Nokia NRS II Composite (IS-IS) exam-day guide
Nokia NRS II Composite (IS-IS) · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Confirm exam format and delivery method with the provider
The NRS II Composite is delivered through Nokia's certification program, but delivery options (test center vs. remote proctoring), question count, and time limit can change. Log in to the Nokia certification portal or your test provider account and confirm the exact format for the IS-IS composite before you plan your final review. If your registration confirmation does not state the duration and number of questions, ask the provider directly rather than assuming.
Valid government-issued photo ID
Bring the exact ID name that matches your registration. For remote proctoring, the ID must be shown on camera at check-in. If your registration name differs from your ID (for example, a shortened first name), contact the provider before exam day to correct it - name mismatches are a common cause of denied entry.
Registration confirmation and candidate/order number
Have your confirmation email or portal screenshot accessible on your phone or printed. You may need the candidate ID or order number if the proctor or test center staff cannot locate your appointment.
Quiet, private room and a stable wired-or-strong-Wi-Fi connection (remote option)
If testing remotely, clear the desk completely, close other applications, and test your webcam, microphone, and internet at least a day ahead. Run the provider's system check on the same machine you will use. Confirm with the provider whether a wired connection is required or recommended.
Know your allowed reference materials
Most certification exams do not permit notes, books, or a second monitor. Confirm with the provider whether any scratch paper, whiteboard, or on-screen calculator is allowed, and whether the exam includes any open-book segment. Do not bring study notes into the testing environment unless explicitly permitted.
Review the official exam blueprint and topic weights
Pull the current NRS II Composite / IS-IS topic list from the Nokia certification pages and note which areas carry the most weight. Use it to prioritize the last 72 hours rather than re-reading everything. If the blueprint is not publicly posted, ask the provider for the current objectives.
Hands-on lab access for final IS-IS verification
If you have a lab (physical or virtual SR OS routers, or a simulator), reserve time to run through the core IS-IS tasks: level 1/level 2 adjacency formation, NET addressing, metric styles (narrow/wide), authentication, route leaking between levels, and troubleshooting an adjacency that will not come up. Practical fluency is what composite exams reward.
Command and configuration recall sheet you build yourself
Write your own one-page summary of the SR OS IS-IS commands you use most: interface and level configuration, adjacency and database show commands, authentication, and metric configuration. Building it is the review; you will not be able to use it during the exam unless the provider says otherwise.
Plan for breaks and timing
Confirm with the provider whether scheduled or unscheduled breaks are allowed, and whether the clock stops during them. For most proctored exams the clock keeps running, so plan to answer confidently and flag only genuinely uncertain items for review.
Sleep, hydration, and a backup plan
For a remote exam, have a phone with the proctor support number handy and a backup internet option (mobile hotspot) ready in case your primary connection fails. Confirm the provider's policy on technical interruptions before test day.
Plan the day
Switch from broad study to targeted review. Re-read the official blueprint and list the IS-IS topics you are weakest on. Spend the bulk of the remaining time on those, using hands-on labs where possible rather than passive reading. Verify your exam appointment, delivery method, and ID requirements now so any registration problem can be fixed with time to spare.
Do a full timed practice pass using self-written questions or lab scenarios covering adjacency formation, LSP flooding and synchronization, DIS election, metric styles, authentication, and multi-area/level leaking. Review every wrong answer and trace it back to the underlying protocol behavior, not just the correct command. Confirm with the provider any remaining questions about format, breaks, and permitted materials.
Light review only: your own command summary, the topic list, and a handful of tricky concepts (for example, level 1 vs. level 2 route preference and default route propagation). Run the provider's system check if testing remotely, charge devices, and prepare your ID and confirmation. Avoid cramming new material. Get a full night's sleep; set two alarms.
Eat and hydrate before the exam. For remote delivery, close all other applications, clear your desk, silence your phone unless the proctor requires it for support, and log in early enough to complete ID verification and the room scan without eating into exam time. For a test center, arrive with your ID and confirmation and allow time for check-in.
Read each question fully and watch for qualifiers such as 'best', 'first', or 'most likely'. Answer the questions you know first, flag uncertain ones, and return to them if the format allows review. For scenario or configuration questions, think in terms of the actual SR OS command sequence and protocol behavior. Keep an eye on the clock and reserve the final minutes to confirm you have answered every item. If a technical problem occurs, stop and contact the proctor immediately rather than troubleshooting alone.
Rules to check
Bring and present valid government-issued photo ID matching your registration name exactly; name mismatches can result in being turned away, so correct them with the provider in advance.
Do not bring notes, books, phones, smart watches, or a second monitor into the testing environment unless the provider explicitly permits them. For remote exams, keep only permitted items on the desk and follow the proctor's instructions during the room scan.
Follow all proctor instructions. Prohibited behavior during a proctored exam can lead to the session being terminated and the result being voided; confirm the specific conduct rules with the provider before test day.
Confirm the provider's break policy in advance. If breaks are allowed, note whether the exam clock continues to run, and plan your time accordingly.
Scoring and pass marks are set by the certification provider and are not published in advance in a way you can rely on; do not assume a specific passing score or partial-credit behavior. Confirm scoring details with the provider.
If you experience a technical failure during a remote exam, notify the proctor or support line immediately and follow their instructions; do not attempt to restart the exam on your own without guidance.
Do not attempt to record, screenshot, or share exam content. Exam materials are confidential, and unauthorized sharing can result in disqualification and loss of certification status.