How hard is the A+ Test

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newParadigm

newParadigm

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2003
3,667
1
0
I am very well versed in computers (as we all probably are)

I've been building them for myself for over 5 years, and for freinds/family for about the past 3.

I want ot take the A+ Cert test as it will be great for finding a highschool job.

I just want to amke sure i can pass it before i go blow $200 bucks on it.


~new
 
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imported_Nacelle

Senior member
May 8, 2004
933
0
0
Go to the book store. They sell A+ Cert books. I bought one and read it. But, I never took the test. Some of the stuff in there is really stupid.
 
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Tbirdkid

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2002
3,758
4
81
Read a book, that has reviews at the end of each chapter... then go take the test. you will pass if you can comprehend anything at all.
 
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redbeard1

Diamond Member
Dec 12, 2001
3,006
0
0
I read this guys book for A+ and Network+ and passed both tests. His book was right on the mark for the tests. They like to ask questions like how long cables can be and other odd things. I think I mght have passed the hardware part of the A+ test without reading the book, but I not sure about the OS test.

Barnes & Noble
 
J

JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
That test is so freakin' easy it's not even funny. Just go down to the book store and get an A+ cram book. If you can answer the questions easily, you'll have no problem with the test.
 
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Bucksnort

Golden Member
Aug 17, 2001
1,062
0
0
Originally posted by: JackBurton
That test is so freakin' easy it's not even funny. Just go down to the book store and get an A+ cram book. If you can answer the questions easily, you'll have no problem with the test.
Click to expand...

This is the kind of poster that will flunk the test. Do not take it lightly especially the os test. Hardware is pretty easy if you study but os is tricky with studying. What makes it hard for some questions are the choices. Some are really close in correctness and a+ only wants "their" correct answer. I totally agree with Red beard that Mike Meyers a+ all in 1 is the premier book to use to prepare. It is a excellent book and good reference for the future also. It is all I used other than taking some of the practice online exams you can find free. Bookpool has the book at the best price as far as I know. Prepare well and dont go in nervous to take the exam and enjoy it, it's fun.
Bookpool - All in one
Go look around Mike Meyers site too. Good info there in the forums: tips, online resources, questions-answer rationale etc.
Total seminars
 
boomerang

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
18,883
641
126
How/where do you take the test? I've most certainly heard of the A+ test, but know nothing of the particulars.
 
MiniDoom

MiniDoom

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2004
5,305
0
76
Originally posted by: boomerang
How/where do you take the test? I've most certainly heard of the A+ test, but know nothing of the particulars.
Click to expand...

I went here. The test was revised last November and is a little harder/more current now. The OS test is the more difficult of the two.
 
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daveshel

Diamond Member
Oct 10, 1999
5,453
2
81
If you have a lot of hardware experience, you should be fine. But you will need to memorize IRQs and address ranges for COM ports.
 
erikistired

erikistired

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2000
9,739
0
0
i passed it without even studying. dunno if it's changed in the past few years tho so ymmv.
 
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JackBurton

Lifer
Jul 18, 2000
15,993
14
81
Originally posted by: Bucksnort
Originally posted by: JackBurton
That test is so freakin' easy it's not even funny. Just go down to the book store and get an A+ cram book. If you can answer the questions easily, you'll have no problem with the test.
Click to expand...

This is the kind of poster that will flunk the test. Do not take it lightly especially the os test. Hardware is pretty easy if you study but os is tricky with studying. What makes it hard for some questions are the choices. Some are really close in correctness and a+ only wants "their" correct answer. I totally agree with Red beard that Mike Meyers a+ all in 1 is the premier book to use to prepare. It is a excellent book and good reference for the future also. It is all I used other than taking some of the practice online exams you can find free. Bookpool has the book at the best price as far as I know. Prepare well and dont go in nervous to take the exam and enjoy it, it's fun.
Bookpool - All in one
Go look around Mike Meyers site too. Good info there in the forums: tips, online resources, questions-answer rationale etc.
Total seminars
Click to expand...
You've got to be kidding me. Are you serious? I've already taken the test and finished both parts in <20mins. I think I scored 1 question away from perfect on the hardware, and scored another very close to perfect on the OS. And I think I missed those questions because I was going so fast through the test. It was one of the most retarded tests I've ever taken (retarded in the sense it was so rediculously easy). All I did was glance at a cram book to make sure I knew everything and nothing was going to surprise me. After that, I walked in to take my test and 20mins later walked out with my BIG A+ cert. :roll: Just a goofy test!
 
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Macro2

Diamond Member
May 20, 2000
4,874
0
0
RE:"I've already taken the test and finished both parts in <20mins. I think I scored 1 question away from perfect on the hardware, and scored another very close to perfect on the OS. And I think I missed those questions because I was going so fast through the test. It was one of the most retarded tests I've ever taken (retarded in the sense it was so rediculously easy). All I did was glance at a cram book to make sure I knew everything and nothing was going to surprise me. After that, I walked in to take my test and 20mins later walked out with my BIG A+ cert. Just a goofy test!"


Did it ever occur to you that the test was easy because you actually knew the material? Maybe you're qualified to work on computers because you actually know what you're doing. lol
 
newParadigm

newParadigm

Diamond Member
Jul 30, 2003
3,667
1
0
Aright, thanks guys

Grabbed a copy of teh Meyers Book, and am takin some practice tests online.

Btw, what Percentage right do you have to get to Pass the test
 
A

adaboy

Junior Member
Feb 15, 2004
16
0
0
The way I studied for this exam is via practice exams then use a book if you need to understand a specific concept.
 
beatle

beatle

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2001
5,661
5
81
The test is an adaptive test (Myers explains this in his book, which I also used). This means they ask you a medium difficulty question first. If you get it right, they ask a harder question. You have to be able to answer a certain number of hard questions to pass, so if you're smart, you'll be out even faster. :)

I psyched myself out for almost a year (you might also call this laziness) but the test really wasn't all that hard. I didn't have to answer any IRQ or DMA questions, but I memorized how they're assigned before the test anyway. Printer tech was also something foreign to me (especially laser printers), and they'll ask you questions about that too.
 
RaistlinZ

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
7,470
9
91
Is it worth having A+ certification at all these days? From what I've been hearing an A+ cert. and $3.50 will buy me a coffee at Starbucks.
 
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gwai lo

Senior member
Sep 29, 2004
347
0
0
It's an entry level cert...it'll get your foot in the door, but not much other than that. Plus it won't instantly have employers calling you day and night trying to hire you. You have to do something with it...not wait for it to do something for you.
 
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Vinny77

Member
Oct 15, 2004
87
0
0
go to cert21.com dont buy a book but both the cert kits just do the questiuons so much, the questions are exactly the same. Berlive me cert21.com is the best you can get
 
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Ka0t1x

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2004
1,724
0
71
Does it cost to take A+ and Networking+ tests? If you fail when can you retake/penalties?
 
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thorin

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
7,573
0
0
And can i pass it w/o the course
Click to expand...
Well if you don't/can't you'll definately have learned something eh?

Without having a clue who you are or what you know none of us can answer that question for you. You can probably dig up some prep exams online just hit google.

Also checkout this thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...7&amp;threadid=1406199

(Highly un-scientific response)
If these make you laugh and you understand them then yer probably good to go:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/frustrations/5aa9/
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/coder/5d6a/
http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/coder/595d/

Thorin
 
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Vinny77

Member
Oct 15, 2004
87
0
0
I passed all network server and a+ without taking a corse and just using cert21.com. Really thogh unless you are taking the test for free or you need it for job, Dont waste ur money they mean nothing.
 
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