Freaking out

[Leary22]

I am freaking out about the A+ test in the next 2 weeks ... can someone give me a few pointers

[PrntRhd]

Time management during the test is one key to success.

Study, and perform practice simulations of the test until you recognize the right answers on those sample questions and score 90%-100% correct in the test time frame.

When you take the test, go through the questions and answer the questions you definitely know the answers to, then go back for the harder ones, because if you get stuck on hard ones and run out of time, the easy ones you did not get to will not be scored in your favor.

[jlreich]

Originally Posted by PrntRhd

When you take the test, go through the questions and answer the questions you definitely know the answers to, then go back for the harder ones, because if you get stuck on hard ones and run out of time, the easy ones you did not get to will not be scored in your favor.

Absolutely. This also helps because sometimes a question further into the test will give you the answer to an earlier question that you are a little foggy about.

You can go back to any question you want. So definitely answer the ones you know and move on past the ones you don't.

Generally speaking with most exams there are two answers that are just totally wrong, so you can usually eliminate half the choices right away leaving you two to choose from. If you know the material then the correct one from there shouldn't be too difficult to surmise.

Some questions will give you a bunch of irrelevant information. Make sure you read the question carefully to find out what they are actually asking. Then make sure you look at each answer and consider it.

[Variable]

Study your butt off. Take practice exams from reputable cert sites. I find it is always best to pay some money to get access to practice exams.

On the plus side, comptia exams are straightforward. No trick questions like MS. Know the material and you will do fine. Being nervous is a good thing, it should make you study more. The more you learn the better off you are irregardless of the exam outcome.

[awaj]

I've not taken it, but when a big test comes up, it's important to get plenty of sleep, go to bed before midnight, and get up reasonably in the morning and have a good breakfast. I can't count how many teachers have told me that growing up till now...

[Leary22]

I am reading about 3 Books .. Sybertec , Mike Myers All In One , Jean Andrews Compelete 2006, and have some audio training with Prep logic, and using "Test Out" software. ....i am studying my butt off

[jlreich]

Then you will be fine.

[Variable]

Yes, you will be fine. Being worried is a good thing, makes you dilligent.

[diurnal]

leary i had problems on the software part. i failed it the first time because they can basically put anything on that thing.

so i went to a website that gave out the answers. i paid like 20 bucks and i took the tests over and over again on the website.

so i went to take the software part of it again and there were like 30 questions on it. i was on question 15 and the test quit, so i thought i failed it, but they said i aced it that's why it cut off.

[Leary22]

Well thanks guys .... took the test today and got a 821 .... one down.... one more to go (It Enterprise)

[PrntRhd]

Good job on that one!!

[jlreich]

Nice score. Congratulations!!

[awaj]

Congratulations

[johnny_quest]

wow passed with a 569 on a practice test, never studied, just a computer enthusiast and electronic technician.

most questions you could simply eliminate all the silly answers.

lots of focus on laser printer corona wires, dotmatrix printers, using floppy disks to "backup data"? this cert woulda been good maybe 15 years ago... but geeksquad wasn't around back then...

[jlreich]

Originally Posted by johnny_quest

lots of focus on laser printer corona wires, dotmatrix printers, using floppy disks to "backup data"? this cert woulda been good maybe 15 years ago... but geeksquad wasn't around back then...

You know I thought the same thing at one time. But as it turns out I work on laser printers most every day, dot matrix printers far more than you would think possible these days, and even occasionally use floppies to either run diagnostics or backup data.

Having a basic knowledge of how laser printers work is actually fairly important these days. Since I have gone full time into the computer business I have had two jobs and in both I have serviced laser printers. Currently I actually carry six fusers and other various parts to fix laser printers. Probably 70% of the time you are going to replace the fuser because it is just one of those parts that gets worn or damaged a lot. But there are certainly times when you really need to understand how they work in order to figure out what the problem is.

And yes I do work on computers. Everything from PI's to Core2's. Though I haven't used it for some time I actually carry EDO ram. I actually have something like a dozen 4MB and 8MB sticks or more because it was requested by the customer that the ram be replaced but it wasn't the problem.

I have worked on systems so old that when I pull the ram out to reseat it or replace it the little resistors and such on the ram module actually crumble to dust when I grab the stick to pull it out.