Prepare for CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) test day
By Dave Prowse
Date: Dec 17, 2022
This sample chapter from CompTIA A+ Practice Questions Exam Cram Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) shares tools and information to help you be successful when preparing for test day.
This chapter provides the following tools and information to help you be successful when preparing for and taking the CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) exams:
Getting Ready and the Exam Preparation Checklist
Tips for Taking the Real Exam
Beyond the CompTIA A+ Certification
Getting Ready and the Exam Preparation Checklist
Anyone can take the CompTIA A+ certification exams; there are no prerequisites, but CompTIA recommends 12 months of experience in a help desk, desktop, or field service job role. If you don’t have that experience, be sure to practice as many hands-on labs as you can on real computers or virtual systems.
For more information on the A+ certification, visit the A+ section of CompTIA’s website, at https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a.
To acquire your A+ certification, you need to pass two exams: 220-1101 and 220-1102. These exams are administered by Pearson VUE (https://home.pearsonvue.com). You need to register with Pearson VUE to take the exams.
Each exam consists of two types of questions:
Multiple choice: These pose a question to you and ask you to select the correct answer (or answers) from a group of four or more choices. They are quite similar to the questions you’ve seen throughout this book.
Performance based: These ask you to answer a question, complete a configuration, or solve a problem in a hands-on fashion. The questions might ask you to drag and drop information to the correct location or complete a simulation in a virtual system.
To master both types of questions, you need to have a deep understanding of the theory, and you also need to know the hands-on steps. So, practice on your actual computers as much as possible. This is, of course, imperative for the exams, but it is even more important for the real world. The more you install, configure, and troubleshoot real systems, the more you will be prepared for job interviews as well as whatever comes your way after you have acquired a position within an organization.
You must be fully prepared for the exams, so I created a checklist (see Table 11.1) that you can use to make sure you have covered all the bases. Go through the checklist twice—once for each exam. For each exam, place a check in the status column as you complete each item. Do this first with the 220-1101 exam and then again with the 220-1102 exam. I highly recommend completing each step in order and taking the 220-1101 exam first. Historically, my readers and students have benefited greatly from this type of checklist.
Table 11.1 Exam Preparation Checklist
Step |
Item |
Details |
220-1101 Status |
220-1102 Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. |
Attend an A+ course. |
(Optional) A hands-on A+ course can do a lot for you when it comes to installing, configuring, and especially troubleshooting. Especially if you don’t have the CompTIA recommended experience (12 months), consider taking an A+ class. |
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2. |
Review your study guide. |
Whatever main study guide or guides you used, be sure to review them carefully. |
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3. |
Complete the practice exams in this book. |
Take the 220-1101 practice exams and review them carefully. On the second run-through of this checklist, take the 220-1102 practice exams and review them. |
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If you score under 90% on any one practice exam, go back and study more. If you have any trouble at this stage, consider getting my book CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) Exam Cram or another study guide of your choice and read it very carefully. |
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4. |
Create your own cheat sheet. |
See Table 11.2 for an example. Writing down important details helps you commit them to memory. Keep in mind that you will not be allowed to take a cheat sheet into the actual testing room. |
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5. |
Register for the exam. |
Do not register until you have completed the previous steps; you shouldn’t register until you are fully prepared. When you are ready, schedule the exam to commence within a couple of days so that you don’t forget what you have learned. Registration can be done online. Exams can be taken at a Pearson VUE test center or at home. Register at Pearson VUE (https://home.pearsonvue.com). The site accepts payment by major credit card for the exam fee. (Keep in mind that you need to create an account to be able to sign up for exams.) |
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6. |
Review practice questions. |
Keep reviewing practice questions until the day of the exam. Review your cheat sheet also if you created one. |
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7. |
Take the exam. |
Check off each exam to the right as you pass it. Good luck! |
Table 11.2 provides a partial example of a cheat sheet that you can create to aid in your studies. Fill in the appropriate information in the right column. For example, the first step of the six-step troubleshooting methodology is “Identify the problem.”
Table 11.2 Example Cheat Sheet
Concept |
Fill in the Appropriate Information Here |
|---|---|
The six-step A+ troubleshooting methodology |
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. |
Cloud-based services |
|
The laser imaging process |
|
The malware removal process |
|
Windows log files |
|
Commands and descriptions (For example: ping – tests to see if other systems on the network are live.) |
|
* Etc. |
* Continue Table 11.2 in this fashion on paper. The key is to write down various technologies, processes, step-by-step procedures, and so on and commit them to memory. Make separate cheat sheets for the 220-1101 and 220-1102 exams.
