The CompTIA A+ certification is a well-known and respected qualification in the IT industry. Considered an entry-level certification validating the skills required for IT support roles, it covers areas like networking, security, hardware, and software. This article will look at several resources that can help you prepare and study for the CompTIA A+ certification exam.
Most Important Step
One of the most important steps to take when preparing for the A+ certification exam is to familiarize yourself with the exam objectives—a list of topics and subtopics you can find on the CompTIA website. When you look at this list, think carefully about each topic.
As you get ready to take the CompTIA A+ certification exam, you’ll find a wealth of materials to assist you, including books, online video courses, and practice tests.
Top Resources
One of the most popular and effective resources is the All-in-One CompTIA A+ Certification Exam Guide. This hefty paperback (or e-book) contains everything you need to prepare for every aspect of the A+ exam.
Another good resource with slightly different content and goals is the CompTIA A+ Comprehensive Study Guide. This book and its companion, the CompTIA A+ Complete Study Guide, are also very good (and more portable) resources.
Finally, mock exams are an additional resource some candidates find helpful.
Create a Study Schedule
After gathering your study materials, put a study schedule in place to help you digest the materials in an organized way, keep yourself on task, and provide a clear path leading to the exam. I recommend you cover all the topics at least once before the test and also take a couple of full-length, timed practice tests before test day. You’ll be far more ready to take the actual CompTIA A+ exam if you’ve already gone through the kinds of scenarios the test will ask you to diagnose and repair.
Study Group
Another great way to prepare is to participate in a study group to enhance your motivation and create valuable learning opportunities. Participating in these alliances can give you the kind of support that keeps you focused and oriented toward success.
This advice holds particularly true in regard to the CompTIA A+ certification exam, for which you need to accomplish several discrete tasks to demonstrate your proficiency. Joining a Common Interest Group in the Computer User Society affords valuable opportunities because the participant emerges with not only the CI intentions, but also with the grouping intentions.
To effectively prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam, you’ll need to employ a blend of textbooks, hands-on training, and practice tests. Your success on the exam—and your attainment of this important IT certification—depends on your understanding of the test objectives, your selection of appropriate study materials, your construction of an effective study agenda, your development of practical skills, your participation in a study group, and perhaps most importantly, your completion of a number of practice exams.
Questions?
If you have questions, feel free to email me at info@professorsimon.com or fill out the form on the Contact page. Also, check out the services I offer on the Services page and sign up for a FREE 30-minute consultation call.
