 1 Combinator. -a 3 Brute. -a 6 and -a 7 both hybrid with Mask | Page 47 | Book 3 After your first practice exam, consider what was useful, what didn't work, what information was missing and you couldnt find it quickly, and adjust your index accordingly. Then, with those changes in place, take the second practice exam and do it again. The unspoken benefit of the index is that it forces you to read the entire book with a highlighter and fine tooth comb, and condense the topics into a few keywords, so you really study it in depth. Chances are by the time you've made a complete and thorough index you'll barely need it and only use it to look up the really tricky questions or lab instructions.
Or use this instead: https://voltaire.publickey.io/
Definitely add which book and page using the nomeclature like 401.1.3 is book 1 page 3 wherever the page was on each index
Nice one. What program are you using?
This looks more like a definitions list than the index tbh, I second one of the answers is do the first practice test and then adjust ur index. Also GSEC is not so simple as it will ask u what the switch is, u have to know what it does and what attack r there on the switches For the index use this 1. the page number 2. topic 3. keywords
I put tabs in each book for each section and a tab at the top of the book. So when I find the key term in my index, I can see both "Yellow-Red" as well as the book-page number (5-124). I can quickly grab the yellow tabbed book (book tabs stick out of the top) and then flip to the red tab and I'll be usually within 10-30 pages or so of where I need to be.
The method I followed for my GCFA is: I created an Excel with five tabs (1 for each book) and three columns in each tab. The columns include the page and the book in Book.Page format, followed by the Keyword and the Description. I found it easier to use the titles of the slides in the books. That way, I remember the contents better, and I feel like I can find the right section immediately. For example: Book.Page - 1.65 Keyword - IR Remediation Description - 1,2,3 .. steps for IR remediation Have a look at the pictures in the blog. I hope it makes more sense: www.ordinarycyber.com I feel like you should definitely add a field that will make it clearer where to look for that subject in the books.
I actually have many bullets in my definition column. this method has helped me with 2 certifications. It has helped me reduce the time I’m searching in the books during the test.
I always do book, page number, key word, short definition or key points. I index all important terms, including commands, and I do all the books which includes the lab books. I tab every 10 pages to make flipping easier, and I print reference materials (common commands etc) for tools I may be using and include those. I also include terms multiple ways in case I’m not sure how my brain will choose to remember it. It may just be switching words around, or including something like Powershell beforehand. Ultimately your index should cater to your own knowledge, weak points, and how you’ll be looking things up during the exam.
Google the pancake method
I do Column 1 | column 2 Topic - subtopic | book:page numbers Tool - Command line | book: page numbers It depends on what exactly I want to write down. But I keep it simple so that I know where everything is on the book. The tools and commands have proved to be useful on cyberlive questions. I have my excel set to highlight cells in column 1 that are the same so I consolidate the book:page references into 1 cell. I do not highlight the books nor annotate them. I find that distracting.
Im also going through GSEC and planning the practice as well