A+ Certification

Yuchao719 · 30-08-2006, 08:37 AM

Hi again! I've finally remembered to drop by for what seems like the first time this year. Study(April), Tests(June), two jobs(now), and a volunteer job(now) seems to have got the best of my time...

Anyway, I'm all finished studying for the A+ Certification exam and reviewing a bit for my Core Hardware exam, scheduled this Friday. Just curious, does anyone else here have A+/Network+ Certification? If so, could you please fill me in on the details, maybe your score, and how you felt about it...etc?

Thanks and wish me luck..

megamaced · 30-08-2006, 11:14 AM

Yeah I found the hardware exam pretty easy. Just make sure you know the IRQ addresses!

The A+ is a pretty good place to start your qualifications as it teaches you the basics of hardware and Windows. But I must say that it's very difficult to get a job with only the A+. Ideally you would go on to take the N+ and possibily the MCSE

BTW, you might want to try these free practice exams. I found them pretty useful

Big B · 30-08-2006, 11:26 AM

I'm finally going for the A+ myself. I got the book "Exam Cram 2 A+ Practice Questions" that covers the software and hardware sides of the thing. It also has a CD with a configurable test system.

Mega's right: know the IRQ's. While, realistically, you're not going to need it, unless you go onto programming, know it for the test, along with I/O ports and DMA addresses. Also, read up on printers. It's a bear for me.

Addis · 30-08-2006, 01:12 PM

Horrible. Remembering IRQs, resource addresses are the most boring thing I've ever studied for. It's put me off A+. I'll take it some time in next two years, but even with an excellent book I can't be bothered.

Yuchao719 · 30-08-2006, 05:06 PM

Actually I'm studying from Exam Cram 2 as well. Yeah the most difficult section to remember was the printers, as I've never ACTUALLY opened up a laser printer myself. I've only touched the inkjet kinds.

Next to that is networking. Never had any practical experience with stuf like TokenRing, fiber optics, STPs and other wierd cabling; I've done only plain tcp/ip and netbeui on typical ethernet hub. Somehow, I can remember irq settings reasonably well.

Thing is i badly need A+ to get into any real professional tech service unlike the little computer repair shop that i currently volunteer at. Plus, you get paid more with A+ so less student loans

Along with what megamaced suggested, heres a bunch of online practice tests i've found to be useful:
A+ practice Test
FreePractice - Part 1 (ver 1.2.00)
A+ Practice Test
Practice Exams
CompTIA A+ Practice Test: Free A+ Practice Exams

Note the questions ur guessing at, find out why, copy to notepad, and review. Works great for me

Big B · 30-08-2006, 05:43 PM

I quit college a few years ago simply because I wasn't doing the work and sleeping in class. I know the practical stuff, but without some piece of paper to say I know what I know, getting a job outside of menial labor isn't going to happen.

Nic · 30-08-2006, 10:33 PM

I had the video cds for A+ with Mike Myers. I don;t think they do them for the latest exams but my god did he make studying it a breeze.

megamaced · 30-08-2006, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nic

I had the video cds for A+ with Mike Myers. I don;t think they do them for the latest exams but my god did he make studying it a breeze.

Mike Myers is a genious

But he loves his computers a little too much!

Nic · 31-08-2006, 09:51 AM

Doesn't he...I particularly love the survival DOS episode where he comes on through the branches. I love it!

Yuchao719 · 02-09-2006, 07:22 AM

I passed the Core Hardware Exam!!!!! W00T!!!

//quote

Results as follows:

PASSING SCORE: 515
CANDIDATE SCORE: 679
PASS.

The Core Hardware has a scaled score of between 100 and 900.

//endquote

I did worst in the printers section, interacting with customers(aka a$$holes) section, SCSI, networking section. Well, i've never touched a laser printer, i've never had to handle customers' calls, never actually worked w/ SCSI, and never touched anything outside of tcpip/netbeui on ethernet/802.11x. And I can't remember a few IRQs.

Expected something in the 700s but oh well it turned out great anyway.

