A+ Certification

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Flak Pyro

Gawd
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Sep 9, 2003
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I am about to take the A+ cert test next week, i have been taking a class at my school to prepare for it and i have been using Exam Cram books. Recently i found these sample questions on CompTia's website: http://www.comptia.org/certification/a/samplequestions.aspx

I was wondering if those kinda questions are anything like what i can expect on the real exam, both in wording and difficulty. I have been using computers for a number of years, build my own systems and even mess with linux in my spare time, so i think i will be ok, i would just like more of an idea of what to expect from the test difficulty wise.
 
Yes you will see questions just like that on the test. Its not an easy test, its actually one of the hardest tests Ive taken. The first time I took it, I passed the software and failed the hardware, and then the 2nd time I passed the hardware by one point (phew).

But remember, its two tests, so if you pass one, you dont need to take it over again. Study IRQ numbers like none other, memorize them. They will ask you how many pins are in a standard IDE drive, and SCSI. Pay attention to detail, they get u hard there.

Make sure you know a fair ammount of networking also. They will give a situation where you need to get to a certain point (like say a driver properties for display), they will give options on which way is best. Sart> settings> control pannel> etc. etc. etc. (the fastest obviously is right click on my computer, properties, hardware tab, device manager button, and then select the driver you want and hit properties). They have a couple of those.

And my last big hint is to STUDY STUDY STUDY the laser printer section. They will ask a lot of freakin questions about specific details on that.

If you have a lot of hands on experience, then use it. Dont make stupid mistake, and visualize everything that they want you to do. Double check every answer you do (After u finish the test). If you dont know what one problem is, make an educated guess, rule out stupid shit and then take a blind shot, thats the best u can do.

Good luck, you'll need it.
 
A trained monkey could pass the A+ test....

Really, it isn't that hard, it's the stupid things that are really irrelevent anymore that will come back to bit you in the ass. Do you know what DMA sound cards use? What about the IRQ for the floppy drive? I/O address of COM2? What phase in laser printing does X?
Also, know how to figure out dip switches for SCSI IDs
Brain dump the irq tables/other memorized bullshit like that right at the beginning, and then really most of it is just intuitive if you've worked with computers for any ammount of time
 
I wouldn't say it's necessarily that easy, but not very hard either. All relative on your hands on experiences working with computers. Like mentioned above, memorize your IRQ's, printers, and even some basic networking stuff.. (i.e. what is max speed of 10baseT)... take your time on the test and take LOTS of practice questions before taking the real thing. Don't let it intimidate you because as long as you're comfortable taking all of the practice tests and scoring reasonably high, you'll do just fine! And remember, dont forget to bring TWO seperate forms of picture ID when you test! heh
 
the A+ wasn't too bad cept for the stupid stuff that has been mentioned already they are must know items. on a unrelated note I wish the fundamentals of engineering test was that easy.
 
A+ certification doesn't even count much on a resume anymore. Not to mention the IT world pretty much going down the tubes lately.

....but I found it to be an easy test.
 
took the A+ last summer, if youre taking the new tests the irq and dma stuff likely wont be a big part. i did get alot of questions about printers and networking on both hardware and software tests.

use the scratch paper and take your time. i was able to go back over my answers 3 times and still wasnt even close to the time limit.

like gsboriqua said though, it really doesnt mean much on the resume. too many places offering the guarranteed pass that just cram practice questions down your throat and dont bother teaching anyone anything. hell i met an mcse that didnt know how to use alt+tab
 
I've been reading through some "recent" A+ Study Guides (2002, released by Microsoft, and on "Exam Cram" book) and I've been taking the tests in them only to find that they are painfully easy and that there horrendous mistakes in the books. In fact the 2002 book released by MS still states that CPUs are _slowly_ moving to the standard of having onboard L2 Cache, and it uses motherboards with ISA slots as examples of hardware.
 
dont forget to bring TWO seperate forms of picture ID when you test! heh
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haha, that turned out to be a bigger problem than i anticipated. Im 13, so i dont even HAVE 2 pieces of picture id, let alone carry them with me.

anyways, like they said, i was surprised on the software test when they asked dumb shit about which buttons to press to get to the device manager or something (really trivial things like whether its "settings" or "properties")

i really dont see the usefulness of stuff like that from day to day, but whatever, i geuss its usefull to have the piece of paper
 
I just bought a book and read straight through it and aced the test. Granted this was about 4 years ago, it was easy. I did find that none of the practice exams related the difficulty of the real thing.

They will get you on the details though. Study things down to the detail and understand what you are studying and you should pass.

