Is the A+ really hard? Or just plain easy?
I'm currently a junior in High School. We have a class named Computer Maintenance. Now I have been in that class since 9th grade. I was always top of the class, fell in love with computers since I got one back with Win95. Now since 6th grade I opened my computer, fixed them and done pretty much about everything from building to fixing. I can even code PHP and simple C++ though the A+ Objectives seem very easy for me I somehow worry I won't pass. Now that this is my last year in the class I fear I won't pass the Essentials Test. My friend passed it with a 730, but on his first try failed. My teacher says I'm not ready, but I feel I am, even though he's not willing to get me a voucher I'm willing to pay for it.
I have been over 2 Mike Meyers books, Passport A+, Comp. Maintenance, Total Tester and Transcender.
What else would you guys recommend? From 1-10 how hard is it really?
Thank you for being an awesome community, and so welcoming.
I have been over 2 Mike Meyers books, Passport A+, Comp. Maintenance, Total Tester and Transcender.
What else would you guys recommend? From 1-10 how hard is it really?
Thank you for being an awesome community, and so welcoming.
Comments
If you understand and know the material in all those resources, I'd say you're ready. That actually seems like a little bit of overkill. Transcender is a pretty reliable gauge of test difficulty. How have you been doing with that? Keep in mind that it loses all predictive value if you've gone through it multiple times.
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I don't know if I would go that far..
No matter how many PC's you have opened up, upgraded and repaired you will need to prepare specifically to meet the syllabus objectives to pass this test or any test. A lot of timeserved people get their ass handed to them in exams, not because they are not capable (which they are) but because they did not revise the finer details upon which they will be tested..DMA, IRQ, memory et al.
Good luck!
If you are new to the world and trying to build up a resume, they're trying. If you've been doing support for 10 years, not so much...but you still have to prep for them, as the scenarios arent really real world.
I did the A+ and N+ about 6 months ago and, as hard and long as I studied for them...I scraped by on all 3 tests. I know all of the material cold, and expected to smoke the tests, but the new 2007 exams seem to have a large number of questions from left field...no amount of studying would have prepped me for.
I hear a number of people that did it a long time ago say how simple they are...I found that not to be the case first hand, and through smart ppl I know failing as well.
The cert world has become too much of a #'s game to be as meaningful as we all want it to be.
MCSA:03/08/12/16 MCSE:03s/EA08/Core Infra
CCNA
I wouldn't say they are easy. Since some of us in here have jobs in the IT field, we definitely have an advantage. But i still wouldn't say they are easy. Especially for new people studying to get into the field there is A LOT to know in any CompTIA exam. You not only have to know Windows, but some Unix/Linux, Apple. Then, there are questions which all the choices are correct....and you have to choose the BEST one. They can easily trip up a person.
Here are 2 FREE resources:
1) Technotes for A+ off this site. (although, they seam a bit outdated)
2) Download cramsession study notes.
http://www.cramsession.com/certifications/products/list-study-guides.asp
If that's the way you feel then best of luck with those Cisco and MS exams!
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thats a bold statement considering that you only hold two CompTIA credentials...
Ill give you net+ though...
:study: Current 2015 Goals: JNCIP-SEC JNCIS-ENT CCNA-Security
After obtaining two of them I quickly realized the money is better used buying text books for more advanced topics. In the long run it serves you better...
[Forum moderators are my friends]
I have Security+ and PMP certs coming up so lets hope thats true.
I took A+ 8 years ago so its been long time.
In General I believe there is truth to that statement.
Certainly passing Computer Science courses are harder then CompTIA exams.
I took some computer science courses that make studying for the Security+ look like a baby shower.
_____
"Grammar and spelling aren't everything, but this is a forum, not a chat room. You have plenty of time to spell out the word "you", and look just a little bit smarter." by Phaideaux
***I'll add you can Capitalize the word 'I' to show a little respect for yourself too.
'i' before 'e' except after 'c'.... weird?
It was the exact opposite with me my techer said that I was ready, more or less when I walked into the class the first day. I would take your teachers advice wait untill he fills you are ready, I thought I wasn't, when I took the test I did quite well. Afterwards realized that I could have taken the test and been farther along in my studies, now I'm kicking myself for not taking his advice.
This could be the case with you, you may take the test and find that you were not as ready as you thought you were or you may pass and prove him rong. All I'm trying to say is don't rush into things, remember you teacher may see something that needs to be improved upon, ask him what you can do to become ready to take the test. Taking self tests to help better prepare you as well would be a good idea.
Just for the record I'm a junior in High School as well, so I know what it is like.
It all depends on the person for me the 602 was easyer than the 601.
Good Luck
You also have to remember, there's not a single poster on this board that wasn't nervous before his/her very first IT certification exam. It feels different than an academic exam for high school or college, and it always rattles your nerves a little bit. Anyone who says "I never get the least bit nervous before exams" forged every acronym next to their name. It's kind of like a firefighter saying he doesn't mind getting burned, just doesn't really fly.
My advice: spend about another week or so studying, take a Transcender exam to see where you're at. If you get above 80%, go sign up for the real thing. If you get below, spend another couple of weeks studying the topics you got the lowest scores on, then go do the real exam. Since you're motivated and willing to learn, I'm sure you'll rubbing that cert-card in your teacher's face before you know it.
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Let it never be said that I didn't do the very least I could do.
So, so true.
I was a reck when I went to take my test!
One thing I'm a little tired of hearing is that people who claim to have 'no experience' then when someone makes a comment regarding the exam being geared toward experienced persons.....the next reply from the poster is defending their level of experience. You either have experience or you don't. Grant it, tinkering with friends PCs isn't the same as working in a repair shop....but if your doing it somewhat professinoally...it does count as SOME experience. What you lack is that intense, angry, client who needs to be interviewed properly and carefully to minimize them blowing up at some point during your diagnosis. Regardless, it shouldn't change how you approach the problem. Gather your facts, Recreate the problem, etc...
/rant
Best thing, download the objectives and 'teach' the information to a friend. If you can make them learn it by the way you explain it....your ready.
_____
"Grammar and spelling aren't everything, but this is a forum, not a chat room. You have plenty of time to spell out the word "you", and look just a little bit smarter." by Phaideaux
***I'll add you can Capitalize the word 'I' to show a little respect for yourself too.
'i' before 'e' except after 'c'.... weird?
The CompTIA exams are definitely much easier than the higher level certifications. They are, however, a great stepping stone to the Microsoft, Cisco, and Redhat exams. They are intro certs, so they should be easier than the more focused certifications. I would recommend you still study just as hard as you would to pass a higher level exam. In the end it shouldn't be about passing, but rather learning and becoming a better IT professional.
Also pass marks were not pitched too high.
I took & passed the 2 exams in one day. Next stop was Network+. Again - not too taxing and a reasonable pass mark to meet.
For both certs, it also helped that I was using Mike Meyers' All-In-One books: I think he has a talent for making quite dry material entertaining.
However, as others have pointed out, when it comes to exams like Security+, I don't think it is fair to say that all CompTIA exams are easy. The material is straight forward, but when I was in the exam, I was not at all confident of passing it.
I was actually quite calm when I took my tests. But when I took them I passed the 602 and almost passed the 601, so I have been studying a little more at home and at school.
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Let it never be said that I didn't do the very least I could do.