Ed1975 wrote: » Opinions seem to vary widely. One poster here said if you can answer the textbook end of chapter review questions about 80% right you're good, while at the other end of the spectrum, one poster characterized the exam as chock-full of vague and dastardly-difficult multiple-answer questions that required much more knowledge than mere facts-based responses. How does it compare in difficulty to the A+ for example? I'm trying to get the Network+ with no experience as a network admin. In other words I'm trying to do it all from books. Has anyone else managed this?
certhelp wrote: » A better question would be "How difficult or easy would it be for <me/Ed>?" Where are you in terms of networking knowledge? Any experience? Are you used to test taking or do you shiver and sweat before or during exams usually? Mike Meyers' book has a section devoted to amount of effort required depending on your networking exposure or knowledge. Then there is the question of actual exam vs. the topics and objectives. The subjects and topics covered are wide but not very deep. You are not going to do anything like designing a network or solve an intricate networking issue. The exam has a few vague (more appropriately awkwardly worded) questions but not a choke full of questions like that. Sometimes there are a lot of assumptions which aren't mentioned in the question. You will have to guess what the question is trying to test. I have not seen any dastardly difficult questions. There are a couple of questions I don't know or just didn't dwell over because I know I don't know the answer. I just guessed. A huge percentage of the questions can be answered by just plain knowledge: protocols, limitations of technology, distances, port #s. Absolutely no reasoning or thinking needed. You just need to be able to recall. The multiple choice style makes this even easier because you don't have to write on your own but pick the answer(s). Of the remaining few which might seem a little difficult, you can answer using elimination method. You will end up with more likely two choices and with a little effort can be answered. Very few questions may not be answered this way, you can just guess and move on. Network+ can be easily passed with a few weeks to a month of preparation depending on your experience level. I have access to several different types of material -- books, videos, SIMs, practice tests. But my preferred method is studying books and then practice tests. You can study any of the well known books (Sybex study guide, Mike Meyers, etc.) and pass this exam. In fact, trying to learn from several different sources can waste time and slow you down. Just refer to a different material if you find a topic difficult or not well covered in your regular book. You can buy practice tests as you approach the scheduled date. I suspect you are anxious about exam. If you prepare well ....you are more likely to come out of the test center thinking "I didn't know there were so many ways to ask if I knew what XXX is?" or "this is it?" There is no need to worry about how badly questions are written. Those are not something you have to fret about.
