Me too

astorrs

Since everyone else is posting about passing this one, I figure I better jump in to.

Passed today with an 850.

This was my first CompTIA exam and I have to say - good god they need to fire whoever does their quality control! Out of 100 questions I had 5 on the exact same piece of technology. 3 of the questions were essentially the same question posed 3 different ways. Combine that with the fact that the exam was riddled with grammatical, spelling and poorly worded questions/answers and it gave me a really bad overall impression of the CompTIA exam development process.

As for the resources I used, I decided to try something a little different and have a go with some "audio learning" on my iPod so I bought the PrepLogic Lecture Series for the Security+ exam, and while the audio itself was clear and the trainer did his job it didn't even come close to the depth required to be able to pass this exam. For someone new to IT using only that as their resource and based on the questions I got, a score of 300 something wouldn't be unrealistic. On its own it just doesn't cut it, not even close.

Knowing I needed something else, I picked up the Syngress Security+ book based on the recommendation of some of you guys here, and its the opposite - "comprehensive" is an understatement. I couldn't bring myself to read past the first chapter since it was soooo much review and I just wanted a recap to refresh my mind on the things I don't work with and some of the terminology. That's when I found the "Fast Track" PowerPoint slides on the CD - thank you to the author for including that. I flipped through the notes on those slides and read in depth about anything I didn't understand.

Ran through the different Transcender practice exams a couple times on Monday/Tuesday night which helped me to focus on the bits I still didn't get.

So final score:

PrepLogic Security+ Lecture Series


Syngress Security+ Study Guide


Transcender Security+ Practice Exam

bjaxx

astorrs wrote:

Since everyone else is posting about passing this one, I figure I better jump in to.

Passed today with an 850.

This was my first CompTIA exam and I have to say - good god they need to fire whoever does their quality control! Out of 100 questions I had 5 on the exact same piece of technology. 3 of the questions were essentially the same question posed 3 different ways. Combine that with the fact that the exam was riddled with grammatical, spelling and poorly worded questions/answers and it gave me a really bad overall impression of the CompTIA exam development process.

As for the resources I used, I decided to try something a little different and have a go with some "audio learning" on my iPod so I bought the PrepLogic Lecture Series for the Security+ exam, and while the audio itself was clear and the trainer did his job it didn't even come close to the depth required to be able to pass this exam. For someone new to IT using only that as their resource and based on the questions I got, a score of 300 something wouldn't be unrealistic. On its own it just doesn't cut it, not even close.

Knowing I needed something else, I picked up the Syngress Security+ book based on the recommendation of some of you guys here, and its the opposite - "comprehensive" is an understatement. I couldn't bring myself to read past the first chapter since it was soooo much review and I just wanted a recap to refresh my mind on the things I don't work with and some of the terminology. That's when I found the "Fast Track" PowerPoint slides on the CD - thank you to the author for including that. I flipped through the notes on those slides and read in depth about anything I didn't understand.

Ran through the different Transcender practice exams a couple times on Monday/Tuesday night which helped me to focus on the bits I still didn't get.

So final score:

PrepLogic Security+ Lecture Series


Syngress Security+ Study Guide


Transcender Security+ Practice Exam

Congrats,

what about the SBS exam?

astorrs

bjaxx wrote:

Congrats,

what about the SBS exam?

Updated my sig, just for you.

wat08

CompTIA

It's a well-known fact that monkeys are responsible for crafting 99% of the content found on a CompTIA exam. The other 1% being the work of Al Gore.

Now, how are you planning on feeding your family this week? The exorbitant price of the exam surely cut into your weekly food allowance, no?

In short, CompTIA should be avoided like the plague unless, of course, you need one of the "exams" to meet a job or elective requirement. Otherwise, just study the material and forgo the test. That way, you'll save money while still preparing yourself for more rigorous topics within the security domain.

bertieb

Congrats!

Yeah, CompTIA questions suck and many of them had me scratching my head due to the wording . The cost is obscene too (way too much $$$$$/££££££)

Still , at least you won't have to do it again.

shednik

Congrats astorrs!!

Mishra

Congrats.

With the addition of the new character (the plus sign) I believe you have turned your certification list into an assembly algorithm.


pixel.asm (how to display a pixel on the screen)

; a short program to check how
; set and get pixel color works

name "pixel"

org 100h

mov ah, 0 ; set display mode function.
mov al, 13h ; mode 13h = 320x200 pixels, 256 colors.
int 10h ; set it!

mov cx, 10 ; column
mov dx, 20 ; row
mov al, 15 ; white
mov ah, 0ch ; put pixel
int 10h

xor al, al ; al = 0

mov cx, 10 ; column
mov dx, 20 ; row
mov ah, 0dh ; get pixel
int 10h

; pause the screen for dos compatibility:

;wait for keypress
mov ah,00
int 16h

; return to text mode:
mov ah,00 ; set display mode function.
mov al,03 ; normal text mode 3
int 10h ; set it!


ret

dynamik

Mishra wrote:

Congrats.

With the addition of the new character (the plus sign) I believe you have turned your certification list into an assembly algorithm.


pixel.asm (how to display a pixel on the screen)

; a short program to check how
; set and get pixel color works

name "pixel"

org 100h

mov ah, 0 ; set display mode function.
mov al, 13h ; mode 13h = 320x200 pixels, 256 colors.
int 10h ; set it!

mov cx, 10 ; column
mov dx, 20 ; row
mov al, 15 ; white
mov ah, 0ch ; put pixel
int 10h

xor al, al ; al = 0

mov cx, 10 ; column
mov dx, 20 ; row
mov ah, 0dh ; get pixel
int 10h

; pause the screen for dos compatibility:

;wait for keypress
mov ah,00
int 16h

; return to text mode:
mov ah,00 ; set display mode function.
mov al,03 ; normal text mode 3
int 10h ; set it!


ret

And his cert list will probably be that long within a year

Congrats!

undomiel

Haven't seen assembly in a while. Glad to see I can still understand it!

Congratulations on the Security+ astorrs! I totally agree about the quality control.

snadam

congrats!!!
I remember this one being really fun to study for, but a terrible one to take.

NetAdmin2436

Congrats!

I was beginning to look down on you for not having your security+ ....kidding of course

.....like you really need another cert.

UnixGuy

congratulations astorrs

I start studying security+ too, I'm trying to be trendy too :P I'm using Sybex book though