Exam Study Tips for Passing the CompTIA A+ Exams

There are two main goals for students who take CareerStep’s Computer Technician course:

1. Gain the skills needed for a successful career as a computer and IT support professional.
2. Develop the knowledge and skills needed to pass the two CompTIA A+ exams to earn the A+ Certification.

No matter how far along you are in the Computer Technician course, it’s always good to prepare for the time when you will take the CompTIA A+ exams. Here are a few tips that will help you be well prepared for the exams:

Tip 1: Become familiar with the CompTIA A+ Exam Objectives
One of the first things you can do to prepare long before test day is to download the CompTIA Exam Objectives. Read through the official exam objectives as outlined by CompTIA. They can be downloaded directly from the CompTIA website at https://certification.comptia.org/Training/testingcenters/examobjectives.aspx

This document is more than an explanation of the exam requirements; it can be considered a master guide as you go through the Computer Technician program. Use it as the ultimate checklist for your studies.

Students currently enrolled in the CareerStep Computer Technician training program will want to register for the 220-701 and 220-702 exams since our current course has been designed around the 701 and 702 objectives. These exams will continue to be available until August 31, 2013. CareerStep is currently revising the Computer Technician training program to meet the new 220-801 and 220-802 objectives and prepare students for the new exams. We’ll keep you posted on the revised program’s availability.

Tip 2: Become familiar with the inside of a computer
Knowing what the inside of a computer looks like and how all the parts connect to each other is very important. Take apart a computer, and practice taking adapter cards out of the computer, unscrewing hard drives and optical drives, and examining individual components. This works best if you have a desktop computer, and preferably one that you can use for practice (not the main computer you need for day-to-day use, or the one you are using to complete your online computer training course). Become familiar with the cabling, connectors, and how everything fits together.

Tip 3: Use additional study resources available on the Internet
Use additional study resources available online. While the Computer Technician course has been designed as a comprehensive training course with all of the information needed to pass the CompTIA A+ exams, it is also helpful to supplement your studies with additional online resources. Good review materials can be found for free online, and include tutorials, video clips, pictures, and other resources to help provide a well-rounded approach to your studies.

Tip 4: Take a few practice exams
The Computer Technician course has been designed with evaluation points along the way, including unit reviews, quizzes, and a midterm and final exam after each major section. Review these sections and make sure you did well. Review these quizzes as needed, and take them again for practice. The midterm and final are also designed to provide a practice experience. You can take the midterm as many times as you would like and the final up to 3 times. In addition to information in the course, you can also go online and search for various free practice exams or quizzes to test your knowledge of materials presented on the A+ exams. Sample questions can be downloaded from the CompTIA website at https://certification.comptia.org/Training/testingcenters/samplequestions.aspx

On test day, get a good night’s sleep, eat a good meal before taking the test, arrive a few minutes early, and go in with a positive attitude. You will want to schedule both sections of the exams back to back on the same day. Be confident in your first “gut reaction” to the questions, and try and eliminate possible answers through process of elimination. By narrowing down the choices, you can focus on the remaining choices to help select the best answer.

By following these simple steps you will find yourself well prepared for the test. Passing the CompTIA A+ exams and earning the CompTIA A+ Certification will be great for your resume and your career and will give you the knowledge and credentials needed for a successful career as a computer technician and an IT support professional.