Feeling pretty stupid

Chantel

I have completed Derril's book. I took the pretest and got a 67%. Then I got high 90s for most of the chapter tests, with my lowest score being 81%. I took the practice test on this site and only got a 66%. That means I have to go back and study what I am struggling on, but I didn't think I was having that much trouble. Maybe some of the stuff on the practice test wasn't in the book. I could use some other practice tests. Practice tests is how I really drilled the information into my head for the Network + exam. Derril's book is not the only book I read. Can't recall the name of the other book off the top of my head.

DoubleNNs

I'm pretty sure that a lot of the Sec+ material out there is very outdated. I felt the same way as you after completing DG's book. I was scoring low on other practice tests and couldn't understand some other materials I tried to pick up.

Try to make sure you understand why all the right answers in the book are right and why all the wrong answers are wrong. Create charts and graphs. Memorize them and make sure you know the differences between everything. (Memorizing acronyms, ports, types of attacks, protocols etc are gimme answers on the exam.)

I felt nervous but I still took the exam when I figured I knew all the material in DG's book. I walked out the testing center w/ an 850/900.

Good luck studying.

Chantel

Thanks for the advise and encouragement. When I initially read the kindle version of Daril's book, I highlighted areas I felt I would need to go over again. This made it so rereading meant only reading about 50-75% of the content. When I went to reread it, it didn't take nearly as long as the first reading.

I wrote down all the ports with names and protocol. Every so often I look it over in hopes I will remember it all. I also wrote down things I was struggling to remember.

Did you just use Daril's book? Did you read and take notes? I am curious how others did it. When I did the Network + exam, I wasn't very organized.

DoubleNNs

I used DG's book and professormessor.com. I bought the exam cram as well but didn't like it, so ended up not using it.

yzT

I'm going through the same. Darril's book pretest 88/100, final test 92/100, chapters test failing 1-2 (on the first chapter I failed 3 and on the last chapter I answered everything right).

Took MasterExam from CompTIA All-in-one book: 74% (need 79% if I'm not mistaken).

Took the practice exam on this site: 54% or something like that.

I'm wondering if Darril's questions are too easy... :S

Khaos1911

I'm a big fan of DG's writing style and his All in One book is about the only thing I used to pass the sec+ test. The only small crtique I have is that his question are much easier than what you will see on the exam. But at the same time, if you read and really know and absorb the material, question structure will not be a problem. Just Google a bunch security+ practice questions/exams/flash cards and get use to the different ways things are asked if you really want to get comfortable with question structure, but knowing the material is key!

DoubleNNs

Personally, I thought the questions in DG's book were extremely comparable to the questions found on the actual exam - in difficulty and structure. However, I DID take my Sec+ months ago, right before they started to introduce the performance based questions. The exam might have gotten a little bit harder since then, although I doubt it.