CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One For Dummies

Glen E. Clarke, Edward Tetz, Timothy L. Warner

• Publisher: For Dummies
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781119581062
• eBook ISBN: 9781119581086
• Edition: 5
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Certification Guides in Computer Science
• Index: Computer Science

Fully updated to cover the 2019 exam release!

CompTIA's A+ certification is an essential certification to building a successful IT career. Test takers must pass both 90-question exams to be certified, and this book—plus online test bank—will help you reach your certification goal.

The 9 minibooks map to the exam's objectives, and include new content on Windows 10, Scripting, Linux, and mobile devices. You'll learn about how computers work, networking, computer repair and troubleshooting, security, permissions, and customer service. You'll also find test-taking advice and a review of the types of questions you'll see on the exam.

• Use the online test bank to test your knowledge and prepare for the exam
• Get up to speed on operating system basics
• Find out how to manage the operating system
• Discover maintenance and troubleshooting tips

Inside is all the knowledge you need to pass the new A+ exam!

Book 1

Setting the A+ Groundwork

Contents at a Glance

1. Chapter 1: The 2019 A+ Exams
   1. CompTIA A+ Certification and Why You Need It
   2. Checking Out the Exams and Their Objectives
   3. Using This Book to Prepare for the Exams
   4. Making Arrangements to Take the Exams
   5. The Day the Earth Stood Still: Exam Day
2. Chapter 2: A+ Best Practices
   1. Using Troubleshooting Procedures and Good Practices
   2. Implementing Change Management
   3. Professionalism and Communication
   4. Getting an A+
   5. Prep Test
   6. Answers
3. Chapter 3: Protecting Yourself and Your PC
   1. Gathering Tools of the Trade
   2. Avoiding the Dreaded ESD
   3. Watching Out for EMI
   4. Safety First!
   5. Handling Toxic Waste
   6. Environmental Impacts and Appropriate Controls
   7. Exploring Ergonomics
   8. Getting an A+
   9. Prep Test
   10. Answers
4. Chapter 4: An Overview of System Components
   1. What Is a Computer?
   2. Looking Inside the Box
   3. Checking Outside the Box
   4. Getting an A+
   5. Prep Test
   6. Answers

Chapter 1

The 2019 A+ Exams

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding A+ Certification and its benefits

Looking at the exams and their objectives

Preparing for the exams

Arranging to take the exams

Test day

So, you are interested in taking the CompTIA A+ certification exams? This chapter introduces you to the exams and gives you a good idea of what you can expect when you go to take them. Knowing what to expect in regard to the exam procedures and format will remove that uncertainty, which can weigh on your mind. Read through the procedures here; then you will be able to focus on the exam facts, which will help you breeze through the exams.

I hope that this chapter helps remove some of that normal fear of the unknown by giving you information about the actual test-taking process. This chapter will also help you develop good test-taking skills.

CompTIA A+ Certification and Why You Need It

The benefit of the CompTIA A+ Certification is that it is proof that you know and have validated the hardware and software knowledge necessary to troubleshoot and repair computers. The CompTIA A+ Certification can be presented to employers and clients alike as proof of your competency and skill in this area. This certification is valid for three years from the day that you attain the certification, after which time you must renew by taking the newest version of the exam, or by taking a higher level certification exam. You can find out more on the subject at https://certification.comptia.org/continuing-education.

Formed in 1982, CompTIA was originally named the Association of Better Computer Dealers. It is a company focused on providing research, networking, and partnering opportunities to its 19,000 members in 100 countries. In 1993, in response to the need for vendor-neutral, entry-level PC certification, the company created the A+ Certification.

Prior to CompTIA creating the A+ Certification, there were many places where a person could get hardware and software certifications. However, such training was often very expensive, difficult to get, and not designed for accessibility for most people. Microsoft, Novell, IBM, and other software companies offered software certifications, but these were specifically focused on teaching high-level support skills for these products, were difficult for average users or support people to attain, and lacked relevance for most day-to-day work.

