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..
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
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.
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.
Actually I’m studying from Exam Cram 2 as well. Most difficult section to remember was the printers, as I’ve never actually opened one up myself. I’ve only touched inkjets. Next is networking. Never had any practical experience with stuff like TokenRing, fiber optics, STPs and other weird cabling; I’ve done only plain tcp/ip and netbeui on typical ethernet hub. Somehow, I can remember irq settings reasonably well.
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
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.
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!
Doesn’t he…I particularly love the survival DOS episode where he comes on through the branches. I love it!
I passed the Core Hardware Exam!
Passing score: 515
Candidate score: 679
I did worst in the printers section, interacting with customers section, SCSI, networking section.
Expected something in the 700s but oh well it turned out great anyway.
OS exam is in Sept.
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.
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 on. AND it was 100% Windows oriented. Not ONE question was about Linux, Mac, or OSes in general.
Well done
[QUOTE=Yuchao]
The sad thing for the OS Tech was that it asked only on “What buttons to click to access this or that…”
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You need to be looking at the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) for anything more advanced
[QUOTE=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:dry:
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Yeah, it sucks! If you want to learn more about Linux you should check out CompTIA’s Linux+ qualification