Best way to study for A+ other than Mike Meyers book

[nirrtix]

I have read his book and it is thorough but way too much to keep in. If I Made flashcards of it I would have a few thousand as well, as I think he puts in way too much information.

I guess that leaves me to the question not that I have read the book, what is the best way to finalize preparation? I usually use flashcards to study, Is the practice test program for $99 you buy from TotalSeminars any good (I can make flashcards from that)? Are there other books of relevance? I looked at examcram, but it just looks like another book of information with a few more practice questions at the end.

 

[Unkk]

I got this bundle for a couple techs I used to supervise.
They told me it was a good learning tool for $49
https://deals.techdirt.com/sales/comptia-3-in-1-a-network-security-bundle
•Course 1: CompTIA A+ 220-801
•Course 1, Part II: CompTIA A+ 220-802
•Course 2: CompTIA Network+
•Course 3: CompTIA Security+

Im not affiliated with any product or vendor at all.

 

[mudpuppet]

You should be able to find ample sample questions for free online. When I did mine 3 years ago I ended up using more of the free online sources and practice questions than the reading material I purchased or the digital exams they came with. There are a number of places where you can find practice exams that use either the real questions, or will word the questions in the same manner that you should expect to find them on the exam. After looking over my books... the online exams and quizzes were more closely related to what was actually on the exam. I got lucky and half of the second test was about laser printers (cake!). I don't have any bookmarks for you right now but all I did was a few google searches, so that should help you out some.

IMPORTANT INFO!!!:

If you are currently training for A+ 220-801 & 802 you must take the exam by June 30, 2016. If you do not take the 800 series exams by June 30, you can earn your certification by taking A+ 220- 901 & 902.

This means you'll need to ensure you know what is on the 900 series exam unless you take AND PASS the exam before June 30th.

 

[nirrtix]

ill try to look around online... i just want to be as through as possible without so much information i am wasting time...

 

[mudpuppet]

Updated my original post with important info -^

 

[Eximo]

I found the Mike Meyer's books to be an excellent study guide. Write down anything you don't think you know well. Just the act of writing will help you retain it. After a day or two, re-read your notes and if anything doesn't immediately come to mind, search for it in the book again.

On a side note I actually had a class with the goal of A+ certification, we did not use the Mike Meyers material, I bought that myself. The professor basically said if you pass the certification you pass the class. That is what I did.

Took essentials and benchtop technician that day. Not really relevant to my current IT path, but always have that to fall back on.

 

[nirrtix]

You should be able to find ample sample questions for free online. When I did mine 3 years ago I ended up using more of the free online sources and practice questions than the reading material I purchased or the digital exams they came with. There are a number of places where you can find practice exams that use either the real questions, or will word the questions in the same manner that you should expect to find them on the exam. After looking over my books... the online exams and quizzes were more closely related to what was actually on the exam. I got lucky and half of the second test was about laser printers (cake!). I don't have any bookmarks for you right now but all I did was a few google searches, so that should help you out some.

IMPORTANT INFO!!!:

If you are currently training for A+ 220-801 & 802 you must take the exam by June 30, 2016. If you do not take the 800 series exams by June 30, you can earn your certification by taking A+ 220- 901 & 902.

This means you'll need to ensure you know what is on the 900 series exam unless you take AND PASS the exam before June 30th.

what is the difference between the 801 & 802 and 901 & 902

 

[Eximo]

Newer versions of the test to keep it up to date with today's contemporary technology I assume.

I can recall taking some Cisco certifications and they were practically useless. Making reference to Windows 3.1 and 30-pin memory, WORM drives, and going into specifics on IRQ/I/O/DMA when computers at the time were basically plug and play. All this while we were sitting in front of XP computers to study for it. Didn't even make reference to the hardware sitting on the desk, and they were not new...

 

[nirrtix]

well 901 and 902 seems to be covered in the book Mike Meyers wrote. The problem is that if 901 and 902 covers windows 10 I am not as familiar with that. I am not familiar with Apple and printers. Anyhow madpuppet do you remember the free online resources you used?

 

[mudpuppet]

Since the 900 series isn't out just yet, there won't be as many "from the test" sample questions available. I took mine just before the 802 as well I think (I'll hit my renewal date this august and need to work on my Security+ by then).

http://www.examcompass.com/comptia/a-plus-certification/free-a-plus-practice-tests is one site I've used in the past and as something to pass the time here at work. The nice thing is that both the 800 and 900 series have questions up, so if each practice has 25 questions, that's 1050 practice questions to work with and while the 900 may include some new material, the 800 will still be relevant.

Since it's just some practice questions, it may not hit on every topic so make sure you read into what the new topics will include as the pool of questions they could put on your exam is very large.

 

[nirrtix]

I swear I am never gonna finish this nonsense.... I read through mike meyers book and so much of it is on material I dbout most techs deal with...

monitors? what makes a monitor? Ok Most places probably just replace a broken monitor.

