Studying for Network+ and A+ at once?

I am currently in Highschool doing both Network+ and A+ because I can get the certifications for free.

I am studying for these in class using Testout, and I recently took an A+ practice test and only got 55/100.
We do not have enough time in my class to finish the Testout curriculum for A+, so I am worried I will not be able to pass.

I read that it only has about a 30% passing rate, and now it will be even harder because I am taking Network+ and A+ near the same time.

What can I do to be ready for the final exam to pass both Network+ and A+? I really do not want to fail one and then have to pay to take it again. It is starting to stress me out.

I have been paying attention to the Testout, but I feel like I am not able to remember everything.

Can anyone give me advice or whether or not I took on more than I can handle? Alternate websites for studying Networking and A+ would also be very helpful. Thanks!

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Comments

dpsmooth15

Personally, "anything is possible". Would I suggest it……No. You are studying for classes, and two (2) exams, I would not want your A's to become C's because you wanted to study for two certifications, but thats just me. You said not having enough time in class, you didn't say at home. So are you making excuses for yourself? or just not ready? you cant give 55/100(%) studying and expect to get more than a 55/100 on the practice test, just FYI

Beibo

Yes I made a mistake taking both classes, when I was signing up I didn't realize they were both for certifications.

I haven't taken many hard classes, and the final test is in about... 6 months, so I still have plenty of time to study.

I just would hate to study a ton and then fail the test at the end because I can't hold all the information. Do you know any good books for these?

Also is the 30% pass rate true? I feel like I am just asking to be part of the 70% if it is, maybe I should just focus one on, which cert is more important?

--chris--

Forget testout (for now). If you want to get serious about passing this, buy the exam cram study guide for the A+ (its written assuming you understand most of the basics of a PC/laptop). Watch all the proffessor messer videos, take notes, make flash cards, do whatever helps you to remember acronyms and names because thats what the A+ is all about. Tear apart a few computers, figure out what is what and re-assemble. Run through the command line a few times with all the tools that are covered in that book.

Get this book for the Network+ and watch all the prof messer videos as well.
CompTIA Network+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 5th Edition (Exam N10-005): Michael Meyers: 9780071789226: Amazon.com: Books

Unless you are working full time and have a kid (while in highschool) I would expect a properly motivated individual to be able to pass both the A+ and N+ in 6 months from now.

I'm not passing judgment, I was a solid C student in high school because I was lazy. It took me 5 years after graduation to get my **** together. I hope you are motivated now at your age, because a high school grad with a good start like those two certs will have a leg up on getting started in IT.

I doubt its 30% pass rate, it was an easy exam. I was very over prepared for it.

Beibo

Wow that is extremely helpful, thank you very much.

I will get those books and spend a ton of time studying. I have already built multiple computers and I passed the first half of the cisco academy thing last year.

Those books will help a lot added with professor messer and testout.

Again, thanks!

SpetsRepair

where are you located? high school and you are studying that material im happy for you...

Beibo

Haha thank you. I am in Central Coast California.

DoubleNNs

I second everything that --chris-- said.

Darril

You've gotten some great advice here. Passing the exams for both the A+ and Network+ certifications is certainly achievable within six months but you might like to focus on one certification at a time.

Beibo wrote: »

I am currently in Highschool doing both Network+ and A+ because I can get the certifications for free.

What a great opportunity! Combined those vouchers cost many people as much as $627 ($183 for each of the two A+ exams and $261 for the Network+ exam).

Beibo wrote: »

I am studying for these in class using Testout, and I recently took an A+ practice test and only got 55/100. We do not have enough time in my class to finish the Testout curriculum for A+, so I am worried I will not be able to pass.

This means you'll need to spend some time self-studying and that's certainly possible. Many people take and pass all three exams without taking a class.

Beibo wrote: »

I read that it only has about a 30% passing rate

Don't believe it. CompTIA is the only organization that truly knows the pass rate and they do not release this information. It could be that someone teaching high school students an A+ class said that only only 30% of the high school students in past classes actually took and passed the exams. However, that is directly related to motivation and not difficulty. You can decide to be in that top 30%.

Beibo wrote: »

What can I do to be ready for the final exam to pass both Network+ and A+? I really do not want to fail one and then have to pay to take it again. It is starting to stress me out.

One of the real dangers is getting overwhelmed and then not completing anything. With this in mind, and since you are already starting to stress out, I'd suggest focusing on the A+ cert exams first. When you're done, you can self-study for the Network+ cert. Your CCNA academy experience combined with your Network+ certification class this year will certainly help you.

Beibo wrote: »

I have been paying attention to the Testout, but I feel like I am not able to remember everything.

No matter what tools you use, remember that your goal isn't to memorize questions and answers. Instead, your goal is to understand the concepts. Ideally, you should be able to look at any practice test questions and identify why the correct answers are correct and why the incorrect answers are incorrect. If you can do this, your understanding is much deeper than remembering and will stick with you beyond the test date.

Hope this helps. Good luck!