To start, a certification is an excellent way to begin or advance in your IT career. CompTIA is the most popular certification option for IT professionals globally and is often the first certification obtained by many professionals. A certification from CompTIA demonstrates your competency in computing and provides worldwide recognition.
While certification tests are widely recognized as reliable forms of measuring the skills of IT professionals, it can often be difficult to pass them; Thus, a well-planned study strategy and the right materials are crucial to success.
This guide is designed to help prepare you for success by providing guidance on the types of CompTIA certifications available, which materials to use, and how to approach the exam day itself. Furthermore, a major aspect of passing the exam is familiarity with the question types featured in a CompTIA exam – understanding the manner in which CompTIA Exam questions will play a significantly role in helping you pass the exam. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step process to complete a successfully obtain your certification.
An Overview of CompTIA Exams
Currently, CompTIA provides several certifications; however, the primary certifications offered are A+, Network+, and Security+, commonly referred to as the “Holy Grail” of introductory IT certifications.
- A+: This primary certification concentrates on the foundational hardware, software and troubleshooting aspects of computers and is often the first certification obtained by a beginner in the IT industry.
- Network+: This certification covers the operation of networks, such as cable wiring, TCP/IP and routing.
- Security+: Security+ is a certification based on basic security principles.
Exam Structure, Reputation and Weight
Many tests will look the same: multiple-choice tests and PBQs (Performance-Based Questions). Performance-based questions (PBQs) are created such that a student takes the test in a laboratory or other environment and completes a required task, such as completing the setup of the device (e.g. firewalls, routers, etc.) they will use while taking the test.
Depending on the test, you may have anywhere from 90 minutes to a few hours to take the exam and the maximum number of questions can vary as well, but on average, the maximum number of questions on any technical certification exam should not exceed 90 questions.
Due to the reputation of these certifications in the industry, they are highly regarded by potential employers because they demonstrate that a person has an adequate foundation of information. Due to the high regard of these certifications by employers, becoming certified can result in better salaries and positions than non-certified candidates applying for the same position with the same company. Furthermore, many employees seeking a position with the U.S. government or Department of Defense require that the applicant be certified.
Best Materials to Use for Studying
Finding the best books and courses is crucial. Using low-quality resources may lead to missing critical topics.
Books
The most widely used technical reference materials are the Mike Meyers All-in-One series. The books in this series are very well known for being easy to read and for having a humorous approach to presenting material; another great alternative is the “For Dummies“ book series, which contains information about the subject matter presented in simpler terms than what you would find in most technical reference materials.
In addition to the above, books should contain:
- Definition(s) of technical terms with clear descriptions and examples of the definitions provided.
- Comprehensive set of practice questions for the material covered at the end of each chapter.
- Examples of real world situations where the information you learned from the textbook may be applied.
- Examination objectives covered in their entirety.
Online Course
If you prefer learning by watching videos there are many excellent options available via the Udemy and Coursera online course platforms. Jason Dion and Professor Messer are instructors that are highly regarded. Therefore, it is important to choose a course by a quality instructor and that has a hands-on lab associated with it. This is essential because you must take action to put into practice what you learned instead of merely learning through an e-learning format by viewing or reading.
Online Learning Course Outline:
- Video Lectures for all Exam Domains
- Study Notes and PDFs that can be Downloaded
- Quizzes to Gauge Progress After Each Section Is Completed.
- Availability of Instructors to Respond to Questions
Ways to Gain Experience Before Taking the Exam
The most effective way to gauge whether you are prepared to take an examination is to complete practice exams. In addition to finding out your level of preparedness for the exam, it will give you an opportunity to see which areas will be challenging when you take the exam.
Certification-Exam also provides a modern day method of preparing for the exam with its Exam Mode, which allows you to practice in an environment that resembles the Real Exam Environment, in addition to reducing anxiety. Furthermore, Certification-Exam provides in-depth explanations for every answer provided so that you understand the rationale for both correct and incorrect responses. In addition, the AI Features and Auto-Learning Features will automatically adapt to your progress by concentrating on your weaker areas of study. Finally, Customization allows you to customize your exam to suit your requirements and Offline Mode allows you to study without an Internet connection.
Flexibility and Accessibility will be vital for students who have busy schedules. For instance, with a mobile application allowing you to study while you are out and about and PDF files for those who prefer to read on paper. Additionally, functions such as auto-scrolling and the ability to have the night mode on makes long study periods easier on your eyes. Global Accessibility allows students around the globe access to these resources. If you happen to have trouble, customer support is ready to help. Additionally, there is a Search function to allow you to find specific topics quickly, which will allow you to have efficient review sessions.