Well I get that they keep most of the old material, at least all that is relevant as a ps2 cable is relevant.

What I do not get is why they want you to know how to fix and whatnot a mac. They have their own certifications anyhow. Another I do not get is tablets... Unless the tablet runs on windows.... (sigh)

Maybe I am getting frustrated over this over nothing. I dunno I just want something that will help me know the little details of what I need to know. Odd thing is I know how to fix my own machine. When my dads has issues I fix it in 5 minutes even on network homegroup issues (ugh I hate homegroups) he has signal boosters which make it seem to the machines like he has 3 networks, but they are all one. So to the computer when it is on a different booster (they come up as different routers) it does not see the homegroup unless they are on the booster the homegroup was set up on.

Anyhow I read all of Mike Meyers book a lof of it I get a lot of it seems more technical than necessary. Then there is the printer and other stuff. The only think I can think of needing to know anything about printers is to know whether the issue is the printer side or computer side. Again isn't there a specialist that fixes huge thousands of dollars printers?

 

[Eximo]

The point of these certifications is not to specialize, but to show you have the capacity to learn IT based support. Exposure to the entire breadth of the subject is important.

When I took some of these exams they still had references to 30-pin simm and 5-1/4" floppy drives. They hadn't been relevant for 5+ years. 3.5" floppies were still common, but USB flash drives were taking over, and there was no reference to them, even though it covered USB itself. (mostly HID and printer interface)

In the US most entry level local computer support jobs/shops will also support networked laser printers, and maybe inkjet. Large companies will generally lease the printers from Lexmark, Xerox, or whoever and have onsite or oncall direct support, so you are correct in saying that printer support is more specialized. But if you demonstrate a basic knowledge of the subject, companies like that may hire you and train you in printer repair and support. They also want you to be aware that the high voltage components inside of a laser printer can kill you, so always good to make sure everyone knows.

Mac OS is the same basic concept. They are out there, so you may encounter one. For example at my company we don't officially support macs, but there are several in my very building for graphics and multimedia tasks. Honestly at this point they aren't relevant since we could easily get them the PC versions of all their software, but it is what they are used to.

The key to certifications is know all of it, because that is the requirement. Sure you may not use any of it later, but that isn't why you get the certification. If you want to learn, it is better to explore it yourself. The certification is just a way to get in the door.

 

[nirrtix]

Ok well some claim it is supposed to be equivalent to 3 years of experience. Anyhow so you think that making flashcards and remembering it is the best solution? But I guess that comes back to the original problem, how many will I need?

 

[mudpuppet]

Flashcards are good. Write out a practice question and write out the correct answer to help drill it home.

Some businesses allow BYOD (bring your own device) and while you may not fix a personal tablet, you will need to know how it connects to the network. If a VP has a tablet for reading email while going for a walk, they may expect you to be able to troubleshoot a network connection if he can't get the email to work on it. While I work for a shop that is 99% Windows, we have a few people who work in advertising that use macs (though we don't support them... office politics etc).

With printers, yes we have the printer company come out for the large xerox/konica printer/copy machines, but I can think of maybe 5 of those in the company, while I can think of two pages of smaller printers that we service to the extent of clearing jams, replacing fuser kits/rollers, setting up the IP and tray settings, etc. If something breaks like a plastic gear in it, then yes we'll take it to a shop, but I still need to know what a fuser is, and you should know the difference between inkjet and laser printers.

Back to Macs... Virtualization is HUGE. You may not have a physical linux system, but some tools may boot up in linux so you may need to know what the desktop looks like.

There is a LOT of information out there when you're actually in the field, but for now try and understand what the book talks about and focus on that. I doubt there will be a question of how to run a VM and install a .iso file to it, remotely from a second PC or anything really goofy like that. If the book covers it, there's a good chance it's worth knowing for the exam.

 

[nirrtix]

well i have worked ona mac before, but I do not own one, they are in my opinion underpowered and overpriced. As to their dependability Mike Meyers stated it best when you only have a limited rage of variations for set ups of each machine and all are chosen by you it is easier to make an OS that works well with those parts and is more efficient as you are working on those issues less.

Windows has limitless combinations of Computers. To expect them all to work perfectly is a lot to ask. I know windows is not perfect, I have been less than impressed with windows 10, and reverted back to windows 7. I doubt any games I will own will utilize windows 10's direct x12 anyhow.

I may have a copy reserved now anyhow since I signed up for it once already.... Microsoft did not explain that all too well.

Back on topic I went out and bought the total seminars program Mike Meyers made... I am going to make flashcards for all the questions and study it hard. I took a practice test of the 901 and got a 65% that is not passing but that is without studying really so I consider that a good baseline...