DS
 
I took an A+ class 2-3 years ago...do they still have DOS questions and have they started asking XP questions??? DOS is irrelevant and XP is more widley used now than back then...I haven't taken it cause I was afraid that I'd fail any DOS questions and fail the networking questions...what kind of networking questions do they ask and any DOS questions anymore???
 
from the studying i have done, they still do have Dos questions but they seem to relate more to windows 9x. They want you to know about config.sys, system ini., msdos.sys, autoexec.bat and win.ini. They want you to know how to change directories, copy, make and edit files. Nothing too difficult. If you want a idea of the type of questions on the OS exam try freecomptia.com, front page looks kinda tacky (read:like a spyware site) but click on A+ OS on the left hand side, people have told me these questions are really close to what can be found on the exam.
 
Ressurecting a semi-dead thread, but I felt it was better than making a new one...

I'm looking into getting A+ Cert. I'm a high-school senior so I'm really just looking for a job to make some $ from now till end of August when I head off to college. Looking around locally, all companys hiring people for basic repairs and whatnot require this A+ Cert.

After taking a few practice tests it seems sorta stupid IMO, the questions are mostly mad easy then it get to stuff like IRQs and technical printer crap that no1 has to know really.

So what I'm wondering, do you think its worth it to get a book to memorize the extra junk, then spend 290$ on the exams to get the certs so I can have a semi-decent job this summer? I really don't think a cert like this should be required due to so much extra stuff being on it, but oh well.

Thoughts?
 
^^^
Just make sure you don't pay full price for the exams...there's ALWAYS some kind of coupon or offer or something floating around the internet that'll take some money off the full price...
 
i got mine, didnt even have to study for it.... though the series of printer questions are tough and a pain in the ass, but they arnt impossible.

u can get the the a+ book at a bookstore its only like 55 bucks at border's books if your worried about it.
but imo its not that hard of a test, just can be annoying kuz it takes awhile to do. the printer questions are the only hard ones to do. i was 17 when i got certified.... im 21 now.
 
also if cost is the problem, you can take an A+ cert class at a community college and they cut like 70% of the cost of the exam. so really you paying for the class is what mostly pays for the exam.
 
I think if I picked up a dummies book for 20 bucks I'd be fine. Most of the questions on the sample tests are mad easy, just stuff like IRQs and Printers is what I get wrong. Just trying to see if its worth going through the trouble of getting it just for a few months of work
 
Study as much as you can with the different type of Scsi, I have seen once too many students here at the tech school I go to, fail that section of the test.

There will be alot of clicking and choosing a single answer, they will show you a motherboard and it will point to certain areas on the board, then you have to pick the correct ones.

Irq tables will be a constant thorn in your side while taking the test, as well as trying to remember all the processor speeds listed with their fsb.

I know since last year I have taken the test, the test has changed, there is more material added since then. Such as the Serial ata standard, the new processor technologies, the new pci-e bus and etc.
 
I did all my studying off free practice test and cram guides off the web. I was nervous as hell about the first test. Other than the damned printer section, I only got one question wrong.
As was said before, memorization of IRQ's, CPU pin numbers/socket types, and mundane things like that is key.

If you are an experienced computer tech, a book isn't going to do as much for you as a condensed cram guide. I wish I could remember the one I used, it was awesome. If I can find it I'll post it for you.

And yes, ANY certification you get is going to help you get a job. It shows you put in the extra effort.

I am currently studying for my MCP which I will be taking on the 26th. I'm shitting my pants for this one. :eek:

Good luck!
 
i'm in college now. I want to take this test. I will be studying for it in the summer. Where do i go to sign up for the test? where do i go to take the test?
 
gsboriqua said:
A+ certification doesn't even count much on a resume anymore. Not to mention the IT world pretty much going down the tubes lately.

....but I found it to be an easy test.
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on a resume mabey....I could not even get my job without it because to do warranty work for any large manufacturer you have to have this cert to get any of their hardware certs. IBM Compaq etc.
 
A+ won't even get you a job at Best Buy or Comp USA repairing computers.

Too many people have it, the questions are too easy, thus it is devalued.

If 13 year olds are taking and passing a cert exam, then you know it isn't too hard.

With the IT field the way it is, the only certs that actually mean something are Cisco.

3-4 years ago a MCSE could get about $50,000, now MCSE is required for entry level $30,000 jobs.
 
PawNtheSandman said:
A+ won't even get you a job at Best Buy or Comp USA repairing computers.

Too many people have it, the questions are too easy, thus it is devalued.

If 13 year olds are taking and passing a cert exam, then you know it isn't too hard.

With the IT field the way it is, the only certs that actually mean something are Cisco.

3-4 years ago a MCSE could get about $50,000, now MCSE is required for entry level $30,000 jobs.
Click to expand...

