Hi! Im a newbie and looking to do A+

Discussion in 'New Members Introduction' started by alik007, Oct 3, 2008.

  1. alik007

    alik007 New Member

    6
    0
    1
    Hi ppl,

    Hope your all well...this is my first post on the forum!! :) I just needed some advice really so anything would be helpful...let me tell you about my background...

    I am currently working in software support but i want to get into more desktop support and work my way up whilst doing more qualifications along the way...I have a Business and IT degree but have been working in finance prior to going into support...

    I am looking to do the Comptia A+ first to refresh my knowledge of IT hardware/software...is this the best way to start off as i havent been in IT for a few years?

    Just a couple of more questions i wanted to ask...

    1. What does this course involve and what are the mandatory/optional exams i need to take in order to gain the A+ qualification?

    2. What is better - self study or college? i live in buckinghamshire so was wondering if there are any places which offer this course in this area or berkshire? I dont want to go through a training provider like advent as i think its a big rip off :x

    Thanks in advance for all your help...

    Ali
     
  2. BosonMichael
    Honorary Member Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

    19,183
    500
    414
    Welcome!

    Yes, the A+ is a great way to get into IT. Highly recommended!

    To become A+ certified, you have to take a core exam (220-601) and an elective exam (choose from 220-602, 220-603, and 220-604 - most people take 220-602). Everything you need to know about these exams is on CompTIA's A+ Web site.

    Although you CAN take a course, there's no requirement to. In fact, I'd recommend that you save your money and just grab a couple of books and study for it on your own. The books that I most often recommend are the A+ All-in-One Exam Guide Sixth Edition by Meyers and PC Technician Street Smarts by Pyles.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  3. Dullage

    Dullage Byte Poster

    214
    6
    32
    Hi Ali, Welcome to CF. Good luck with the studying, I found the A+ was crammed full of stuff that filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge :D

    The Mike Meyers AIO was a great book, really good if you havn't studied in a while.

    See my experience here

    Hope this helps.
     
    Certifications: A+
    WIP: Network +
  4. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

    11,139
    555
    383
    Hi & welcome to CF :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  5. Notes_Bloke

    Notes_Bloke Terabyte Poster

    3,230
    54
    146
    Hi & welcome to CF:D

    NB
     
    Certifications: 70-210, 70-215, A+,N+, Security+
    WIP: MCSA
  6. The Zig

    The Zig Kilobyte Poster

    305
    19
    46
    Welcome!

    I self-studied for the A+. Passed Wednesday. I used mainly the All-in-One (mentioned above) which is very good for study. Just before the exam, I used the Exam Cram (mentioned in Dullages link) which is good for review.

    I like the A+. It's a good course. At first glance I thought it might be a bit too simple - I have an Electronics degree after all! And sure enough, there were some parts of it I knew in far greater depth than the A+ required. Binary, microprocessor function, power, and logic for instance. But I was surprised at the sheer amount of stuff I'd just never come across before - computer building and hardware considerations, buses, hardware troubleshooting, the boot process, things about the Windows OS, stuff you can do and how to do it, various networking protocols I just never knew.

    It's NOT a highly-specialist exam, and this is its key strength - it gives you an exellently broad base of interconnected, usable knowledge covering just about everything you need to know about computers. I think it's a good, solid base to build up from.
     
    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?
  7. Dullage

    Dullage Byte Poster

    214
    6
    32
    Exactly my sentiments :)
     
    Certifications: A+
    WIP: Network +
  8. wizard

    wizard Petabyte Poster

    5,767
    42
    174
    Hi there and welcome :D
     
    Certifications: SIA DS Licence
    WIP: A+ 2009
  9. alik007

    alik007 New Member

    6
    0
    1
    Thanks for all the responses :D

    If I self study and get all the books i need, how long do you reckon I would need before im ready for the exam? Also where is the best place to take the two exams and what do i need to do?

    Thanks

    Ali
     
  10. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    You will be ready when you are ready, only you will know this.

    You take the two exams at any prometric or pearson vue centre. Visit their webistes and you will be able to find your nearest one. You also book the two exams on one the sites mentioned.

    If you want to pay full price then you will pay about £266 in total but you can buy two discount vouchers from www.gracetechsolutions.com and that will cost you £214 for two vouchers. Instead of putting your credit card number as payment you use the voucher code that is emailed to you. Gracetech only cover pearson vue test centres.

    If you decide to buy from gracetech make sure you buy international vouchers.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  11. alik007

    alik007 New Member

    6
    0
    1
    Thanks for your help!!:D
     
  12. The Zig

    The Zig Kilobyte Poster

    305
    19
    46
    I used gracetech vouchers.
    A £50 saving for a couple of minutes extra effort! Nice!:D
    I had no problems using these to take the exams.

    Just to echo what GreenBruceLee said at the end there: if you use gracetech, the standard A+ discount vouchers (the ones you'll likely see first on the site) are US vouchers - you can not use them in the UK. So make sure you get international vouchers - they're clearly labelled... unless you fancy a trip to the states for the test!

    As for how long it'll take, it really does vary. Judging from your first post, you sound like you have a fair bit of knowledge already. Really, YOU are the best judge - though if you can get access to Meyer's All-In-One, he gives a general guide for the amount of study time you'll need for your level of experience... Chapter 1 IIRC

    There are some nice practice tests and tutorial guides over on ProProfs. Some of the quizzes there (like this one) will give you a flavour of the kind of subject matter covered. For something a little tougher, you can look to Brooks' Exam Cram, which is FULL of questions, and is pretty comprehensive - with a good number of practice questions for each specific objective for every exam. And of course, don't forget to read the official CompTIA exam objectives for the Essentials exam and whichever other exam you plan to take (typically, the 220-602).
     
    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?
  13. alik007

    alik007 New Member

    6
    0
    1
    Hi,

    Thanks for that..had a look on the website and found the international vouchers..great stuff..

    Im definetely going to get the Meyers AIO book as ive heard good reviews on it so far..to be honest ive never worked in an IT role as i was in finance for 2 years...prior to that i did IT at college and university so i think i just need to start and establish how much i need to cover...i think ive got a lot to learn :)

    Thanks

    Ali
     
  14. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

    14,292
    265
    329
    When you get the Meyers book make sure you read the whole book. Some people tend to make a mistake and only read sections of it.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  15. Qs

    Qs Semi-Honorary Member Gold Member

    3,081
    70
    171
    Hello and welcome to the forums! :)

    I can only echo what the other members have advised.

    Qs
     
    Certifications: MCT, MCSE: Private Cloud, MCSA (2008), MCITP: EA, MCITP: SA, MCSE: 2003, MCSA: 2003, MCITP: EDA7, MCITP: EDST7, MCITP: EST Vista, MCTS: Exh 2010, MCTS:ServerVirt, MCTS: SCCM07 & SCCM2012, MCTS: SCOM07, MCTS: Win7Conf, MCTS: VistaConf, MCDST, MCP, MBCS, HND: Applied IT, ITIL v3: Foundation, CCA

Share This Page

Loading...
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.