Someone asked me a question on advice for studying the OEQs now. This is what I wrote (added quite a few things to this):
Do what I did. Get out of the lab configuration and just read read read. I read the "MPLS Configuration on Cisco IOS Software" book in its entirety, read all the pertinent chapters in TCP/IP Vol I and II (OSPF, ISIS, BGP, Multicast chapters). I highlighted everything I thought could be asked as a test question. I then went back through all the highlights about two or three times. Don't skip the Case Study sections. I would then get the IE Core Knowledge Simulator. Although none came close, it is still good. I'm sure there is a hit out of the 400 questions they will offer with it. I'm going to read some more theory books like MPLS and VPN Architectures, etc. After you know the theory (like I do now), go out and configure EVERYTHING in mini-lab scenarios. Play with it. See how it works with the other protocols and how other protocols work with it. Understand the bits and the bytes. Take NOTES!!!! And, review those notes on a weekly basis. I find the bathroom a perfect place to review notes :) If you have kids like me, you understand this. Repetition of the review of handwritten notes is quintessential in maintaining the knowledge. I can't tell you how many times I've read the OSPF and ISIS chapters in Doyle's TCP/IP books. After a couple months of not looking at the theory, you start to forget - especially since where I work is a BGP and EIGRP shop (soon to change though to more OSPF centric).
Most important is to talk to other people about the technology. That's why I post in here so much. I work in a datacenter environment. I am rolling out MPLS right now, but most everyone in my group works with switching and maybe a little L3 stuff. So, I find this place the best to discuss it. The interaction and discussions about the technology really makes it stick.
The questions have to be luck of the draw. They all can't be as hard as the ones I got. Heck, some of you may have found them easy; it was just something I had never done before so I didn't know the answer. To put it in perspective, none of the IP Expert or Internetwork Expert labs had the technology tested on a couple of the questions in any of their lab scenarios.
I scheduled my next lab date in July. Some have told me to go ahead and just keep looking and try to get something sooner. I think this would be a good time to learn more. I've already proven I can pass the lab exam. Of course, there is no guarantee of future success in that, but I think I'm pretty good there. I'm going to go and make my own mini-scenarios website or something like Antonio Soares did. I may use the scenarios in the "MPLS Configuration on Cisco IOS Software lab scenarios" as a base. I will also stay here and participate in the discussions so we can all grow together. By the time July comes around, so long as I keep my studies going, I should be able to ace the OEQs and the lab, but I know there is no guarantee.
Here's the key - knowledge. A number means alot and it will be great to get, but just think of the knowledge you gain. No one can take that away from you.
P.S. If any of you have the idea of PM'ing me asking what the questions are, don't bother. I will NOT divulge that information. One person has already asked me - no names of course. It doesn't matter.