Tips for Taking the Real Exam
If you are new to exams, this section is for you. If you have taken exams before, feel free to skip this section or use it as a review.
The exam is conducted on a computer and is multiple choice and performance based. You have the option to skip questions. If you do so, be sure to mark them for review before moving on. Feel free to mark any other questions that you have answered but are not completely sure about. This approach is especially recommended for the performance-based questions. In fact, you might choose to leave all of the performance-based questions until the end. That, of course, is up to you.
When you get to the end of an exam, you will find an item review section that shows you any questions that you did not answer and any that you marked for review. Be sure to answer any questions that were not completed.
The following lists include tips and tricks that I have developed over the years. I’ve taken at least 20 certification exams over the past two decades, and the following points have served me well.
General Practices for Taking Exams
Pick a good time for the exam: Keep in mind that you can take the exams at a testing center or from home. It appears that the fewest people are at test centers on Monday and Friday mornings. Consider scheduling during these times. Otherwise, schedule a time that works well for you, when you don’t have to worry about anything else. Keep in mind that Saturdays can be busy. Oh, and don’t schedule the exam until you are ready. I understand that sometimes deadlines have to be set, but in general, it’s best not to register for an exam until you feel confident you can pass it. Things come up in life that can sometimes get in the way of your study time. Keep in mind that most exams can be canceled as long as you give 48 hours’ notice. (To be sure, check that time frame when registering.)
Don’t overstudy the day before the exam: Some people like to study hard the day before; some don’t. My recommendations are to study from your cheat sheet and maybe run through some quick Q&A, but in general, don’t overdo it. It’s not a good idea to go into overload mode the day before the exam.
Get a good night’s rest: A good night’s sleep (seven to nine hours) before the day of the exam is probably the best way to get your mind ready for an exam.
Eat a decent breakfast: Eating is good! Breakfast is number two when it comes to getting your mind ready for an exam, especially for a morning exam. Just watch out for the coffee and tea. Too much caffeine—especially if you are not used to it—can be detrimental to the thinking process.
Show up early: The testing agency recommends that you be present 30 minutes prior to your scheduled exam time, regardless of whether you are taking the exam at a testing center or from home. This is important: Give yourself plenty of time. If you are taking the exam at a testing center, make sure you know where you are going. Know exactly how long it takes to get to the testing center and account for potential traffic and construction. You don’t want to have to worry about getting lost or being late. Stress and fear are mind killers. Work on reducing any types of stress the day before and the day of the exam. By the way, you need extra time prior to the exam because you need to show ID, sign forms, get your personal belongings situated, and be escorted to your seat. Have two forms of (signed) ID ready for the administrator of the test center. Turn off your cell phone or smartphone; they’ll check that, too.
Bring earplugs: You never know when you will get a loud testing center or, worse yet, a loud test-taker next to you. Earplugs help block out any unwanted noise that might show up. This can help at home as well. Just be ready to show your earplugs to the test administrator. Also, if you do plan to use earplugs, consider doing a test run with them beforehand, so that you can become accustomed to them.
Brainstorm before starting the exam: Write down as much as you can remember from your cheat sheet before starting the exam. The testing center is obligated to give you something to write on; make use of it! Getting all the memorization out of your head and on “paper” first clears the brain somewhat so that it can tackle the questions. (I put paper in quotation marks because it probably won’t be paper; it could be a mini dry-erase board or something similar.)
Take small breaks while taking the exam: Exams can be brutal. You have to answer a lot of questions (typically anywhere from 75 to 90 of them) while staring at a screen for an hour or more. Sometimes these screens are old and have seen better days; older flickering monitors can cause strain on your eyes. I recommend taking small breaks and using breathing techniques. For example, after going through every 25 questions or so, close your eyes and slowly take a few deep breaths, holding each one for five seconds and then releasing it slowly. Think about nothing while doing so. Remove the test from your mind during these breaks. This technique takes only about half a minute but can help get your brain refocused. It’s almost a Zen type of thing; when I have applied this technique properly, I have gotten a few perfect scores. It’s amazing how your mind-set can make or break you.
Be confident: You’ve done everything you can to prep: You have studied hard, gone through the practice exams, and created your cheat sheet. These things alone should build confidence. But actually, you just have to be confident for no reason whatsoever. Think of it this way: You are great… I am great… (to quote Dr. Daystrom from Star Trek). But truly, there is no disputing this. That’s the mentality you must have. You are not being pretentious about this if you think it to yourself. Acting that way to others… well, that’s another matter. So build that inner confidence, and your mind-set should be complete.
