I’m considering going for my A+ certification. Has anyone here done so?
If so, do you recommend I take a class, or just study from a course book from Borders. I’ll admit I’m not really too keen on dropping $3000 for a class, unless it’s markedly better than studying from a book.
If so, what book(s) would you recommend?
It really depends on your experience with PCs and Windows, but the test is rather easy as far as certification exams go.
If you’ve had a fair amount of professional experience, the test should be a breeze and picking up a book to familiarize yourself with what material the test covers should be sufficient.
If you’ve have very little hands-on experience (help desk, desktop support, and bench tech experience is the most relevant to the exam), a class might be more useful. This is especially true if self-study is not your strong suit.
Just as a data point, I took the exam after I’d had 2 years of desktop support experience and 1 year of systems admin experience. I flipped through a study guide at bedtime for about a week and then took the test. I passed with no trouble.
I would agree with Caldazar that his experience is typical of most I know - some took it cold and passed, and others flipped though a book for a few hours. In fact, I don’t know of anyone that failed it - it’s not like it’s a PE exam or anything…
I passed it using the Exam Prep book from coriolis.com. I can’t get to their site right now for some reason, but the books are available on most online stores.
It’s been a few years, but the thing that caught me off guard the first time (yes, I had to take it twice) was how much printer stuff they had in there. I was just as adept as anyone at the geek aspect of the test, but my only experience with printers was changing the toner. Printer theory? Bah, I thought.
Get yourself a P.O.S. laser printer and figure out what each part does, it’s a breeze once you can visualize it.
$3000 is way too much for a class, I think if you have the knack for computers you could easily pass the test on the first or second try if you hit the books hard. You’d be amazed at how many questions in those books are EXACTLY the questions in the exam. Good luck, and welcome to the world of geek.
I have a friend who recently (December) failed the OS portion of the test (It’s divided into two tests: OS and hardware). He aced the hardware, but flunked the OS test. He got a lot of questions about the inner workings of Windows 3.11. Having never supported it in a work environment, and not having bothered to study Windows 3.11, he got screwed. It’s an adaptive exam, meaning if you get a question wrong, you’ll get another on the same topic. He re-tested a month ago, didn’t get any Win3.11 questions (after studying his ass off) and passed with flying colours. I believe they removed the Win3.11 components of the test shortly after he took it the first time.
I took it as well and passed easily. The difference was that I have worked in support for several years and he hasn’t. If you have some desktop support experience (or have worked with a variety of systems at home), you’ll do fine with just a book. If you’re relatively inexperienced, the course might be a better idea.
And, yes, know the inner workings of a laser printer. You will get tested on it.
I thought they had removed the Win 3.11 questions a bit longer ago than that, and replaced them with Win2000 questions. Your best bet would be to check the CompTIA website for information about what version the test will be and what material will be covered. Verify when you schedule to take the test what the version number is.
Well, what you need to know about laser printers for the test could probably be learned in an hour or so from any book. I used A+ for Dummies, because that was what the local library had.
That’s what he thought. That’s what his instructor thought. They were wrong.
True.
I just passed mine a couple of months ago. Failed the hardware part the first time-- dammit all-- but aced it the second time along with the OS exam.
It’s pretty tough, in my opinion, and shouldn’t be dismissed as being a ‘breeze’ like the others have alluded to above.
If you know your shit, great, but get into an area you’re not familiar with, and it’ll kill you- the thing tests you on all kinds of weirdo problems on various platforms. For me, that sucked, I know 95, 98, and a bit of 2000 well enough, but the others, and their history, wasn’t a strong area for me.
My advice? Avoid the course and pick up a book or study guide. Read through it and obviously bone up on the areas you don’t fully get.
I used the Mike Myers eight CD A+ exam prep that I picked up off of e-bay for something like three hundred bucks. I watched the tapes- the guys a dweeb, but he’s thorough and easy to listen to- and then turned around and sold them for three hundred and something dollars a couple of months later.
Total outlay? Zippo for the CD’s and about three hundred something bucks for the tests (Did I mention I wiffed one?).
Also check out what’s available on the web (Do an A+ test search) and check out some of the sites. One site I found- that others hate because it gives you the answers, but screw 'em- is Braindump Central. For me, it was invaluable because it familiarized me with what Comptia was after and what to look out for when taking the test (The questions themselves are often as hard, if not harder, to figure out than the solution they’re querying).
Hope it helps.
I’ve been doing desktop support for several years now, and I got my A+ a year plus ago.
I used the ExamCram book to study. I couldn’t have passed without the book (I mean, who uses AT system boards anymore?), but with it I passed the hardware part easily.
I flunked the OS section, but retook and passed it a week later.
Of course I took it before the end of March 2001, which is when the OS section was revamped for Win2K. I’ve heard it’s much harder now.
Since you’re looking for advice, I’ll send this thread over to IMHO.
I took my A+ Certification a little over a year ago and passed the first time round. I didnt find it too difficult personally.
All of the advice given above is good. And it really depends how much you already know… if you dont know alot about computers, I would go to class. Otherwise study on your own. When I went to class there really wasnt that much hands on stuff, most of A+ is memorization (especially Brain Dump!)
I’m going for my Network+ Certification now and I decided to study on my own this time. The main reason for that being I dont have money to spare to go to class.
I have found that A+ certification is probably the most worthless cert out of the bunch. If you are really gonna study or put alot of effort into getting a certification, A+ is a waste. You should try for Network + or something more in demand. A+ is hardly a measure of a persons computer skills.
After I took the exam I was thinking to myself that I would never require that cert of anyone I would hire because it is SO basic. I mean it is B A S I C. Not that that is bad mind you, but I see A+ as the type of cert you go out and get just because you can and already know the stuff. Not worth studying over unless you have a Master’s in CS or something and the job your applying to requires A+ or something.