An interesting and useful characteristic of the standard test is that questions may be marked and returned to later. This helps you manage your time while taking the test so you don’t spend too much time on any one question.
This section prepares you for taking the actual examination. It gives you a few pointers on methods for preparing for the exam, including how to study and register, what to expect, and what to do on exam day.
Earning CompTIA A+ certification means that you have the knowledge and the technical skills necessary to be a successful entry-level IT professional in today’s environment. The exam objectives test your knowledge and skills in all the areas that today’s computing environment requires. Although the exams cover a broad range of computer software and hardware, they are not vendor specific.
Both the CompTIA A+ 220-901 Exam and the CompTIA A+ 220-902 Exam are required to achieve your CompTIA A+ certification. As stated by CompTIA, together, the 220-901 and 220-902 exams “measure necessary competencies for an entry-level IT professional… . Successful candidates will have the knowledge required to assemble components based on customer requirements; install, configure, and maintain devices, PCs, and software for end users; understand the basics of networking and security/forensics; properly and safely diagnose, resolve, and document common hardware and software issues; apply troubleshooting skills; provide appropriate customer support; and understand the basics of virtualization, desktop imaging, and deployment.”
The most practical way to administer tests on a global level is through a testing center, such as Pearson VUE, which provides proctored testing services for many companies, including CompTIA. In addition to administering the tests, Pearson VUE scores the exam and provides statistical feedback on each section of the exam to the companies and organizations that use their services.
On Exams 220-901 and 220-902, unanswered questions count against you. Assuming you have time left when you finish the other questions, you can return to the marked questions for further evaluation.
The standard test also marks the questions that are incomplete with a letter “I” once you’ve finished all the questions. You’ll see the whole list of questions after you complete the last question. This screen allows you to go back and finish incomplete items, finish unmarked items, and return to questions you flagged for review.
The CompTIA A+ exams consist of several types of question formats, as described in a YouTube video on the test experience at http://certification.comptia.org/testing/about-testing. We strongly recommend that you take the time to watch this short video. Here is a brief overview of the question formats you may see on your exam.
Many CompTIA A+ exam questions are of the multiple-choice variety. Below each question is a list of four or five possible answers. Use the available radio buttons to select the correct answer from the given choices.
A multiple-response question is a multiple-choice question with more than one correct answer, in which case, the number of correct answers required is clearly stated.
A fill-in-the-blank question prompts you to type a word or phrase. Be aware that answers may be case-sensitive.
Some questions incorporate a graphical element or a video available via an Exhibit button to provide a visual representation of the problem or present the question itself. These questions are easy to identify because they refer to the exhibit in the question and there is an exhibit. An example of a graphical question might be to identify a component on a drawing of a motherboard. This is done in the multiple-choice format by having callouts labeled A, B, C, or D point to the selections.
A drag-and-drop question is a form of graphical question in which you select a token, such as a graphic of a computer component, and drag and drop it to a designated area, in response to the question.
Performance-based questions include simulations and require the candidate to perform certain tasks based on multifaceted scenarios. When you encounter one of these questions, you will click a Simulation button and enter a simulated environment in which you must perform one or more tasks. You can experience a sample performance-based question here: https://certification.comptia.org/modules/performancetesting.
There are appropriate ways to study for the different types of questions you may see on CompTIA A+ certification exams. The amount of study time needed to pass the exam will vary with the candidate’s level of experience. Someone with several years of experience might only need a quick review of materials and terms when preparing for the exam. Others may need several hours to identify weaknesses in their knowledge and skill level and work on those areas to bring them up to par. If you know that you are weak in an area, work on it until you feel comfortable talking about it. You don’t want to be surprised by a question knowing it was in your weak area.
Knowledge-based questions require that you memorize facts. These questions may not cover material that you use on a daily basis, but they do cover material that CompTIA thinks an IT professional should be able to answer. Here are some keys to memorizing facts:
Repetition The more times you expose your brain to a fact, the more it sinks in, and your ability to remember it increases.
Association Connecting facts within a logical framework makes them easier to remember.
Motor association Remembering something is easier if you write it down or perform another physical act, like clicking the practice exam answers.
The first step in preparing for performance-based questions is to absorb as many facts relating to the exam content areas as you can. Of course, actual hands-on experience will greatly help you in this area. For example, it really helps in knowing how to install a video adapter if you have actually done the procedure at least once. Some of the questions will place you in a scenario and ask for the best solution to the problem at hand. It is in these scenarios that having a good knowledge level and some experience will help you.
The CompTIA A+ Certification Exam 220-901 consists of four domains (categories). CompTIA represents the relative importance of each domain within the body of knowledge required for an entry-level IT professional taking this exam.
The CompTIA A+ Certification Exam 220-902 consists of five domains (categories). CompTIA represents the relative importance of each domain within the body of knowledge required for an entry-level IT professional taking this exam.
The best method of preparing for the exam is to create a study schedule and stick to it. Although teachers have probably told you time and time again not to cram for tests, some information just doesn’t quite stick in your memory. It’s this type of information you want to look at right before you take the exam so it remains fresh in your mind. You can brush up on good study techniques from any quality study book, but here are some things to remember when preparing and taking the test:
Get a good night’s sleep. Don’t stay up all night cramming for this one. If you don’t know the material by the time you go to sleep, your head won’t be clear enough to remember it in the morning.
The test center needs two forms of identification, one of which must have your picture on it (for example, your driver’s license). Credit cards are also acceptable forms of identification.
Arrive at the test center a few minutes early. You don’t want to feel rushed right before taking an exam.
Don’t spend too much time on one question. If you think you’re spending too much time on it, just flag it and return to it later if you have time.
If you don’t know the answer to a multiple-choice question, think about it logically. Look at the answers and eliminate the ones that you know can’t possibly be correct. This may leave you with only two possible answers. Give it your best guess if you have to, but you can resolve most of the answers to the questions by the process of elimination. Remember, unanswered questions count as incorrect whether you know the answer to them or not.
No books, calculators, laptop computers, or any other reference materials are allowed inside the testing center. The tests are computer based and do not require pens, pencils, or paper, although, as mentioned previously, some test centers provide scratch paper to aid you while taking the exam.
As soon as you complete the exam, your results will show up in the form of a bar graph on the screen. As long as your score is greater than the required score, you pass! The testing center will print and emboss a hard copy of the report to indicate that it’s an official report. Don’t lose this copy; it’s the only hard copy of the report made. The testing center sends the results electronically to CompTIA.
The printed report will also indicate how well you did in each section. You will be able to see the percentage of questions you got right in each section, but you will not be able to tell which questions you got wrong.
After you pass both exams, you will receive a CompTIA A+ certificate by mail within a few weeks. You are then authorized to use the CompTIA A+ logo on your business cards, as long as you stay within the guidelines specified by CompTIA. Please check the CompTIA website for a more comprehensive and up-to-date listing and explanation of CompTIA A+ benefits.
If you don’t pass the exam, don’t fret. Examine the areas where you didn’t do so well, and work on those areas for the next time you register to take the exams.
The following two tables, one for each of the CompTIA A+ exams (Exam 901 and Exam 902), describe each of the A+ objectives with a mapping to the coverage in the Study Guide. There are also three check boxes labeled Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. Use these to rate your beginning knowledge of each objective. This assessment will help guide you to the areas in which you need to spend more time studying for the exams.
