A+ certification question

[ddeder]

I am interested in getting my A+ certification from Comptia. As I understand it (and please correct me if I am wrong), I need to take two tests to get this certification, the hardware test and the OS test.

Questions:

Can these tests be taken at the same time?
What happens if I fail one and pass one? Do I just need to retake the one I failed?
It looks like the testing fee is $132. Does this cover both the hardware and the OS test or is it $132 for each?
I have found many "practice" tests on the internet. Are these tests really pretty close to what I will see on the real test?
I believe each test is divided into multiple sections. Is it possible to fail the test simply because you failed one section of the test?
Are these tests administered only at certain times or can I contact one of the companies that administers the test and schedule to take it whenever I please?
Are there any study guides that you can recommend that cover most if not all of what is on the tests?

Thanks for any answers you can give me.

 

[JetBlack69]

You can't take both tests at the same time, once you are done with one, you go to the next one. I took mine within 2 days of each other.
If you fail one, you have one year to redo it, or else you have to redo both.
I would rather buy a book than use the internet sites. I got the "Exam Cram A+" book and it was good. Make sure to get the latest one.
It's graded on a point based scale, some questions are worth more than others.
I really liked my book. The test wasn't that bad, but they covered a lot of NT and w2k stuff, no DOS or Win3.11 or anything. I forgot about the price, but I think it is $132 each.
Hope this helps.

 

[AkumaBao]

Thanx! This helps me too. I don't have to pay that much for my tests though. I've been using "A+ Certification Training Guide" by Charles J. Brooks, and it is great. I found it at Wal-Mart's wholsale store (SAM'S) for about $35. It's a great guide, and is very up to date. Doesn't miss a single detail. From what I've heard the Core Tech test isn't that bad, it's the OS test that's suppose to be the bummer. Just thought I'd add that, and good luck!

 

[ddeder]

Couple of more questions:

Can I choose which test to take first?
Does A+ certification expire after a certain amount of time? (like 5 years from now when technology may be quite a bit different, will it be necessary to retake the test to remain A+ certified?).

I just ordered:

A+ All-In-One Certification Exam Guide 3rd Edition (Michael Meyers)
Published March 2001

Anyone have any comments on this book? Someone please confirm for me that this is the most recent edition and covers everything on the new tests.

 

[AkumaBao]

I'd like to know too. I think I'll do the OS test first though if it's an option.

 

[mrCide]

if you want to pass get exam cram, if you want to learn use something else.. the certification does NOT expire or retire..

edit; i dunno about you guys, but i took hardware and software right after each other in the same seating

 

[JetBlack69]

I'm not sure about what test you take first because my school set this up for a class. I think you can choose what test you want to do first. Hardware for me was easy. Also, the test had a drawing of a motherboard that didn't look like a normal mobo, you could see if some websites have pictures of it. It was rather weird looking. I also don't think the cert expires (I think people want it to expire, but not yet.) Don't know much about the book, but I don't think you can go wrong with a book. Hope this helps. Don't be afraid to ask a bunch of questions.

 

[JetBlack69]

<< edit; i dunno about you guys, but i took hardware and software right after each other in the same seating >>



My school set it up for people who wanted to take the tests; we took one test a Tuesday and the other Thursday.

 

[Saltin]

Comptia A+ is a very easy cert to get. When I did mine it was two tests, one OS related (early DOS, 3.1, 9x and NT) and the other was more hardwared centric. Both of them were adaptive tests, and I took one right after the other. It took about 15 minutes to write them both.
The adaptive testing style is interesting. The questions are grouped into difficulty levels based on how many people have answered them right. You start out with an "average" question. If you get it right you get a tougher one, if you get it wrong, the next quesion is easier.
The more you get right, the "harder" it gets and the more points you score per question. If you get enough wrong, the rewards for the ocassional correct answer start to be worth less and less.
Obvioulsy the strategy is to go in, and put a string of about 15 or so right answers together. It's not going to be that hard if you study.

I found both tests very easy, and the certification is not worth the money, unless your employer requires it. That said, It really filled in some blanks for me about hardware. Just dont expect it to open many/any doors for you.

 

[NetworkDad]

Cramsession
Good place for online quizzes that are close to the real thing.

 

[rutchtkim]

1. Both exams may be taken the same day
2. If you fail one, you have a certain amount of time to retake it.
3. Each test is 132
4. Internet pactice exams in my opinion stink
5. Dunno
6. You need to call prometric and schedule with them, as most companies do not welcome direct sheduling
7. A+ Exam Cram

Hardware was so ridiculously easy, however OS was tricky. Make sure you have basic w2k troubleshooting experience. Win98/dos is a must. And IRQ's DMA's are a must. Good luck

 

[AkumaBao]

Yeah, I've heard from several people that the IRQ's was the trickiest part of the OS. So far in this book I have, I've read the whole Core Hardware part, and it wasn't really telling me about anything I didn't know, except when dealing with MP's and all the full names of Abbreviations. In the Core Tech test do they ask about which pin does what on the ports?

 

[AkumaBao]

Also on the part about retaking the test in a certain time, what happens if you don't? Do you have to wait a year or something to take it again?

 

[AkumaBao]

One more question. I'm having trouble with reading Hex, I mean I can, but what's an easy way to remember the addresses of periphrials? Istead of going up in numbers (i.e. COM ports) do all adresses go down in value. I think just understanding Hex Reading is my problem.

 

[AnthraX101]

The time limit to retake is 6 months from the test you passed, I beleve. If you don't pass the other one in that time, the one you passed expires.

You can take them all in the same sitting.

I rememberd all the IRQ's via just putting words for the first letter, like how kids are told to remeber the great lakes. I would probably get banned for reposting them though

Armani