If you're not having luck with password.lst or darkc0de.lst, try finding another wordlist, such as those at http://www.skullsecurity.org/wiki/index.php/Passwords

None of those will take that long to run, even with some mangling.

They're not going to have you crack a password that takes weeks on average in a 24-hour exam. The exam's difficult, but fair (at least in that regard ).

You can revert the machines during the exam (just like the lab) and if you have any problems with any of the machines you can also get hold of one of the admins via chat and they can reset the machine if required.

There's a difference between knowing how something is done, and actually doing it. A lot of certs out there focus on how something is done, and quiz you with a multiple choice exam. Don't know the answer? Guess, maybe you'll get it right. OSCP tests you on your ability to actually understand the concepts, and apply them on real machines. There are no multiple choice questions. You either know how to break into the machine, or you don't.

The syllabus on the OSCP tells you what you need to know before you take it. Typically it states that you should have a good understanding of networking. I would also suggest knowing some programming as it will help you focus on the hacking material instead of learning programming as you go along.

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