From Proprofs

Welcome to the A+ Certification FAQ.  This page is for the A+ Essential and it's electives, not the other Comptia exams.  In the A+ forums, the same questions are often repeated, this page is designed to help answer those  those questions.  Any edits or feedback will be appreciated.

[edit section] About the exam

What is A+ Certification?

A+ is a certification designed to show the compatancy of entry level computer technicians. 

Are there any prerequisites?

There are no prerequisites for taking the exam.

How does A+ certification work?
In order to become A+ certified, you must pass two exams. A+ Essentials and an elective. The elective can be chosen based on what you want to do with your IT career. The choices are:
IT Technician: Technician who frequently deals with customers
Remote Support Technician: Help Desk specialist
Depot Technician: Technician with limited contact with customers

What is the difference between the exams?
Visit http://www.rmroberts.com/ and take alook at the A+ 2007 study guide to see the differences between the exams.

Are there any practial elements in the exams?
No, A+ certification is all theory.

How much does the A+ exams cost?
It varies from country to country; try the following link to find out the cost in your area.
http://certification.comptia.org/resources/registration.aspx

Where can I find a testing centre near me?
Click the following link to find the cost in your area.
http://certification.comptia.org/resources/registration.aspx

I want to get an IT job, will getting A+ help with this?
Many employers are encouraged when you have an A+ exam, it shows you are interested in the field and can be used for further qualifications they may want you get. However it’s not a guarantee for a job as many employers want someone who has had hands on experience. Having an IT job, doing an internship or volunteering to do computer work is a great way to get hands on experience as well as reinforce what you are reading about.

What is this 2006 exam I keep hearing about?

Every couple of years, Comptia upgrades the A+ exam to bring it inline with current technologies.  The last revision was in 2006, before that 2003. All exam centers are now using the 2006 objectives so be sure that any materials you buy are for the 2006 revision.

When is the next A+ revision going to be and what changes are they making to it?
Going by Comptias past three year cycle, the next revision will probably be in 2009. At this stage no one knows what the next revision will bring, at the moment any unconfirmed informaton about the next revision should be taken as a rumor only. ProProfs Moderators and Sr. Experts will bring you facts as soon as they come available.

[edit section] Studying for the exams

Which is better, taking an A+ course or self study?
It depends on level of experience. If you a new to computers, a course it recommended as you will have a tutor to explain things to and to answer your questions. Those with IT experience can get by with self study. Self study is difficult and requires large amount of dedication to sit down every day and study without distractions.

Do I have buy an A+ Study book?
No but it is highly recommended that you get one as it will contain accurate information about the latest technologies you need to know for the exam. Most books also come with practice questions so you can test your knowledge.

What should I be studying?
Take a look at the Essentials Objectives to see what areas you need to focus on.
http://www.proprofs.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=609\

Is there any difference between IT Technician and Essentials?

Yes there is, take a look at the IT Technician objectives.
http://www.proprofs.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=663

Will I have to study old Windows operating systems?
You will only be asked about Windows 2000, Windows XP Home Pro and Media Centre. You will need to know the upgrade paths from previous versions of Windows.

Is there anything I should know of that won’t be in the exam?
Those who have written about their experiences on ProProfs have stated that they have not come across any in depth IRQ or I/O questions. This is not to say that they wont be in the exam so it is good to know the basics just in case.

How do I know that I am ready to take the exam?
This is a tough question as only you will know when you are ready. Go through the A+ objectives and make sure you are familiar with them all, also go through the Consolidation of Experiences thread and see if there is anything you have overlooked.

I am getting high marks on practice exams, is this a sign that I am ready?
Not all exams are created equal, some are easier and some harder than you will get in the exams. Is this the first time you have taken the practice exams or are you just memorizing answers? If you haven’t already, take the practice exam at the http://www.rmroberts.com/ A high score in it is a good sign you are ready.

How long should I study before taking the exam?
There is no set time and it depends on your experience with computers. The usual time is three months but this is by no means a minimum or maximum amount of time to be studying.

Is x software or website any good?
If you are unsure if a book you want to or already have purchased is any good, do a search for it at www.amazon.com and see what others think if it. Also be sure to run any A+ websites through http://www.certguard.com/ to make sure it’s not a braindump.

What is a braindump?
A braindump a website or software that contains the actual questions you could be asked in the exam. This is illegal and goes against the contract you sign before taking the exam. For more information about braindumps, see http://www.proprofs.com/certification/comptia/a-plus/articles/braindumps.shtml

Are the practice exams similar to the actual exam?
The  questions that are the closest  that some of the practice exams for A+ Essentials are harder than the actual thing.

Which is easier, Essentials or IT Technician?
There is no answer for this. Some have found IT Technician easier, others have found it harder yet have ended up getting a higher mark.

What areas of the exam do people have the most problems with?
Many people have trouble with the Windows Path questions and essentials sometimes ask odd questions they were not expecting. You can find these areas by going through the Essentials Forum Consolidation of Experience thread.
http://www.proprofs.com/forums/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=609

Are there any free practice exams I can take?
ProProfs as a section called quizshool where you can take user created tests. These are great a seeing where you are at however some of the exams are harder than the actual exam and as it is user created, there may be mistakes.

Are there any good cheat sheets I can have?
Proprofs has a who section of high quality, user submitted material. This is found in the Premium Content section. You will have to register (it’s free) and submit two posts before you can access this section.

http://www.proprofs.com/forums/index.php?showforum=16

I’m going to take the exam tomorrow, do you have any tips?
Get a good nights sleep and don’t over study, you either know the material or you don’t. Try to keep your stress level down, it’s healthy to be a little nervous before an exam but to much will cause you to make mistakes. Take your time with the exam, read each questions carefully as it’s easy to miss vital words. Use the entire time and go back over questions you are unsure of. It’s worth noting that those who rush through the exam usually fail or just scrape through.

[edit section] Taking the exam

Can I take both exams on the same day?
Yes but allow some time to catch your breath between exams.

What happens if I fail one exam but pass the other?
The exam you passed will be recorded as passed. You will just have to take your failed exam again.

Is there a time limit between taking each test?
No but you should take both exams close together while the information you studied is still fresh.

Will have I have to pay to take a failed exam again?
Yes, you will still have to pay full price to retest your exam

If I fail an exam, will I get the same questions again on the retest?
No, each exam is unique and there are thousands of questions to be drawn from.

What grade do I need to pass the A+ Exams?
You need a mark of at least 675 out of 900 to pass A+ Essentials.

What pass percentage do I need to get for A+ Essentials?
A+ exams are graded differently than other exams you are used to as each question has it’s own weighting on the overall score depending on it’s difficulty. For example getting 50 questions out of 100 questions does not mean that you will get 50%. To pass A+ essentials you need 75 -80 percent of the questions right.

What is the format of the exam?
During the exam, when you are asked questions you are given four possible answers. Usually two of the answers are obviously wrong leaving two answers. At this point you should know what the correct answer is. Each question will allow you to mark it if you are uncertain about the answer so you can go back and review it at a later stage. You questions will not be marked until after you have hit the submit button. When this is done you will be asked to do a survey, afterwards you will get your score.

If there is a question with more than one answer, will you be told how many to select?
Yes, you will be told how many right answers there are.

How long is the exam and how many questions are there?
There are 90 questions and you have 90 minutes to answer them.

I passed but a got a really low mark, will this bother employers?
No, your score in not on the certificate. Employers will only be interested that you are A+ certified.

	Web ProProfs.com