Smart Methods for Difficult Questions
Use the process of elimination: If you are not sure about an answer, first eliminate any answers that are definitely incorrect. You might be surprised how often this approach works. This is one of the reasons it is recommended that you not only know the correct answers to the practice exam questions but also know why the wrong answers are wrong. The testing center should give you something to write on; you can use it to write down the letters of the answers that are incorrect to keep track. Even if you aren’t sure about the correct answer to a question, if you can logically eliminate anything that is incorrect, the answer will become apparent. The character Sherlock Holmes expressed this well: “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” There’s more to it, of course, but from a scientific standpoint, this method can be invaluable.
Be logical in the face of adversity: The most difficult questions have two answers that appear to be correct, even though the test question requires you to select only one answer. Real exams do not rely on trick questions. Sometimes you need to slow down, think logically, and compare the two possible correct answers. Also, you must imagine the scenario that the question is a part of. Think through step by step what is happening in the scenario. Write out as much as you can. The more you can visualize the scenario, the more easily you can figure out which of the two answers is the best one.
Follow your gut instinct: Sometimes a person taking a test just doesn’t know the answer; it happens to everyone. If you have read through a question and all the answers and used the process of elimination, sometimes following your gut is all you have left. In some scenarios, you might read a question and instinctively know the answer, even if you can’t explain why. Tap into this ability. Some test-takers write down their gut instinct answers before delving into the other answers and then compare their thoughtful answers with their gut instinct answers.
Don’t let one question beat you!: Don’t let yourself get stuck on one question, especially a performance-based question. Skip it and return to it later. When you spend too much time on one question, your brain may get sluggish. The thing with these exams is that you either know the content or you don’t. And don’t worry too much about it; chances are you are not going to get a perfect score. Remember that the goal is to pass the exams; how many answers you get right beyond passing is irrelevant. If you have gone through this book thoroughly, you should be well prepared. You should have plenty of time to go through all the exam questions with time to spare to return to the ones you skipped and marked.
If all else fails, guess: Remember that the exams might not be perfect. A question might seem confusing or appear not to make sense. Leave questions like this until the end. After you have gone through all the other techniques mentioned, make an educated, logical guess. Try to imagine what the test is after and why it would be bringing up this topic, as vague or as strange as it might appear.
Wrapping Up the Exam
Review all your answers. If you finish early, use the time allotted to you to review the answers. Chances are you will have time left over at the end, and you should use it wisely. Make sure that everything you have marked has a proper answer that makes sense to you. But try not to overthink. Give the exam your best shot and be confident in your answers. Don’t second-guess yourself.
Beyond the CompTIA A+ Certification
A person who passes the CompTIA A+ exams will be certified for three years. To maintain the certification beyond that time, you must either pass the new version of the exams (before the three years is up), pass a higher-level CompTIA exam (such as the Security+ exam), or enroll in the CompTIA Continuing Education Program. This program has an annual fee and requires that you obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that count toward recertification. There are a variety of ways to accumulate CEUs. See CompTIA’s website for more information: https://www.comptia.org/continuing-education.
After you pass the exams, consider thinking about your technical future. It’s important to keep up with new technology and keep your technical skills sharp, and technical growth is important as well. Consider expanding your technical horizons by learning different technologies.
Usually, companies wait at least six months before implementing new operating systems and other applications on a large scale, but you will have to deal with new technology sooner or later—most likely sooner. Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS are always coming out with new versions. Consider keeping up with the newest versions and obtaining access to the latest software and operating systems. Practice installing, configuring, testing, securing, maintaining, and troubleshooting them.
To keep on top of the various computer technologies, think about subscribing to technology websites, RSS feeds, and periodicals—and read them on a regular basis. Check out streaming video tech channels on the Internet. Join computer Internet forums and attend technology conventions. A technician’s skills need to be constantly honed and kept up to date.
Information technology (IT) technicians need to keep learning to foster good growth in the field. Consider taking other certification exams after you complete the A+. The CompTIA A+ certification acts as a springboard to other certifications. For example, the CompTIA Security+ certification takes your skills to another level, evaluating your knowledge of how to secure networks, computers, their applications, and especially the data. Now that you know exactly how to go about passing a certification exam, consider earning more certifications to bolster your resume.
The best advice I can give is for you to do what you love. From an IT perspective, I usually break it down by technology, as opposed to by the vendor or certification. For example, you might want to learn more about email systems or securing internetworks or about systems administration or DevOps; or you might prefer to work on databases, build websites, develop apps—who knows! You are limited only by your desire.
I wish you the best of luck on your exams and in your IT career endeavors. Please let me know when you pass your exams. I would love to hear from you! Also, remember that I am available to answer any of your questions about this book via my website: https://dprocomputer.com.
Sincerely,
David L. Prowse