Exam Cram (Pearson) book worth getting?

Discussion in 'A+' started by shocksl, May 28, 2012.

  1. shocksl

    shocksl Byte Poster

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    Anybody think it's worth getting? Ive already bought the Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Seventh Edition (Exams 220-701 & 220-702) book.

    And watching the prof messer vids with it.

    Whats your opinions?
     
  2. Boffy

    Boffy Megabyte Poster

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    It may be a good book, but you're essentially going to read/view the content for a third time. If you feel weak on the subject then perhaps consider it, but I think you are just procrastanating.

    I've just taken my A+ 1-2months again, passed both exams with 89%-90% mark from the Mike Meyers and Professor Messer videos.
     
    Certifications: BSc Computer Game Technology, A+
    WIP: MOS 2010
  3. shocksl

    shocksl Byte Poster

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    thanks boffy,

    I want to try to get it done ASAP.

    for those have done it short space of time spending about 3 hours a day 5 days a week. Whats the average time taken to complete it?
     
  4. The Zig

    The Zig Kilobyte Poster

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    In my opinion, a fairly successful way of doing it is:-

    - Read your A+ book / watch the Messer videos once.
    - Take some practise exams as soon as you finish - the ones that come with the Meyers book (or there are some more resources linked here)
    - Gasp in horror and get massively demoralised by your really bad score.
    - Read the book /watch the video again, now with an eye for the kind of details exams pick out.
    - Book your exam.
    - Do practise questions from every good resource you can find (the links in the forum are good and if you're still struggling, this is where you'll use the Exam Cram book)
    - Pass the test.
    - Practise more.
    - Pass the second test.
    - Get a job in IT and develop experience and real-world skills, and get further certifications around the work you do.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2012
    Certifications: A+; Network+; Security+, CTT+; MCDST; 4 x MTA (Networking, OS, Security & Server); MCITP - Enterprise Desktop Support; MCITP - Enterprise Desktop Administrator; MCITP - Server Administrator; MCSA - Server 2008; MCT; IOSH; CCENT
    WIP: CCNA; Server 2012; LPIC; JNCIA?
    shocksl likes this.
  5. shadowwebs

    shadowwebs Megabyte Poster

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    I have to agree with Zig on this one as it is pretty much the way that I did my exam studies... I went to college to study the A+ which was a big waste of cash, through this forum I heard of Professor Messer so I went on to his site, watched the videos and started making notes, took a mock test and got 67% which was around 8% off the pass rate, I then read the GTS books I had, followed by recapping on the Professor Messer videos and reading my study notes that I had made, I was then hitting 84% on average on the mock test, and I booked the real test and passed first time, same again for the 2nd exam and passed first time.

    Good luck.
     
    Certifications: compTIA A+, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.10 (OS X Yosemite, Server and Support)
    shocksl likes this.
  6. shocksl

    shocksl Byte Poster

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    thanks again Zigg Great advice as usual, that has really helped me do my planning.

    and thanks for the insight shaddowebb of your experience that really does help and i apreciate it!! how long did it take you to revise for each exam at the end then?

    So how much notes do you reommend I should take on each topic? detailed or just summary like a A4 page?

    lastly wouldnt it be a better idea to watch the Professor messer and read the relevant chapter in the book hand in hand, rather than once i complete the whole book and then watch the videos?
     
  7. shadowwebs

    shadowwebs Megabyte Poster

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    I found watching the videos first away from the books was the thing that worked for me, but everyone learns in a different way so give a few options a try and see which way sinks in best for you.

    The amount of notes I made was all in Windows Notepad application, and on some objectives was only a couple of lines, in others it was a lot of lines of text, all dependant on how much I already knew as there was no point in me making notes on something I was already clued up on.
     
    Certifications: compTIA A+, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.10 (OS X Yosemite, Server and Support)
    shocksl likes this.
  8. shocksl

    shocksl Byte Poster

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    thanks for that, how long did it take for you to prepare for each exam then?
     
  9. shadowwebs

    shadowwebs Megabyte Poster

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    for the first exam it took around 2 months to prepare which included studying, mock tests and then taking the actual exam... the second exam i was able to prepare in 1 month.
     
    Certifications: compTIA A+, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.10 (OS X Yosemite, Server and Support)
    shocksl likes this.
  10. shocksl

    shocksl Byte Poster

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    thank you for your speedy response mate.

    So how much hours was you putting in each day/week?

    lastly have you applied for jobs yet, or what are you doing?
     
  11. shadowwebs

    shadowwebs Megabyte Poster

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    already working in IT for a number of years, I got in through my knowledge and then now I feel that I need to back that up with certifications, I was putting in maybe 1 hour a day after work each evening and then on the weekends around 3 hours a day.
     
    Certifications: compTIA A+, Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.10 (OS X Yosemite, Server and Support)
  12. The Zig

    The Zig Kilobyte Poster

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    Just as a side note, don't leave too long between the exams. The materials so inter-connected that learning the 701 is learning the 702. Don't leave long enough that you start to forget, or take a break in the middle. Treat them as one.

    The 701 is a check-in place and rest stop about 2/3rds up the A+ mountain. Push straight on for the summit.



    Edit: As a guide, for someone taking it first time as a way into IT work, I would say anything from a week to a month is a reasonable gap, depending on (a) how you score in the 701, (b) your confidence and how easy/hard going you're finding it and (c) the amount of time you can dedicate to it.
    I certainly wouldn't go OVER the month. You'll forget more than you learn.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2012
    Certifications: A+; Network+; Security+, CTT+; MCDST; 4 x MTA (Networking, OS, Security & Server); MCITP - Enterprise Desktop Support; MCITP - Enterprise Desktop Administrator; MCITP - Server Administrator; MCSA - Server 2008; MCT; IOSH; CCENT
    WIP: CCNA; Server 2012; LPIC; JNCIA?
    shocksl likes this.
  13. shocksl

    shocksl Byte Poster

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    thank you soo much mate!

    as to reading the meyers book. Shall i bother reading the historical section at the start of each chapter? or shall i just skip to the essentials etc?

    thanks
     

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