Well - I did make sure it really knew my stuff. Worked really hard for months. But...I was quite suprised at how easy it was. Lots of vague and very general questions and not many on actual facts (e.g. CPU Cache Sizes, Internet Connection speeds, etc.) Was quite a lot on networking.
Actually found the OS exam much more difficult than the hardware one.
Good luck!
Should also mention...lots about NT 4.0 and 2000 on the OS exam. I didn't know the difference between installing 2000 via winnt.exe and winnt32.exe - which cost me...
I just passed the OS today with a 796. Interesting that almost everyone claims the OS is significantly more difficult than the hardware exam. My experience was just the opposite, as I only score 649 on the hardware. I guess it makes sense, since I have way more real world experience troubleshooting Windows than I do hardware.
Oh well, it just feels good knowing I have my first cert under my belt. I'm currently in a Network+ class, so I should have that wrapped up in a month or so.
Congratulations! I am studying for the A+ exams too. The book I'm studying has chapter tests and the first two tests I scored a 60%. It's sort of frustrating but I'm doing what the author says...re-read the chapter and test again. It all seems like a lot of new information to take in all at once, but patience is what I rely on. It will all come to me soon enough. I also noticed that the questions I answer incorrectly are always the ones I remember most vividly.
Don't get discouraged. The A+ cert is a challenge not because the material is very difficult to comprehend, it's because there's so much information. It requires a lot of time reading and taking (and retaking) practice exams.
And don't stop there. I'm not sure how much experience you have, but if you're on the novice side like I was (more so with hardware), find an older but functioning machine and take it apart and reassemble it a bunch of times, making sure it works each time. Practice using all the command prompt and run commands until it becomes second nature.
I hear what you're saying about vividly remembering the questions you got wrong. It's like my instructor would say (and I'm sure many others before him), "success is a bad teacher."
I agree - the difficulty with the A+ is how broad the subject matter is and how much there is to learn. I'm finding the Network+ much, much easier.
Does anyone have any ideas on where I should go after the Network+. Considering either Server+, MCSA, or a Wireless Cert (anyone know of any good ones?).
I'm based in England.
I am having a very difficult time. I find myself taking notes and while I understand some of the basics, I am having much trouble with specifics. I have the A+ Complete book by David Groth. While it's very discouraging getting 60% on the chapter review tests, I will read the chapters 50 times if that's what it takes. There are a lot of tables in the book that I am going to copy and memorize, which I think will help me a lot. Thanks for the support!!!
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