IBM, HP, Compaq, Sun, and other hardware companies offered hardware repair and maintenance certifications, but again, these were specifically focused on their hardware — and more on the peculiarities of their own platforms, and not always covering the basics of configuration and maintenance. CompTIA stepped in to fill the gap that a majority of users fell into, which is a hardware and software neutral certification that covered all the basics required by a support person. This certification can then be followed by vendor-based certifications, if desired, but the A+ Certification by itself proves a firm grasp of the basics.

An A+ Certification gives employers confidence that existing employees or new recruits have a level of knowledge with which they can do their jobs efficiently. It also gives employers a yardstick against which recruits and employees can be measured. And an A+ Certification also allows clients to rest assured that the person they hire to fix their computers has the knowledge to do so without blowing up equipment or deleting valuable data. This provides clients with peace of mind and increases repeat business. In the end, with the CompTIA A+ Certification on your side, you have more opportunities open to you in your career path.

Checking Out the Exams and Their Objectives

You have to take two exams to get your CompTIA A+ Certification. Both exams are required. The first required exam is the CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1001, which focuses on the hardware aspects of computer repair. The second required exam is the CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1002, which focuses on configuring and troubleshooting the software aspects of a system in a corporate network environment.

Revised exams for CompTIA A+ were released in 2019. In addition to traditional multiple-choice questions, the CompTIA A+ exams include an unspecified number of performance-based questions (PBQs); these are short exercises that test your ability to solve problems in a simulated environment. The CompTIA website has a sample performance-based question that can be viewed at http://certification.comptia.org/testing/about-testing/performance-based-questions-explained.

You have 90 minutes to complete each exam; Table 1-1 contains the number of questions and passing score for each exam. CompTIA is releasing the exams as linear format exams — standard timed exams — taken on a computer. After CompTIA gathers grading statistics, it might re-release the exams as adaptive exams (what CompTIA has done in the past), but there is no current announcement that this is planned. In this adaptive exam, you will be asked a minimal number of questions (usually about 15), and then asked additional questions based on any incorrect answers. The exam adapts to your wrong answers by choosing additional questions for you from the area where you are weaker.

TABLE 1-1 A+ Exam Information

Exam	Number of Questions (Maximum)	Minimum Passing Score
A+ Exam (220-1001)	90	675
A+ Exam (220-1002)	90	700

The CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1001

The CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1001 covers the basics of computer hardware, network hardware, and mobile devices topics. Table 1-2 provides a breakdown of the exam areas that are covered on the CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1001. This exam puts heavy emphasis on computer components and hardware.

TABLE 1-2 CompTIA A+ Exam (220-1001)

Domain	Percentage of Examination
1.0 Mobile Devices	14%
2.0 Networking	20%
3.0 Hardware	27%
4.0 Virtualization and Cloud Computing	12%
5.0 Hardware & Network Troubleshooting	27%
Total	100%

The CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1002

In addition to the CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1001, you have to take a second exam. This exam is the CompTIA A+ Exam 220-1002, which is designed to measure skills required to maintain and troubleshoot operating systems and mobile devices. The breakdown of the exam components is covered in Table 1-3. Based on the domain breakdown, this exam has the widest breadth of topics for a well-rounded IT professional.

TABLE 1-3 CompTIA A+ Exam (220-1002)

...

Domain	Percentage of Examination
1.0 Operating Systems	27%
2.0 Security	24%
3.0 Software Troubleshooting	26%
4.0 Operational Procedures	23%
Total

Table of contents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Introduction
• Pre-Assessment
• Book 1: Setting the A+ Groundwork
• Book 2: Inside the Box
• Book 3: Outside the Box
• Book 4: Maintenance and Troubleshooting
• Book 5: Operating System Basics
• Book 6: Managing the Operating System
• Book 7: Recovering Systems
• Book 8: Networking
• Book 9: Securing Systems
• Appendix A: CompTIA A+ Exam Reference Matrix
• Index
• About the Authors
• Connect with Dummies
• End User License Agreement