Some advice desired. 1

[schase]

Howdy all,

for the past month plus, i've been studying for the Net+ exam.

I took a 5 night course from New Horizons which really was not much more than a brush over of various items in the book. Soon as that course finished I took the A+ courses back to back - 10 more nights. (long story, they went bankrupt, this was my only way to get the training) Then my month plus studying began on the network plus. I want to take the net plus first since they just changed the A+ not too long ago and the Net+ has been a while.

I then read their book cover to cover, and took their practice test (it changes somewhat from test taking to test taking). Until i was about 86%. Thinking I had this nailed, I then went and tried a free test - 70 questions and got about a 65. Feeling immediately like i just studied for the way the book had it, i read in here, and went and purchased PrepLogic's exam test program & Cram Session's Network+ guide.

Took some preplogic test and was scoring in the 60's, went and read through the study guide as well as another short one i found online. Took a test and got high 80's. took practice test 2 or 3 - back to the 60's.

I'm getting pretty discouraged, maybe its because my only time to study is for 2 hrs a night after i get out of work, but it just doesnt seem to be clicking.

And to think i work in this field.

Any words of wisdom, I tried the webpage with 11 or so practice tests that wont let you go on until you click the right answer. And now i seem to be almost memorizing PrepLogic's tests - and i really dont want that. And I really can't afford to spend more $ here and there to get more of this or that to try and pass this test.


Thank you

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[glister]

Do you go back and see which questions you missed? Do you look up the correct answers? Do you drill on the subjects that you appear weak in?

The practice tests should be used to point out the areas that need more study.

It sounds like you are trying to talk yourself into a failure. Start pouring over the Cramsession study guide. Start memorizing the guide and not the questions and answers. Use the Exam objective listing and start going down the list until you know the material not just the answers to practice tests.

You say you work in the field. This ain't rocket science. It's a mater of memorizing the material and regurgitating it on a test. Surely your short-term memory can retain it long enough to spit it out for the exam.

I'm not trying to be harsh, just throwing a little cold water on your case of anxiety. There ain't nothing to it but to do it. A whole lot of people have gone before you and passed. You can do this.

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,CET,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm not a much of a book learner per say, always rolled up the sleaves and dove in. Makes it difficult. to repeat, memorizing test questions and answers is the last thing i want to do. heck i've gone back and forth between the test and guides so much I even found an incorrect answer on the preplogic tests.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[glister]

It's just time to roll up the old sleeves and hit the books. This is an opportunity to overcome the stigma you have placed on yourself about not being a book learner. Just force yourself. It's tough, I know, but you will start to develop those learning skills that will serve you well as you go forward.

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,CET,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

aye,

i'm starting the cramsession one from the beginning again.



"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[schase]

Well got home from work early today, and cracked the cramsession guide open. Read cover to cover, discovered the big difference between this guide and New Horizons manual.

NH manual kinda covers the very very broad range of Network+ items. Goes into much detail on areas that the cramsession may brush over in a sentance. yet the Cramsession gets more technical on tying in various protocols and what not to the OSI than NH manual did.

At anyrate, I took 4 tests.

PrepLogic's three tests scored
95.2
94.4
72.3

Then took the NH one on the cd - the assessment test.
Scored 83.3

Narrowed down what i need to concentrate on most is plug around on Netstat and nbtstat, still getting relatively confused between the two.

And brush over the OSI - but i pretty much go that nailed.

Incidentially - what is the passing for the network+ ? doing some math i figured 72% from comptia's description. Other sites say 72%, 80%, 82%, 85%.

Guess i'll buy a cert soon. any recommendations for the cheapest I can find?

btw - Glister, are you in the test prepping/training field?

many thanks

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[schase]

anybody?

Incidentially - what is the passing for the network+ ? doing some math i figured 72% from comptia's description.  Other sites say 72%, 80%, 82%, 85%.

Guess i'll buy a cert soon.  any recommendations for the cheapest I can find?

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[glister]

The CompTIA Network+ exam is graded on a scale of 100 - 900. 646 is the minimum passing score. 646/800 = 80%

http://www.getcertify4less.com

for discount vouchers.

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,CET,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

Well, just as an update.

Purchased the voucher, managed to miss the 129.00 special that night and got the 150.00 the next morning.

Ahh well no biggie, but one big plus was the TCat guide.

Now this was pretty interesting, seems to be written before many of the practice tests you find today.

But initially I thought the book was excellent, in fact first couple of chapters I was thinking how great this would be to sit in a class with this book as it is gone over.

But then the book progressed along, and what seemed at first to be above average presentation - the testing seemed average as it fell into the same methods other guides do.

