Cisco 300-745 SDSI exam-day guide
Cisco 300-745 SDSI · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exam appointment details and delivery method
Log in to your Cisco certification account (via the certification tracking system) and confirm the scheduled date, time, time zone, and whether the delivery is at a test center or online-proctored. Verify the exam code is 300-745 SDSI and that it maps to the credential you intend to earn. Delivery options and reschedule windows change, so confirm current terms with the provider rather than relying on older guides.
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID type the provider requires; for online proctoring the name on the ID must match the name on your registration exactly. Confirm acceptable ID forms and any second-ID requirement with the provider before test day, since rules differ between test-center and online delivery and between countries.
Know the exam blueprint and weighting
Review the official 300-745 exam topics page the week before. SDSI covers Cisco SD-WAN security and related identity/access topics such as controller and edge security, policies, segmentation, and integration with identity services. Note the domains you are weakest in and allocate final review time proportionally rather than rereading everything.
Hands-on review of SD-WAN security configuration
Be able to describe, from memory, how to configure and verify: control/data plane security (certificates, control connections, BFD/IPSEC), edge device hardening, application-aware firewall and URL filtering policies, intrusion prevention, Advanced Malware Protection, DNS security, and segmentation via VPNs. Practice on a lab or sandbox so you can reason about show commands and policy order.
Review identity and access integration concepts
Refresh how SD-WAN integrates with external identity/authentication services, certificate authority workflows, and role-based access for controllers and managers. Know the difference between control-plane authentication and user/administrative authentication, and where each is configured.
Practice interpreting CLI and GUI output
Exam items often present configuration snippets or dashboard states and ask what happens next or what is misconfigured. Practice reading 'show sdwan' style output, policy order, and template/feature-template attachments so you can spot mismatches quickly. Do not rely on memorized screenshots; understand the logic.
Set up your testing environment (online delivery)
If testing online, run the provider's system test in advance, confirm webcam/microphone, a stable wired connection, a quiet private room, and a clean desk. Requirements vary, so confirm the current room and equipment rules with the provider. Have a backup plan (phone hotspot, alternate room) ready.
Plan logistics for a test center
Confirm the address, parking or transit, and arrival time buffer. Test centers may require early arrival for check-in; confirm the current arrival window with the provider. Bring only permitted items; storage of personal belongings varies by site.
Know the question formats and navigation
Be ready for multiple-choice, multiple-response, and possibly drag-and-drop or simulation-style items depending on the current exam version. Confirm the current format and whether partial credit applies with the provider, since scoring rules can change between exam revisions.
Schedule a final weak-area drill, not new topics
In the last 48 hours, focus on your two or three weakest blueprint domains with targeted practice questions and command review. Avoid starting an unfamiliar product area the night before; it raises anxiety without improving recall.
Prepare a timing strategy
Confirm the total exam time and number of items with the provider. Plan to flag uncertain items and return to them, and reserve the last portion of the session for review. Practice pacing with a timed question set so you know your per-item budget.
Rest, hydration, and a backup contact plan
Sleep well the night before, eat beforehand, and keep your phone charged for check-in or support calls. Note the provider's support contact in case of technical issues at start time. needs_review: exact support channels and check-in phone procedures differ by delivery method and region, so confirm them in your appointment confirmation.
Plan the day
Do a structured review of the official blueprint. For each domain, write a one-page summary from memory covering key configuration steps, verification commands, and common failure modes. Compare against your notes and fill gaps. Run one timed practice set under exam-like conditions to calibrate pacing, then review every missed item and trace the underlying concept rather than memorizing the answer.
If testing online, run the provider's system check now, not on exam morning. Update the browser or client if required, test webcam and microphone, and confirm your room meets the provider's requirements. For a test center, confirm the address, travel time, and arrival instructions. Reconfirm your appointment time and time zone in the scheduling system.
Light review only: skim your own summaries, the certificate and control-connection workflow, policy order and application-aware firewall logic, segmentation concepts, and identity integration points. Do not attempt new labs or new product areas. Prepare your ID, appointment confirmation, and (for online delivery) clear your desk and test the connection once more. Set two alarms and plan to sleep at a normal hour.
Eat a normal meal and avoid cramming new material. For online delivery, log in early to complete check-in and the proctor's room scan; close unnecessary applications and silence notifications. For a test center, arrive within the provider's recommended window with your ID ready. Do a brief mental warm-up by recalling your timing plan and flagging strategy.
Read each item fully before answering, especially multiple-response items where the number of correct choices may be stated. Answer confident items first, flag anything requiring longer reasoning, and return to flagged items with your remaining time. For configuration or output-based items, identify what the question is really testing (policy order, certificate trust, segmentation, or access control) before choosing. Watch the clock at the halfway point and adjust pace. Use any permitted break per the provider's rules, and note that the clock may or may not stop during breaks.
Note your provisional result if shown, and keep the score report. If you did not pass, record which domains were weakest while memory is fresh and plan a retake after the provider's required waiting period, which you should confirm with the provider. Update your study plan around the specific gaps rather than repeating the same review.
Rules to check
Bring the exact ID the provider requires, with a name matching your registration. Acceptable documents vary by delivery method and country, so confirm the current list with the provider before test day; you may be turned away without compliant ID.
Follow all proctor instructions. For online delivery this typically includes a room scan, showing your desk, remaining in webcam view, and not leaving the camera area except during an approved break. Confirm the specific room and behavior rules with the provider, as they change.
Do not use unauthorized materials, notes, phones, second screens, or other people during the exam. Attempting to capture, share, or reconstruct exam content violates the certification agreement and can void your result and affect certification status.
Understand the break policy before you start. Some deliveries allow scheduled or requested breaks while others do not, and the timer may keep running. Confirm the current break rules with the provider rather than assuming.
Know the scoring model. Cisco certification exams are generally criterion-referenced and reported as pass/fail with domain-level feedback; passing scores and any partial-credit behavior are set by the provider and can change. Do not assume a fixed percentage from older sources; confirm current details with the provider.
Confirm reschedule, cancellation, and retake policies in your appointment confirmation. Waiting periods after a failed attempt and fees for changes are provider-defined and vary by region and delivery method.
Arrive or check in early enough to complete verification without eating into exam time. Late arrival may result in forfeiture depending on provider policy, which you should confirm in advance.
Keep your registration and contact information current so score reports and credential records reach you, and review the certification program's ethics and confidentiality terms before sitting the exam.