I just want this done. Even if I stay working as a hardware tech $30,000 a year is more than I make right now. Right now I work at Home Depot and while I think it is a good company and for what I do I am paid well (pretty high end for cashiering only place I know that pays more is CostCo)... it is still not enough to live off of.

 

[mudpuppet]

Your opinion of Macs doesn't get weighted on the exam though ;-)

 

[nirrtix]

Madpuppet you are right I am a PC gamer... just not a fan of them. I tried out an IPhone with the 6 Plus and it is a decent phone, but I think next phone I am gonna get a note or a galaxy.

 

[James Mason]

When I took the 801/802 there was no mention of Apple hardware/software at all. The only certification for Apple products is directly from Apple.

I used this website to study for my A+ test: http://www.ucertify.com/

They had Mock tests for every "chapter" that I just repeated over and over until I was able to ace the material consistently, and then I took the appropriate test. (You don't have to take 801/901 and 802/902 at the same time, I took about 2-3 months inbetween them) I'm not a "book-learner," I learn by doing, so for me, just repeating mock tests helped me ingrain the information the best.

In the tech world, there's a lot of "bad mouthing" of the A+ certification because it's "the most basic computer knowledge" for us techies. But there was no good way for me to communicate that I had been using computers for 25+ years on my resume that wasn't just me making that semi-unreasonable statement because I was only 27.

 

[nirrtix]

James thank you for the info I bought the tester package from Mike Meyers at TotalSeminars.com

I am glad that site worked for you I question their pricing... I am not saying TotalSeminars is not too, but their stuff is not gouged. The site you mentioned wants $139.99 for the Mike Meyers A+ Certification 9th edition book on Amazon it is $34.39.... I hope that stuff helped you. The practice questions from total seminars i hesitated on because it is also $100 (shrugs)

Yeah I have read mixed things about the A+ certification but I see no reason not to get it really, oddly some places have offered me interviews for real jobs (probably not high paying) to fix computers with NO EXPERIENCE. Some of these jobs included insurance etc and training. I think some places want someone who cares and has interest with a certain degree of skill.

I have fixed and maintained my computer and my fathers businesses computers for over 20 years. I have on and off talked about pursuing a career in this for that long as well even taking classes. I should have taken this test back then but well there is no point in dwelling on the past. What has changed? I am now 36 and am tired of working minimum wage jobs with huge limitations like having to work thanksgiving or 4th of July... etc...

 

[mudpuppet]

Basic helpdesk positions will run between 32-40k a year and go up from there. Do us all a favor though, please be reasonable when talking about your work experience. My former coworker was hired because he had written on his resume that he had something like 10 years experience in computer repair etc. He was also 20 years old when he was hired... While recruiting didn't do their job and he is no longer here for other reasons, when you apply for a job saying you have 4 years experience as a systems admin because you have a script that you run to unlock accounts, and you never touched a thing in AD directly... you have 0 years as a systems admin. I wrote in my experiences list the names of the classes I had taken at school such as web design, business infrastructure, and information security as I had an intro understanding of them, but by no means would I try and pass it off as having developed a site in HTML from the ground up that serves thousands of visitors a day or that I'm the king of securing company information. Real experience is great but an interview with a director will send you hope with your tail between your legs when he calls your BS.

 

[nirrtix]

I am realistic I say that I maintain my computers and family computers. What I omit is that often i use scorched earth policy when fixing things. I mostly say that I know my way in a fairly decent manner and know how to manage mine without going to the shop over minor stuff. When my fans went out I knew how to figure out what it was and plug it back in. I built my machine (I know that is not that hard but it takes some knowledge to do it right.) I also mention on my resume the formal classes I have taken which are only basic networking, basic hardware classes, as well as intro to microcomputers and Business apps courses. The others are not as important, but it shows I know my way around word. I also mention I have an Associates in Social Sciences, which shows I have a 2 year degree at least. Granted they do not care if I have a history degree but it shows I did it.

I have reinstalled windows on this machine several times. Sometimes it did no work sometimes it was not necessary, but I found out after the fact. Of course that is what I need to learn in some cases. It is easy to delete the virus sometimes repairing the damage is beyond my knowledge.

Of course that is what I need to learn is how to avoid doing that. For me personally other than wasted time it is not a big deal I have 2 harddrives for a reason. While a virus can jump to the second drive or be on it I scan it well. Only once have I had a "ghost virus" that infected the boot sector of the computers. That took me a couple weeks and HOURS of writing onces and zeros to several drives. It took me a while to figure out it was jumping from computer to computer in our wireless network (or possibly by a thumb drive I used take files to our print server I wrote ones and zeros to it also...) I do not think that situation could have been solved without reinstalling windows and writing ones and zeros.

I do not know some of the more advanced stuff for instance I know what RAID configurations are, but not how to set one up and maintain it. I know howto solve a problem, but not necessarily what caused it and whether there were necessarily simpler solutions to fixing it sometimes.