A+ cert...how hard is it?
 

ok, like the topic says...how hard is it really? is it all hardware stuff? thanks alot guys and gals.

later

I didn't actually take it, but I did sit in a class for it (but I wasn't in the class, nor was I paying a particularily large amount of attention to it). It's pretty basic stuff (I thought so, at least). They discuss basic hardware things, like "a network interface card, or 'NIC' is the device that allows a computer to send and receive data over a network." They do get into some things about file systems, and some basic NT stuff (ex. primary/secondary domain controllers, although it's kind of stupid, IMO to teach about this, since the advent of Active Directory, thus eliminating primary/secondary domain controllers). I just have to assume that course was pretty comprehensive as far as covering the certification content. I think there's also some pretty retarded stuff like identifying differences between the default instalation desktops of 98, ME, and 2k, and typing "msinfo32" or whatever.

I'm fairly confident I could pass the test without studying...but you never know...

I took a hardware course, made excellent on the pre-quizes. So did everybody else, but unlike them, I wasn't using the book while taking it.

I took my last test in Jan. of 2001. I didn't take any classes just read a book to prep me. But that was the last month of that revision of the test. Feb. of 2001 rolled out a new standard that includes Linux in the test. I'ld buy a book and read up on it. If you understand it pretty well take the test. If you get lost on the table of contents, take the class. I didn't think the test was very hard.

A+
 

The A+ test was very simple. A basic understanding of hardware is all that is necessary. If you feel the need for this certification buy a book and skim the pages. You should pass this test with minimal effort.

theres more than one test for the cert?

thanks alot guys!

later.

Yhea. When I took it, it was split into two tests. One for hardware and one for Operating systems. You could take them at the same time or indivudually. Becasuse of the cost I didn't want to pay for both if I couldn't pass. But I made it past both.

Whats the current price to take the test?

A+ Exams
 

I've just recently completed the A+ course. No it's not very hard, but as was mentioned, easy enough to make stupid mistakes on the questions about the differences between the installations of 95, 98, NT etc. It is quite "nit-picky" in this respect, but if you've been around computers for any time at all, you should have no problems.

It is split into two exams, Core Hardware Fundamentals and Operating System Fundamentals. They have recently changed from using the 2hr 70 question "normal" test to using the 20-30 question Adaptive Test exclusively. The benifit of this is that you can be out of it in 10mins (you must complete the test in 30mins) but the disadvantage is that you can't review (go go back to) previous questions as it uses your answer to the last question as a basis for choosing the next question.

As far as I know it is about AU$ 200 or so each exam (if you fail you pay again ofcourse). [This is from memory as I can't remember the exact amount]

By the way, I sat through the whole course and read all four books and didn't have a problem with either exam. If you would like me to answer further questions, don't hesitate to post them in this thread (so everybody gets the benefit of the conversation)

Hope that helps.

Cheers,

q2_stefan

I read the book but havent taken the test. It is a 2 part test though I beleive