Of course, value is also essential in selecting a study tool. Therefore, this platform offers discounts to make preparing more affordable and a Demo Mode so you can review the content before you purchase it. You can also save bookmarks for the difficult questions so that you can review them later. Last, the interface is ad-free without distractions so that you can focus. Overall, with the many features combined, utilizing this platform, which is an extensive practice resource, increases your chances of passing the CompTIA exam on the first attempt significantly.
Topic-By-Topic Breakdown of CompTIA Exam Questions
To pass the CompTIA exam successfully, it is imperative that you know the types of topics that will be covered. Below, you can find a breakdown of what will be included in the A+ Core certification exam.
Core A+ Topics
- Hardware: includes RAM, CPU, motherboard, printers.
- Operating Systems: include Windows, Mac OS X; Linux; mobile OS.
- Networking elements: include TCP/IP, Wi-Fi basics; and basics of connecting devices.
- Security: is the protection of confidential information, systems, and resources against unauthorized access or modification. This includes both physical and technical protections such as malware protection.
Core Topics of Network+
- Networking Concepts: is the basic components of telecommunications. The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Model consists of 7 layers and describes how data is transferred through various protocols over a network via ports such as TCP/IP. Additionally, it is important to understand how a network operates through cabling/routing/switching to provide connectivity, as well as through wireless standards, as 802.11 is the industry standard for wireless communication.
- Infrastructure: the supporting elements needed to create a functional network infrastructure that supports both wired and wireless technologies.
- Network Operations: includes monitoring of the network, ensuring high availability to all users, and managing disaster recovery if needed.
- Security: includes the identifying and preventing of network attacks, the hardening of devices for security purposes, and the use of secure protocols.
Core Topics of Security+
Without a doubt, this certification is a vital path for any individual aspiring to be a Security Analyst. As such, those studying for the most up to date version of Security+ (SY0-701) should spend time reviewing the latest CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 exam questions and answers.
- Threats & Vulnerabilities: such as those associated with social engineering, malware, and Internet application attacks.
- Security Architecture: refers to the structure and design of security systems and how they interact with and measure the integrity and confidentiality of the data they protect, including Cryptography and Network Security design.
- Security Operations: are the procedures that a Security Operations Centre follows to respond to incidents that require investigation and mitigation.
- Governance, Risk & Compliance: consists of all your organisation’s policies and regulations, including Risk Assessments, Regulatory Compliance, and so on.
Successful Exam Preparation
The knowledge of the material itself is only part of the challenge of preparing to take an IT certification exam; the other aspect is having an organised study strategy.
Developing a Study Schedule
First and foremost, do not attempt to cram for the test in one week’s time. Rather, schedule an entire study plan over the course of a month or two. For instance, you would create a week to week breakdown and schedule times each week for reviewing each domain’s material. You may want to start off with networking on Monday & Tuesday, and go on to hardware on Wednesday. Following this routine will form a habit.
Methods of Study
- Active recall is a good starting point for studying for any exam. Active recall is the process of recalling information. Instead of simply reading the material, verbalise what you have learned about the topic and answer the questions.
- Spaced repetition, where you review your notes at prescribed intervals (2 weeks for example), is also effective for retaining information.
- Group study sessions allow you to teach those concepts to others, therefore reinforcing your knowledge of the information.
Practicing with Hands-On Labs
You cannot learn to fix a computer by reading a book alone; therefore, to gain the necessary skills to do so, you must practice doing it. For example, you might consider setting up your own home virtual machine using either a Windows or Linux based operating system, or by creating a small SDN (Software-Defined Network) within your home using a physical network and network simulation software. These “hands-on” experiences allow you to develop “muscle memory.”
Conclusion
Overall, taking an IT certification exam requires a great deal of effort and preparation. Understanding the structure of the exam’s content is critical to preparing for the exam; as is selecting the correct study materials and using the correct study methods. Focus on understanding the core concepts of each area and not just memorising the answers. To help you prepare for the exam, use practice tests to become comfortable with the exam’s format and timing.
For example, if you follow your study plan and utilize the resources available on the Certification-Exam website, you should be able to prepare yourself adequately. Therefore, when you see the CompTIA exam questions, you will feel confident and ready to succeed. Best of luck as you prepare to become an IT Professional!
More information about IT Certification is available at the Official CompTIA Website (https://www.comptia.org).