Yea but doesn't that mean to compete with other people looking for the same high level jobs you need to have the A+ AND the MCSE AND the Cisco Certs AND the 4 year university degree AND the.. well you get the idea :)
 
Like most qualifications, there's no harm in actually having it. I know I'd rather someone had more experience over A+. But then again I realise that a HND (vocational course in the UK) is harder work than a BSc (which has the perception of being of more worth and teaches you loads of useless fluff). BSc will teach you more trivia about computers (theory and history etc), but nuts and bolt computer work - the HND would win out every time for me.

What really devalues qualifications is the mentality of teaching you the answers to the questions, rather than about the subject in question. It's a shame, but that's the way it is.

If you do get the opportunity to take the A+ for cheap, do so, but don't pin your employment hopes on it.

What does the practical part of the exam actually comprise of? Is it just "turn this pile of bits into a computer with an operating system on it"? If it weren't for the front panel connectors, I *may* be able to do that blindfold... :D (been building PCs for a decade) Additionally - how old are those bits? Are we talking 486es? Slotted Athlons? :D
 
PawNtheSandman said:
A+ won't even get you a job at Best Buy or Comp USA repairing computers.

Too many people have it, the questions are too easy, thus it is devalued.

If 13 year olds are taking and passing a cert exam, then you know it isn't too hard.

With the IT field the way it is, the only certs that actually mean something are Cisco.

3-4 years ago a MCSE could get about $50,000, now MCSE is required for entry level $30,000 jobs.
Click to expand...

Bullshit.

If you look at the IT field, a VERY FEW percentage of techs have any certifications whatsoever. Most people in the IT field today are idiots who went to school for "computers" because everyone told them "there's good money in computers".

Any certification will help you stand out. In an oversaturated field of jack-off computer techs you need every advantage possible. Obviously a certification will not automatically land you a job. But if you put down a few certs and 5 years of job experience on a resume, you're going to look better than Mr. I-Graduated-from-Community-College.


3-4 years ago a MCSE could get about $50,000, now MCSE is required for entry level $30,000 jobs.
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You have ZERO, zip, none, no clue as to what you are talking about. And until you do, I'd advise against telling anyone not to take a certification exam.
 
Vertigo Acid said:
A trained monkey could pass the A+ test....
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^ What he said. You only have to get like 70% to past that test too, don't you? Easily scored that on those sample questions alone, and I haven't read a single book.

A+ should be a cynch for anyone who has been around PCs since the DOS days.
 
sleepeeg3 said:
^ What he said. You only have to get like 70% to past that test too, don't you? Easily scored that on those sample questions alone, and I haven't read a single book.

A+ should be a cynch for anyone who has been around PCs since the DOS days.
Click to expand...

If certifications aren't worth anything what is a college degree worth?? College courses are jokes. Any certification is going to be tougher than any equivilant college class.

The point is, if you have a certification, you are going to look better than all the clowns who say "[certification here] is worthless because my 8 year old brother could pass it". You will look better than them and thus have a better chance for the job.

In the IT field, from my experience, is that job experience trumps everything, be it a degree certifications, whatever. But the more you have, the better your odds of landing that good paying fun job.

So go for the certification, and any other you would like. Don't listen to the people spouting about how worthless it is, because they don't have any, they most likely don't even have a job in the IT field.
 
S1nF1xx said:
Bullshit.

If you look at the IT field, a VERY FEW percentage of techs have any certifications whatsoever. Most people in the IT field today are idiots who went to school for "computers" because everyone told them "there's good money in computers".

Any certification will help you stand out. In an oversaturated field of jack-off computer techs you need every advantage possible. Obviously a certification will not automatically land you a job. But if you put down a few certs and 5 years of job experience on a resume, you're going to look better than Mr. I-Graduated-from-Community-College.

Maybe up there in Minnesota but here in NY, MCSE's are a dime a dozen. Employers don't want MCSE, they don't want College. They want 4 year college degree AND MCSE. That is for entry level. Now many of these people who can't get a job in the Northeast could move down South and have companies begging them to work for them.



You have ZERO, zip, none, no clue as to what you are talking about. And until you do, I'd advise against telling anyone not to take a certification exam.

I am not telling him to NOT take it, I am telling him that it is not a life or death situation that his career depends on. It is an easy test and if he wants a IT career he might as well take it, but he shouldn't expect to get a job as a tech after passing the exam.
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Bold = my comments
 
I agree, but A+ is a joke. ...and more does not necessarily = better. Ever heard of being labelled a paper person? Too many certs makes you look like you are trying to shove a bunch of paper at them so they don't know you are actually a skillless tool.

PtS has is down. You need either some quality certs + experience or a degree to land a decent job nowadays. I am confident throwing $300 at A+ would just be giving away money, unless you only aspire to be a tech @ CompUSA.
 
When you are ready to take the test be sure to check out

http://www.getcertified4less.com

You can buy a certificate for the test for about half as much as it costs and take the two parts seperately for up to one year after th purchase.
 
