Review of the Domains

Remember that the 220-1102 exam is divided into four domains, shown in Table 10.1.

As you could see while taking the practice exams, Windows operating system questions are the bulk of what you will see on the real exam. Troubleshooting questions are generally more difficult than the questions from the other domains. You have to place yourself within the scenario and imagine that you are actually fixing software problems step by step. The way to succeed at troubleshooting is to (1) know the system and (2) use a logical troubleshooting process.

Even if you are a solid troubleshooter and really know your Windows operating systems, that still leaves half of the test unaccounted for. Security and Operational Procedures are also pivotal domains. Without knowledge of them, you could be in trouble; with knowledge of them, you will have all the tools you need to rule the exam.

Everyone who takes the exam gets a different group of questions. Because the exam is randomized, one person may see more questions on a particular topic than the next person. 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.

Review What You Know

At this point, you should be pretty well versed in the topics covered on the 220-1102 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.) Think through the issue carefully before you do so, though. Many questions are written in an ambiguous manner to replicate what you will see on the real exam.

Here are a few 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+ 220-1102 objectives —You can get these 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. It’s a big document, 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.

• Check out my website for additional materials: My A+ Study Page is designed to help you get ready for the exam. You never know what you might find there!

• 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+ 220-1102 Complete Video Course. You can find more information about these resources at my website: https://dprocomputer.com.

More Test-Taking Tips

I’ve mentioned this point several times already, but it bears repeating: Take your time on the exam. The thing is, you either know the content or you don’t. If you know it, you will probably end up with time left over when you take the exam, so there is no rush. Rushing can cause you to miss a key word, phrase, or other tidbit of information that could cost you the correct answer. Take it slow and read everything you see carefully.

While taking an exam, follow these recommendations:

• 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 220-1102 portion of this book. Meet me at the final chapter for the wrap-up.