Review of the Domains

Remember that the 220-1101 exam is divided into five domains, as shown in Table 5.1.

Hardware and troubleshooting make up the majority of questions on the exam, but don’t forget about networking, mobile devices, and virtualization and cloud computing. Remember to practice all of the domains and objectives in a hands-on manner while you study the theory behind the concepts.

Many technicians are great with PC hardware, mobile devices, and networking. But for a tech who is weak in the troubleshooting area, the final exam score could be in jeopardy. Study all the concepts in each of the domains. Pay strict attention to troubleshooting concepts; this is where many techs are lacking in knowledge and experience.

Everyone who takes the exam gets a different group of questions. Because the exam is randomized, one person may see more questions on, say, printers than the next person. Or one person might see more questions on laptops. The exam differs from person to person. To reduce your risk of failing, be ready for any question from any domain and study all of the objectives.

In general, this exam deals with installation, configuration, and especially troubleshooting methods, and it is hardware based for the most part. The bulk of the software side of things is reserved for the 220-1102 exam, as is security.

Review What You Know

At this point, you should be pretty well versed in the topics covered on the 220-1101 exam. I still recommend going back through all of the questions and making sure there are no questions, answers, concepts, or explanations you are unclear about. If there are, additional study is probably necessary. If something really just doesn’t make sense, is ambiguous or vague, or doesn’t appear to be technically correct, feel free to contact me at my website (https://dprocomputer.com), and I will do my best to clarify. (Any errata is listed there as well.)

Here are a couple great ways to study further:

• Take the exams in flash card mode: Use a piece of paper to cover up the potential answers as you take the exams in this book. This approach helps make you think a bit harder and aids in committing everything to memory. There are also free flash card applications that you can download to your computer to help you organize your studies.

• Download the A+ 220-1101 objectives: You can get them from https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a. Go through the objectives one by one and check each item that you are confident in. If you are unsure about any items in the objectives, study them hard. That’s where the test will trip you up. There are approximately 12–15 pages of objectives per exam, and going through them will take a while. But this approach really helps close any gaps in your knowledge and gives you an extra boost for the exam.

• Study the 220-1102 questions and then return to the 220-1101 practice exams: This might sound a bit crazy, but I have found that if an A+ candidate has a strong grasp of all A+ topics, he or she is more likely to pass either one of the exams. My recommendation is for you to go through the 220-1102 practice exams, return to the 220-1101 exams for review, and then take the actual CompTIA A+ 220-1101 exam. It’s a big extra step, but it has proven very effective with my students and readers.

• Consider my other A+ products: For example, consider my CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) and Core 2 (220-1102) Exam Cram or my CompTIA A+ 220-1101 Complete Video Course. You can find more information about these resources at my website: https://dprocomputer.com.

More Test-Taking Tips

The CompTIA A+ exams contain two types of questions: multiple choice and performance based. The majority of the questions are multiple-choice questions that ask you to select one or more correct answers. The performance-based questions are scenario-oriented questions that test your knowledge by asking you to click on items, click and drag or navigate through a system, and type commands. Knowing the theory is not enough to pass the exam; you have to actually prove your technical ability in a hands-on way.

The majority of multiple-choice questions have four multiple-choice answers, but some have more. These answers are usually connected within the same concept. For example, a question about video connectors might provide four answers—DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, and VGA—all of which are video ports. Some of the questions are not as synergistic; they might have a group of answers that seem at odds with each other. For example, a question about computer networking protocols might provide four answers: DHCP, DNS, Cat 6, and T568B. While DHCP and DNS are protocols within the TCP/IP suite, Cat 6 and T568B are cabling standards. Be ready for questions whose answers span multiple categories of technology.

Regardless of the type of question, there is often one answer that is just totally wrong. Learn to identify a wrong answer; once you have, you will automatically improve your chances of getting the correct answer, even if you have to guess.

No single question is more important than another. Approach each question with the same dedication, even if you are not interested in the topic or don’t like how the question is worded. (Remember that the CompTIA exams are designed and double-checked by a panel of experts.) However, keep in mind that you can mark questions, skip them, and return to them later. If a question doesn’t make any sense at all to you, try using that technique—especially for the performance-based questions. Don’t let any one question unsettle you: Skip it, mark it, and come back to it later.

When you take the exam, remember to slowly read through the questions and all the answers. Don’t rush through. Here are some more smart methods you can use when presented with difficult questions:

• Use the process of elimination.

• Be logical in the face of adversity.

• Follow your gut instinct.

• Don’t let one question beat you.

• If all else fails, guess.

I expand on these points in Chapter 11, “Wrap-up.”

If you finish the exam early, use the time allotted to you to review all of your answers. Chances are you will have time left over at the end, and you want to 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.

Taking the Real Exam

Do not register for the actual exam until you are fully prepared. When you are ready, schedule the exam to commence within a day or two so that you don’t forget what you have learned.

Registration can be done online. Register at Pearson VUE (https://home.pearsonvue.com). The site accepts payment by major credit card for the exam fee. First-timers need to create an account with Pearson VUE. Exams can be taken at a Pearson VUE testing site or from home.

Here are some good general practices for taking the real exam:

• Pick a good time for the exam.

• Don’t overstudy the day before the exam.

• Get a good night’s rest.

• Eat a decent breakfast.

• Show up early.

• Bring earplugs.

• Brainstorm before starting the exam.

• Take small breaks while taking the exam.

• Be confident.

I embellish on these concepts in Chapter 11.

Well, that’s it for the 220-1101 portion of this book. Good luck on your exam!