OS exam is on Sep.5th... studying...

Big B · 10-09-2006, 08:59 PM

I still only make 68% (failing). Google IRQ and I/O lists and you can find the lists easily. Write them down a few times.

Yuchao719 · 17-09-2006, 04:43 AM

Hey Big B - 68% is a pass. Pass is 59% for Core Hardware and 57% for OS Technologies.

I just got my OS Technologies Test score: 658/900, or 73%

I did these exams with only a few library books and a reference book and with no training - only studying and experience. The sad thing for the OS Tech was that it asked only on "What buttons to click to access this or that..." Nothing at all was asked about how Windows actually works, which is much more valuable knowledge than what buttons and tabs to click in order to use Micro$oft Backup.(Which nobody uses). AND it was 100% Windows oriented. Not ONE question was about Linux, Mac, or OSes in general, which made the test EXTREMELY dry and irritating. Fking Micro$hit

Anyways... screw that shit i'm A+ certified! Finally! IT career.. here I come!

megamaced · 17-09-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuchao719

I just got my OS Technologies Test score: 658/900, or 73%

Well done

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuchao

The sad thing for the OS Tech was that it asked only on "What buttons to click to access this or that..."

You need to be looking at the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) for anything more advanced

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuchao

AND it was 100% Windows oriented. Not ONE question was about Linux, Mac, or OSes in general, which made the test EXTREMELY dry and irritating. Fking Micro$hit

Yeah, it sucks! If you want to learn more about Linux you should check out CompTIA's Linux+ qualification

30-08-2006, 08:37 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
Yuchao719 Big Geek Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 18 Male Posts: 101 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: Blah Status: Offline	A+ Certification Hi again! I've finally remembered to drop by for what seems like the first time this year. Study(April), Tests(June), two jobs(now), and a volunteer job(now) seems to have got the best of my time... Anyway, I'm all finished studying for the A+ Certification exam and reviewing a bit for my Core Hardware exam, scheduled this Friday. Just curious, does anyone else here have A+/Network+ Certification? If so, could you please fill me in on the details, maybe your score, and how you felt about it...etc? Thanks and wish me luck.. __________________ 1=0, 1!=0, and 1<0, 1>0 all at the same time. Now THAT is the meaning of life.

30-08-2006, 11:14 AM	#2 (permalink) Top
megamaced Geek Geek Geek! Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 24 Male Posts: 3,467 Times Helpful: 352 My Mood: Fine Status: Offline My Computer	Yeah I found the hardware exam pretty easy. Just make sure you know the IRQ addresses! The A+ is a pretty good place to start your qualifications as it teaches you the basics of hardware and Windows. But I must say that it's very difficult to get a job with only the A+. Ideally you would go on to take the N+ and possibily the MCSE BTW, you might want to try these free practice exams. I found them pretty useful __________________ "A computer is like air conditioning: it becomes useless when you open windows". ~Linus Torvalds

30-08-2006, 11:26 AM	#3 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Online My Computer	I'm finally going for the A+ myself. I got the book "Exam Cram 2 A+ Practice Questions" that covers the software and hardware sides of the thing. It also has a CD with a configurable test system. Mega's right: know the IRQ's. While, realistically, you're not going to need it, unless you go onto programming, know it for the test, along with I/O ports and DMA addresses. Also, read up on printers. It's a bear for me. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

30-08-2006, 01:12 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Addis The King Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 18 Male Posts: 5,255 Times Helpful: 403 My Mood: Drunk Status: Offline My Computer	Horrible. Remembering IRQs, resource addresses are the most boring thing I've ever studied for. It's put me off A+. I'll take it some time in next two years, but even with an excellent book I can't be bothered. __________________ Never trust a program you don't have the source code for. My website \| Powerful Desktop Linux \| Linux for human beings \| Linux for power users \| Linux for ricers

