alt.certification.a-plus - Gonna Take the Tests

Author

Gonna Take the Tests

Patrick Tessier

2002-10-30, 6:24 pm

Hello,

I've just set up both exams and to say that I was nervous would be an
immense understatement.

I've read the book (Mike's All In One) and feel I have a good grasp on it's
material. I installed his CD Software and score a solid 800 on his adaptive
exams everytime (answered them all right and couldn't get over 800). I
started reading this newsgroup after it was mentioned in his book and got a
few sites for free practice exams and they are nothing like whats in Mike's.
I was wondering which set of tests to rely and base my study on?

Also went to took the free exams at CompTIA's site which covered DOS, WIN
NT, and DOS 3.11 from what I understand isn't covered on the new exams.

Needless to say this is stressing me out to no end but I guess the tests
will tell.

Patrick

SHA-ZAAM

Phil Clark

2002-10-30, 6:24 pm

If you are doing that well on the sample tests, then relax. You will pass.
Just remember a few things when you get in the testing room.

1: You have 45 minutes.So don't rush it. Read all the questions completely,
don't rush and assume that you know what they are asking for. Some of the
questions you get may be worded to attempt to trick you, but they won't if
you fully read and understand the questions.

2: Don't second guess your answers. When I took the sample tests before the
real testing, if I EVER changed my answer, 9 times out of 10 I changed from
the correct answer to the wrong answer. You obviously know the material, so
trust yourself, and don't second guess your answers.

3: Read the questions completely. (Yes, I know I already said this, but it
is important)

4: Most of the questions have 2 answers that are so blatantly wrong that you
can eliminate them almost immediately. For example: (There is something like
this on the exam, but not these exact answers)

What protocol must be enabled to allow internet access?
[] IPX/SPX
[] SMTP
[] TCP/IP
[] POP

Now, SMTP and POP are mail protocols, but they are not required for internet
access. Internet access is required for the mail protocols to be used.
IPX/SPX is the base upon which Novell built NetWare. But TCP/IP is the
default protocol for the Internet, and the only right answer (as for as the
A+ exam is concerned. So you see what I mean. 2 answers were easy to
eliminate, if you really know the answers and not just some buzzwords.

5: RELAX. You know the material. So all you need to do is relax and you will
do just fine.

--
Phil Clark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Patrick Tessier" <onestopdepot@sympatico.ca>
Newsgroups: alt.certification.a-plus
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 7:14 AM
Subject: Gonna Take the Tests

> Hello,
>
> I've just set up both exams and to say that I was nervous would be an
> immense understatement.
>
> I've read the book (Mike's All In One) and feel I have a good grasp on
it's
> material. I installed his CD Software and score a solid 800 on his
adaptive
> exams everytime (answered them all right and couldn't get over 800). I
> started reading this newsgroup after it was mentioned in his book and got
a
> few sites for free practice exams and they are nothing like whats in
Mike's.
> I was wondering which set of tests to rely and base my study on?
>
> Also went to took the free exams at CompTIA's site which covered DOS, WIN
> NT, and DOS 3.11 from what I understand isn't covered on the new exams.
>
> Needless to say this is stressing me out to no end but I guess the tests
> will tell.
>
> Patrick
>
> SHA-ZAAM
>
>

Barry Watzman

2002-10-30, 6:24 pm

You sound prepared. If you've DONE some of this stuff, it shouldn't be
bad at all. I completed the core exam in 6 minutes, the OS exam is
harder (although I actually scored higher), and the Network+ exam, if
you take it, was surprisingly difficult (extremely difficult, I'd say
"hard as hell", questions were a lot tougher than I expected, but I did
very well).

Don't get stressed out, especially about the A+ exam. I did not do as
well as you did in my online practice tests, but on practice exams I
found myself making a lot of stupid mistakes and not reading the
questions carefully (missing the word "not" can have a big impact on the
question !). Needless to say, it didn't bother me that I did that on
the practice exams at times, but I did learn that on the real exam, you
have to READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY.

One practice question I remember, a scenario asked which type of
connection was best for a user after having described a "scenario" ...
the choices were ADSL, POTS, Dial Up and Cable modem. I answered cable
modem, and the "correct" answer was "ADSL". Well, first, I disagreed
with them in general, but ADSL vs. cable modem is so subjective (and
subject to the local quality of the provider) that I wondered how they
could even ask such a question. I went back and read the QUESTION again
..... and it said "which type of TELEPHONE connection is best?". I'd
completely missed that one key word. I found myself doing that a lot on
practice questions and practice exams. Made a mental note: On the real
exam, READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY, and PAY ATTENTION TO ***EVERY***
WORD. I did, and it can (and did) make a BIG difference. There are a
lot of questions in which one key qualifiying word changes the BEST
answer. Pay attention, it's an Exam taking skill, not a computer skill.

So be alert, but not stressed out. The A+ exams are not that difficult.
But on the Network+ exam, my score (833/900) not withstanding, I was
STUNNED at how hard the test was. And I used nearly the full time (90
minutes) for that 72 question (non-Adaptive) exam.

Patrick Tessier wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I've just set up both exams and to say that I was nervous would be an
> immense understatement.
>
> I've read the book (Mike's All In One) and feel I have a good grasp on it's
> material. I installed his CD Software and score a solid 800 on his adaptive
> exams everytime (answered them all right and couldn't get over 800). I
> started reading this newsgroup after it was mentioned in his book and got a
> few sites for free practice exams and they are nothing like whats in Mike's.
> I was wondering which set of tests to rely and base my study on?
>
> Also went to took the free exams at CompTIA's site which covered DOS, WIN
> NT, and DOS 3.11 from what I understand isn't covered on the new exams.
>
> Needless to say this is stressing me out to no end but I guess the tests
> will tell.
>
> Patrick
>
> SHA-ZAAM
>
>

freak

2002-10-30, 7:15 pm

you seem to be prepared indeed. Let us know how it goes

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