Then you go further and further into the book and the tests get worse. There was even one chapter that had the heading correct - but every question was from the previous chapter.

I'd say maybe 70% of the questions asked in the book were actually covered in the book.

From cover to cover I read the book - and if asked to score, I'd say above average presentation, lower than average testing. I wouldn't recommend it to read in the manner I did - after many other guides. And really it wasnt intended for that.

I would highly recommend this to be the first guide you read. Followed up later by more recent guides to fill in the gaps and gain a better understanding of the OSI where this book tries really hard, but then as soon as you get it - they throw in a stop sign and a short paragraph countering some of the info.

But hands down - great very first guide to read, it will give you a solid foundation to build upon as more instruction is learned.



"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[glister]

Glad you got hooked up with Tcat's materials. They are very good. Tcat has been training CompTIA for a long time and has a very good handle on the exam. Best of luck.

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,CET,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

Thank you,

Yes, I'm actually hoping to get one of his for my A+ exams. Planning on reading his first, then radiating out.



"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[glister]

Here is a link to his latest & greatest exam simulator. It is updated for the new objectives. Good Stuff.

http://www.studyexam4less.com/pt-220-302.asp

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

Well just took and passed the Network+ test.

846 out of 100-900. Roughly what a 93%.

Took my time, roughly half hour, marked a couple and changed one.

In retrospect, I was starting to get worried about the test I mean there were direct questions that I never read anything about the concepts in any of the 2 major and 4 minor study guides I used - or if I had read it was a brushover of the concept. Just took a best guess given knowledge gained all over. I think most of the guides are still from the 99/2002 era. Might just be the test I took, but wow they're a little behind evidentially.

I thought I was way overstudying, I mean upwards of a month and half give or take of an hour or two a night and 3 sundays of solid studying all day. But to be honest - if I didnt study that much, I may not have passed all those other questions. Still got what 5 wrong. And in anycase, i'm pretty pleased with my score.

Many thanks Glister.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart

 

[glister]

Congrats! In my book, you can never overstudy. It just gives you better odds going in to the testing center.
Good Show!

A+,N+,S+,L+,I+,HTI+,e-Biz+,CETsr,CST,CNST,CNCT,CFOT,CCNT,CCTT,ACSP,ISA CCST3

 

[schase]

Thanks Glister

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[xmandu2000]

Hi, I am new to this site and was browsing tips. I see a lot of great info passed along. I just have one question. Can someone give me a list of the best technical resources (books,exams) to invest in or get from the library that will help me pass the exam? Currently I have picked up ExamCram Network + but it is the first version. Thanks very much!

Tripp
MCP,A+(O/S),MOS(Outlook)

 

[schase]

well pretty much I would suggest getting TCat's guide as your very first book to read. But that alone will not be enough to pass the test by anymeans.

It is however a fantastic solid base to go on from there.

If you get your cert voucher from

http://www.getcertify4less.com

- you can select a package where the book is downloadable as a PDF. Its a biggie - 500 odd pages total.



"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[xmandu2000]

thanks very much! I will check it out. Any other books, exams that were valuable and affordable? Do you know where to get the transcender exams cheap? I used them for A+ O/S and they worked flawlessly after I read a couple of books. I've been in IT for about 6 years. I am a desktop tech with about 4 years experience.

thx

 

[schase]

well i personally used,

my tech schools book
TCat's guide
Cramsession's Smaller Guide - i think i got this when i bought the preplogic practice tests.

Other than that, I found one other 100 odd page guide and took a buncha tests on the links Glister has posted. I can look later tonight to see the names of the rest of the guides. There was also one or two very small guides.

It is of course - dependant on what test you happen to get. But I can say without a doubt, there is no way I could have passed the test if I did not read all I did. There were several questions I never saw in any guide or practice test. But given the basis of knowledge in the various guides I could do the best choice given similiar technologies.

"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+

 

[schase]

took me a little longer to get to it - sorry for that,

Ok, i used my schools books - New Horizons.
TCats guide - again read this first.

Cramsession's guide - i purchased this with the Preplogic exam, as a bundle.

Guide from Studynotes.net

Another guide I cannot see where it came from, but if you search google for.

Network+ Study Guide (N10-002) it will probably show.

I had a small one from
fredsfastcram.netfirms.com

For testing materials, I used the ones glister points too, I used my schoold, crammaster's, preplogics, and anyone I could find for free online.

I had come across Mike Myers website - but had to close my browser - lost the history. Any subsequent searches revealed only the huge amount of websites selling Mike's stuff. but couldnt find his personal website again.

hope it helps.



"Never underestimate the power of determination"

Stuart
Net+