30-08-2006, 05:06 PM	#5 (permalink) Top
Yuchao719 Big Geek Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 18 Male Posts: 101 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: Blah Status: Offline	Actually I'm studying from Exam Cram 2 as well. Yeah the most difficult section to remember was the printers, as I've never ACTUALLY opened up a laser printer myself. I've only touched the inkjet kinds. Next to that is networking. Never had any practical experience with stuf like TokenRing, fiber optics, STPs and other wierd cabling; I've done only plain tcp/ip and netbeui on typical ethernet hub. Somehow, I can remember irq settings reasonably well. Thing is i badly need A+ to get into any real professional tech service unlike the little computer repair shop that i currently volunteer at. Plus, you get paid more with A+ so less student loans Along with what megamaced suggested, heres a bunch of online practice tests i've found to be useful: A+ practice Test FreePractice - Part 1 (ver 1.2.00) A+ Practice Test Practice Exams CompTIA A+ Practice Test: Free A+ Practice Exams Note the questions ur guessing at, find out why, copy to notepad, and review. Works great for me __________________ 1=0, 1!=0, and 1<0, 1>0 all at the same time. Now THAT is the meaning of life.

30-08-2006, 05:43 PM	#6 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Online My Computer	I quit college a few years ago simply because I wasn't doing the work and sleeping in class. I know the practical stuff, but without some piece of paper to say I know what I know, getting a job outside of menial labor isn't going to happen. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

30-08-2006, 10:33 PM	#7 (permalink) Top
Nic Sleepy Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 18 Female Posts: 2,470 Times Helpful: 21 My Mood: Sleepy Status: Offline My Computer	I had the video cds for A+ with Mike Myers. I don;t think they do them for the latest exams but my god did he make studying it a breeze. __________________

31-08-2006, 09:51 AM	#9 (permalink) Top
Nic Sleepy Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Age: 18 Female Posts: 2,470 Times Helpful: 21 My Mood: Sleepy Status: Offline My Computer	Doesn't he...I particularly love the survival DOS episode where he comes on through the branches. I love it! __________________

02-09-2006, 07:22 AM	#10 (permalink) Top
Yuchao719 Big Geek Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 18 Male Posts: 101 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: Blah Status: Offline	I passed the Core Hardware Exam!!!!! W00T!!! //quote Results as follows: PASSING SCORE: 515 CANDIDATE SCORE: 679 PASS. The Core Hardware has a scaled score of between 100 and 900. //endquote I did worst in the printers section, interacting with customers(aka a$$holes) section, SCSI, networking section. Well, i've never touched a laser printer, i've never had to handle customers' calls, never actually worked w/ SCSI, and never touched anything outside of tcpip/netbeui on ethernet/802.11x. And I can't remember a few IRQs. Expected something in the 700s but oh well it turned out great anyway. OS exam is on Sep.5th... studying... __________________ 1=0, 1!=0, and 1<0, 1>0 all at the same time. Now THAT is the meaning of life.

10-09-2006, 08:59 PM	#11 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Online My Computer	I still only make 68% (failing). Google IRQ and I/O lists and you can find the lists easily. Write them down a few times. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

17-09-2006, 04:43 AM	#12 (permalink) Top
Yuchao719 Big Geek Join Date: Jan 2005 Age: 18 Male Posts: 101 Times Helpful: 1 My Mood: Blah Status: Offline	Hey Big B - 68% is a pass. Pass is 59% for Core Hardware and 57% for OS Technologies. I just got my OS Technologies Test score: 658/900, or 73% I did these exams with only a few library books and a reference book and with no training - only studying and experience. The sad thing for the OS Tech was that it asked only on "What buttons to click to access this or that..." Nothing at all was asked about how Windows actually works, which is much more valuable knowledge than what buttons and tabs to click in order to use Micro$oft Backup.(Which nobody uses). AND it was 100% Windows oriented. Not ONE question was about Linux, Mac, or OSes in general, which made the test EXTREMELY dry and irritating. Fking Micro$hit Anyways... screw that shit i'm A+ certified! Finally! IT career.. here I come! __________________ 1=0, 1!=0, and 1<0, 1>0 all at the same time. Now THAT is the meaning of life.

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