I sat it (relatively) recently - April. There is a LOT more emphasis on the router simulations now - where you configure and setup several routers and get them all to talk.
Get the official Cisco CCNA book and go through the practice sessions and example simulations given there as they will be exatly the same sort of thing that you get in the exam.
Try to learn the way Cisco asks questions too, they are whiley little scumbags at the best of times, the CCNA book "end of chapter" questions are good examples.
As for preperation for sitting the exam, i found that the Cisco CCNA book wasnt really enough, although i expect thats the intention, as you will need to sit the exam a couple of times if you just use that.
People have had good results with the Sybex book though.
Good luck.