I believe I am familiar with the CompTIA A+ tests. Since I originally took the examinations many years ago, I have had a special connection with the CompTIA A+ Certification.

Since then, as a writer, teacher, and current contributor, I have assisted about a million individuals in preparing for the two examinations. I’ve picked up a few tips over the years to assist people pass these two general, but shallow, exams. Here are my top seven recommendations to help you ace the A+ tests.

Remain Calm

Test anxiety is the main cause of A+ exam failure, not a lack of knowledge. Given that the majority of testers are taking their first certification exam, it makes sense. Participants in tests feel as if they are taking a standardized exam, such to the SAT in the US or the “A” or “B” levels in the UK, since the testing center atmosphere is so intense.

It’s not true as stated. Exams may always be retaken, and nobody is bothered or even pays attention. Almost one-third of my certification examinations have been unsuccessful. You just have to pay additional money to repeat the test if, for any reason, you fail to pass it.

Maintain your composure, breathe deeply, and remain calm.   

Stay Focused

You may be surprised to hear that having too much information is the second most prevalent reason candidates fail the A+ tests, not a lack of knowledge. Crazy, you say?

But consider this. A skilled technician finds a lot of A+ questions vague; the test asks for one response, but you may have two or more that you think are as appropriate. In this case, what should you do?

It’s an easy response. Recall that a technician with less than a year of experience takes the CompTIA A+ exam. Is it truly the case that a novice tech will encounter the alternate solution you see, where two plus two equals five (for extremely big values of two)?

Most likely not.

Search for the simplest solution and keep it simple. You’ll be accurate.  

 Keep an eye out for beta inquiries

CompTIA retains the authority to include ungraded beta tests. CompTIA is testing them out to see how people respond, as the name suggests. These beta questions are unknown to the majority of testers, and it seems that CompTIA includes them right at the start of the test, which is sure to cause anxiety.

There’s a good likelihood that test questions covering subjects you’ve never seen before are beta questions. Though they aren’t assessed, feel free to guess as best you can. Just don’t allow them get to you down.

Recall your knowledge of multiple-choice exams ExamLabs.

Use the traditional multiple-choice test-taking techniques that you are likely familiar with. Because the CompTIA A+ test interface contains all the features that make an exam great—question review, timers that are clearly visible, and the ability to mark questions for later—it is simple to rely on your multiple-choice knowledge.

Furthermore, it seems to me that effective study techniques might especially benefit the A+ tests. For instance, the incorrect responses to one question are often the right answers to another.  

The Issue with Visuals

CompTIA gives you a series of questions with iffy-quality supporting images. Some exam takers get frustrated trying to figure out precisely what the picture depicts. Although CompTIA has made great strides in this area—there aren’t many visuals that I find difficult to understand—it just takes one to send an ill-prepared exam taker into a dark place.

Imagine yourself in the position of the question creator if you come across a visual that is confusing to you. Upon asking yourself, “What are they trying to make me see here?” you’ll discover that those perplexing visuals are not as problematic.

Practice exams

No matter how you study at least give couple of days of practice questions before the exam. Exam catalog offers a free A + practice test 

https://www.examcatalog.com/exam/comptia/220-1101/

Avoid Being Bound by Performance-Related Questions

One or more performance questions are shown to the test taker at the beginning of both CompTIA A+ examinations. These problems vary from simple drag-and-drop tasks to intricate simulations. Although I find conventional multiple-choice questions boring, I like these questions. However, you may come across some that don’t have an easy-to-use interface, which is the typical “what are they trying to accomplish here” kind of question.

Put every tool to use on them. Remain calm. Use your test-taking techniques, keep it easy, and don’t be put off by strange images. If a simulation prevents you from moving in a certain direction, rejoice in the hint.

Finally, and above all, avoid being stuck. Many test takers ignore the performance questions until the very end of the test, so if you spend more than two minutes on a question, just mark it and move on.

7. Diploma with D

As long as you pass the A+ tests, no one is concerned about your score. Remember this when you sit for the tests. You’ll mark an increasing number of questions on each test that you are unsure about as you go along. Most test takers find that their anxiety increases with the number of questions they mark.

Refuse to succumb to that dread. Nobody is familiar with all of the A+ test questions. I’m ok. You will have sufficient knowledge to pass the tests.

Recall that passing is all that is required; a perfect score is not necessary.