What is the A+ test taking process like.

yankees230230

Junior Member
Jan 10, 2005
24
0
0
Hey, Im' 16 and taking the A+ test tommorow (hardware portion) . I have never taken a certification test before. I was wondering what is it like? Am I the only one taking it at a time? Its on a computer correct? And I was wondering if anyone knows how hard it is compared to the practice finals on the Mike Myers All in one exam guide... I passed all 3 of them so I am feeling good. Thanks for your help and please tell me anything else you think I should know.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
you dont study for it, you go in and take it in 15 minutes, you walk out certified

Wrong. It isn't like that anymore. They changed the objectives in the year 2003. It isn't as easy as it once was. Good luck not studying and trying to pass.
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
2
0
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.

Actually the A+ test consists of two parts, the Operating System part and the Hardware part. You can either take two at once concurrently or you can decide to take one now and one later. You have to pass both before you're A+ certified.
 

yankees230230

Junior Member
Jan 10, 2005
24
0
0
I am taking it at a Thomson Prometric location, is it any differnt there? And I have studied quite a bit over the past few months.
 

khurios2000

Diamond Member
Dec 11, 2003
7,531
1
91
The new A+ test is linear
mininum score to pass:
core hardware, 525 (900 max)
os: 505 (900 max)

80 questions each, 90 min max time.
 

Rock Hydra

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
6,466
1
0
Hah. funny story. I was taking my A+ exam on this OLD compaq computer. The first time I took the test, the application crashed, then they had to restart the computer, like into the 2nd question, the system hard locked. Pretty crazy. I ended up passing, though. :thumbsup:
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
2
0
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.

Actually the A+ test consists of two parts, the Operating System part and the Hardware part. You can either take two at once concurrently or you can decide to take one now and one later. You have to pass both before you're A+ certified.
true, most people take both parts at the same time.
 

sharkeeper

Lifer
Jan 13, 2001
10,886
2
0
Hah. funny story. I was taking my A+ exam on this OLD compaq computer. The first time I took the test, the application crashed, then they had to restart the computer, like into the 2nd question, the system hard locked. Pretty crazy. I ended up passing, though.

They should've made you fix it to pass.

Cheers!
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.

Actually the A+ test consists of two parts, the Operating System part and the Hardware part. You can either take two at once concurrently or you can decide to take one now and one later. You have to pass both before you're A+ certified.
true, most people take both parts at the same time.

Are you sure you're talking about taking the new 2003 objectives? Most of you have probably taken the pre-2003 objectives which were very easy and were commonly taken both at the same time. Now with the new objectives, it isn't as easy as it once was.
 

Rock Hydra

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2004
6,466
1
0
Originally posted by: sharkeeper
Hah. funny story. I was taking my A+ exam on this OLD compaq computer. The first time I took the test, the application crashed, then they had to restart the computer, like into the 2nd question, the system hard locked. Pretty crazy. I ended up passing, though.

They should've made you fix it to pass.

Cheers!

Hmm...A simple reboot and relaunching the app would get me to pass, it would have been okay with me.
 

tami

Lifer
Nov 14, 2004
11,588
3
81
Originally posted by: rh71
u should take both parts at the same time...

that's a 6 hour test right there. each section (hardware, software) is 3 hours.

i took my A+ in march. it's multiple choice on a computer. after you're done, you can review your answers or submit it and you'll more likely than not walk out certified in the hardware portion -- you're not A+ certified until you complete the software portion (which is my situation at the moment).
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.

Actually the A+ test consists of two parts, the Operating System part and the Hardware part. You can either take two at once concurrently or you can decide to take one now and one later. You have to pass both before you're A+ certified.
true, most people take both parts at the same time.

Are you sure you're talking about taking the new 2003 objectives? Most of you have probably taken the pre-2003 objectives which were very easy and were commonly taken both at the same time. Now with the new objectives, it isn't as easy as it once was.

The 2003 is EASIER than the old one. People are more familiar with the 2003 stuff, than the old DOS and IRQs crap.
 

Nocturnal

Lifer
Jan 8, 2002
18,927
0
76
Originally posted by: Hardcore
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.

Actually the A+ test consists of two parts, the Operating System part and the Hardware part. You can either take two at once concurrently or you can decide to take one now and one later. You have to pass both before you're A+ certified.
true, most people take both parts at the same time.

Are you sure you're talking about taking the new 2003 objectives? Most of you have probably taken the pre-2003 objectives which were very easy and were commonly taken both at the same time. Now with the new objectives, it isn't as easy as it once was.

The 2003 is EASIER than the old one. People are more familiar with the 2003 stuff, than the old DOS and IRQs crap.

Really? Interesting. How do you know it's easier for everyone?
 

yankees230230

Junior Member
Jan 10, 2005
24
0
0
I think IRQ's are the easiest thing on that test.. Its only like 15 things to memorize... I would love to have more IRQ questions...
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: Hardcore
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
assuming you're taking it at Sylvan, it's a pc test, you get your certificate when you pass before you leave, a confirmation letter is mailed to you.

Actually the A+ test consists of two parts, the Operating System part and the Hardware part. You can either take two at once concurrently or you can decide to take one now and one later. You have to pass both before you're A+ certified.
true, most people take both parts at the same time.

Are you sure you're talking about taking the new 2003 objectives? Most of you have probably taken the pre-2003 objectives which were very easy and were commonly taken both at the same time. Now with the new objectives, it isn't as easy as it once was.

The 2003 is EASIER than the old one. People are more familiar with the 2003 stuff, than the old DOS and IRQs crap.

Really? Interesting. How do you know it's easier for everyone?

Because the vast majority of testers these days grew up in Windows 9x or higher. Not DOS or Windows 3.11
 

Looney

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
21,938
5
0
Originally posted by: yankees230230
I think IRQ's are the easiest thing on that test.. Its only like 15 things to memorize... I would love to have more IRQ questions...

LOLOL if you think IRQs and DMAs only require 15 mins to master, you're in for a BIG surprise.
 

Pciber

Senior member
Feb 17, 2004
977
1
0
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
you dont study for it, you go in and take it in 15 minutes, you walk out certified

Wrong. It isn't like that anymore. They changed the objectives in the year 2003. It isn't as easy as it once was. Good luck not studying and trying to pass.

I took it May 2004. I didn't study. Passed, first try. Did come a reasonably close to not passing, though.. i would reccomend studying :)

As for test time, it is nowhere near 3 hours per test. I think i was done in less than 20 minutes, for each half.
 
Aug 27, 2002
10,043
2
0
Originally posted by: Pciber
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
you dont study for it, you go in and take it in 15 minutes, you walk out certified

Wrong. It isn't like that anymore. They changed the objectives in the year 2003. It isn't as easy as it once was. Good luck not studying and trying to pass.

I took it May 2004. I didn't study. Passed, first try. Did come a reasonably close to not passing, though.. i would reccomend studying :)

As for test time, it is nowhere near 3 hours per test. I think i was done in less than 20 minutes, for each half.
I took it in 1999, if I remember right it took me about the same amount of time. I actually did study for it though, as I suck at taking exams (I think I made ~ 85 software, 95 hardware), my hands on skills are 1000x's better.