BTW I am A+, Net +, MCP and 1 test from MCSA. Hopefully by Dec I will get MCSE. Then I start Novell.

I know computers and I have certs, but there are people out there with no certs and no degree who know more than I do, there are also people out there with 4 year degrees and MCSE and other alphabet soup certs that don't know half of what I know. It used to be that certs would be better than a degree to employers. Now so many people skipped college and got "paper certs" that more and more places want 4 year degree AND certs. Going to a school that guarantees "test pass" is nothing more than a brain dump place, and I would only recommend such a place if you already have a job in the it field and just need the certs for your employer. Otherwise you are just a "paper cert" as described above. This isn't CompTia or Microsoft's fault, it is places like Test King who give people test answers and these tech schools who give you a week class, make you do brain dump practice exams, then say you get a "test pass guarantee". CompTia has made the questions more relavant to today's technology, and Microsoft's questions are going away from the ABCD format and turning into "live lab" exams. This is going to slowly bring back credibility to their certifications.
 
A bit off the current topic, but I wanted to ask anyway.
I got my certs when I was 16 and now I'm a freshman in college. I took the test back then in hopes of boosting my opportunities in getting a summer job at compusa or best buy. However, that didn't work out as I planned. Since then I have just done private consulting for some companies. Since that was about 3 years ago is my cert expired? Do I need to go renew it or something?

As many of you noted that A+ doesn't do jack for getting hired. The companies I consult for have an added assurance that I have the cert and 10+yrs of computer experience.

Anoter note for you future test takers: I am in the DFW area and I took my tests at SMU for about $50 a pop (100 for software+hardware). Just show them you are a current student in high school or college (student id). Then again, that was 3 years ago. I'm not quite sure what kind of discount rates they provide now.
 
I found the A+ to be totally easy, especially the hardware test. http://www.courseilt.com which is thomson's (aka prometric) own site has both of the a+ vouchers for $160 which is the cheapest ive seen. The only reason I got it was there were several jobs that I was applying for that required it (not compusa tech type). So it was more of an added bonus to my years of experience.
 
A+ is worth getting, but just barely. As someone said earlier, too many cram-shop operations out there teach the test only. But as someone else said, many of the top line hardware manufacturers require it as a prerequisite to getting their certifications. And those are worth major money when you go looking for a job.

As for the clown who said most techs don't have certifications, that may be true for the $8/hr Best Buy/CompUSA/insert-whatever-department-store here crowd, but in my league (NOC Technician) certifications definitely do count. My CCNA got me my job- I aced out a tech who had more experience because of the cert. And I have already been promised a Tier III job (with a hefty raise) when I complete my CCNP.

My advice: look at where you want to be in 10 years and get the appropriate certs. If you want to do hardware repair type stuff, do the A+ and maybe Server+ or Network+, then go out and get manufacturer certifications. If you want to do network type stuff, go Cisco and Juniper. If you want to do System Administration, an MCP is good to have, even an MCSA. I don't recommend going after the MCSE right away though. It's 7 exams, and people with MCSEs and no experience are viewed as paper certs. (people who crammed the exams and don't know the material)
 
S1nF1xx said:
I did all my studying off free practice test and cram guides off the web. I was nervous as hell about the first test. Other than the damned printer section, I only got one question wrong.
As was said before, memorization of IRQ's, CPU pin numbers/socket types, and mundane things like that is key.

If you are an experienced computer tech, a book isn't going to do as much for you as a condensed cram guide. I wish I could remember the one I used, it was awesome. If I can find it I'll post it for you.

And yes, ANY certification you get is going to help you get a job. It shows you put in the extra effort.

I am currently studying for my MCP which I will be taking on the 26th. I'm shitting my pants for this one. :eek:

Good luck!
Click to expand...


Got any info on said "cram guides"?
 
In years past, if you had a college education, you were basically guaranteed a good-paying job. Today, people with master's degrees and higher can have a rough time finding work, and when they do, it might not be the kind of job they were hoping for. For most careers, a 4 year-degree is almost a requirement just for consideration, whereas in the past it was more of a luxury that made you look attractive to employers. A 4-year degree certainly doesn't mean as much today as it did in the 50s, but that doesn't mean it should be skipped over. In fact, it's even more necessary. I think the same goes for certs...though not all of them can be thought of as necessary. But if everyone has a certain one, and you don't, that could be a strike against you. Even if it is a worthless one :D
 
It's never going to hurt you to take the A+. Just look at it as a learning process and a building block. I got mine years ago when I was starting out with very little experience. It's something extra for a young resume that says you at least know the basics. I say good for you for putting out the effort. We all have to start somewhere and sometimes seeking out a certification is what it takes to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

Good luck
 
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