Exam 220-602: CompTIA A+ IT Technician Exam

Download 220-602 Exam Questions&Answers for FREE!

CompTIA, a provider of many IT (Information Technology) certifications, offers an A+ certification for computer support technicians who want to show their expertise in computer installation, maintenance, security, networking and troubleshooting, in addition to strong communication and customer service skills. The CompTIA A+ certification is included in the certification tracks of IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Novell and Hewlett-Packard. Additionally, many support companies such as CompuCom require the A+ certification for their service technicians. If you wish to earn a credential to highlight your skills and knowledge as a computer support technician, this credential may be for you.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Download the exam objectives for the two required examinations. The first required exam, CompTIA A+ Essentials (Exam Number 220-701) covers hardware (27 percent); troubleshooting, repair and maintenance (20 percent); operating systems and software (20 percent); networking (15 percent), security (8 percent); and operational procedure (10 percent). The second exam, CompTIA A+ Practical Application (Exam Number 220-702) covers hardware (38 percent), operating systems (34 percent), networking (15 percent) and security (14 percent). The detailed objectives for each examination are available from the CompTIA website and should be used to guide your exam preparations.

Step 2

Review practice questions for each examination. The sample test questions are available at the CompTIA website and will provide an idea of what to expect on the examinations.

Step 3

Select your training materials or classes from CompTIA's recommended listings. CompTIA has a listing of recommended A+ certification study materials available on its website. The listing includes books for self-study or instructor-led training, computer-based training, assessment software and multimedia options. If you are interested in instructor-led classes, CompTIA also has a search option for classes available in your area.

Step 4

Purchase your exam vouchers, and take your exams. Exams are offered at Pearson VUE and Prometric testing centers. Once you find the location that is the most convenient for you, purchase a voucher for that location from the CompTIA website. Each exam will contain 100 questions, and you will be allowed 90 minutes per exam.

Step 5

Request your CompTIA A+ Certification. After you have passed both required examinations, you will need to wait 5 business days before you can request your certificate. Log in to the CompTIA website to access your certification record, ensure that the information is correct, and request your certificate. You can expect to receive your certificate by mail in about four to six weeks.

The CompTIA A+ certification exams are a series of test that measure an IT professional's skills in hardware, installation, maintenance, networking, and configuration. Computer technicians who pass the A+ exam or exams are valuable assets to their companies.

If you are taking any of the A+ exam series tests, here are some steps you can take to pass with flying colors.

Instructions
Step 1
Figure out which tests your employer or organization requires and visit the website of CompTIA for thorough descriptions of each exam. CompTIA has a list of prices and exam objectives for each test and it is worth taking a look at to see what you should focus on when you study.

Step 2
If you choose to self-study for the A+ exam, you should download practice tests and sample questions from CompTIA, and order several books from Amazon. Create a stduy schedule that includes taking practice tests or timed quizzes on the week ends. Don't overlook free online materials as well.

If you self-study with out an instructor, make sure you read the multiple choice questions carefully and understand why the right answers are right, and the wrong answers wrong. Don't read extra info into the questions, and always aim the pick the best answer.

Step 3
If you choose the take and A+ certification prep course, shop around for the course that has the best price per hours of instruction. A good A+ prep course should include sample exams.

Step 4
Give yourself plenty of time to study before you take the official A+ exam. The CompTIA certification exams are very expensive and you don't want to pay for them more than once if you don't have to! Take a full length practice test about two weeks before your scheduled test. If you are not in the passing range, consider rescheduling your exam for a later date.

Step 5
If you are military, CompTIA offers financial aid and waivers for the certifications. Check the website to see what aid you may be eligible for.

The CompTIA A+ certification exam has been designed as the leading industry standard to determine a computer technicians hardware and software knowledge. Often referred to as the "entry-level" exam, the A+ exam is actually one of the few tests that requires you to pass not just one, but two parts. A+ Essentials is required with a choice of 3 other exams:
Comptia A+ Essentials
Comptia A+ 220-602 (IT Technician)
Comptia A+ 220-603 (Remote Support Technician)
Comptia A+ 220-604 (Depot Technician)
Review Of Exam Specifics:

Exam Costs: $168 each. CompTIA members can take the exams for $132. Employers that require this test are usually corporate members and will inform you of this. You can also buy exam vouchers of VUE or Prometric to get a discount. Check CompTIA store for exam vouchers.
Exam Location: You can register for the exam at any Pearson VUE and Thompson Prometric center.
Locate an authorized Pearson VUE testing center near you
Locate an authorized Prometric testing center near you
Time Allocated: 90 minutes per exam
Total marks: 900
Minimum Pass Marks: 220-601 (Essentials) - 675; 220-602 - 700; 220-603 - 700; 220-604 - 700;
Number Of Questions: Approximatly 100 questions for essentials. Other exams have 90 questions
Exam format: Linear format; computer-based test (CBT)
Prerequisites: None
Validation Period: Certification does not expire however it is recommended you upgrade to the latest exam version when objectives are revised.
Score Report: Delivered immediate on test completion.

Exam Pattern
The question types found on the A+ exam are:
Multiple Choice with Single answer: Student is required to select a single answer from a range of options (generally 4-5) by clicking on a radio button.
Multiple Choice with Multiple answer: Student is required to select a range of options. The number of options to select is specified.
Fill in the Blank: Student is required to select the missing text to complete the sentence (multiple choice style).

This is only meant as quick overview for you to get a better grasp of what is involved with studying for the CompTIA A Plus certification exam. If you are 100% committed to following through with your entry into the IT world we highly suggest you visit the CompTIA A+ web-site and review the full overview from their web-site. You can also leverage various free A+ certification study aids available online.

 Relax before exam: In order to avoid last minute stress, make sure that you arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and relax before exam.

Familiarize yourself with exam: Before taking the Aplus exam, you are given an option to familiarize yourself with the way the exam is carried out (the exam interface). You must make sure to take advantage of this.

Time Management Tips:
Manage Time Spent On Each Question: The duration for the exam is 90 minutes. You must determine how much time you will spend on each question and keep a track of the time. While determining this take into consideration that some questions weighed more heavily and may take more time to answer.

Be Sure Of Exam Interface: Clear your doubts, in case you have any, regarding the rules for the A+ exam or using the testing computer/software with the supervisor after he sets up your machine and before you start the exam. Remember that the exam is timed and you may loose your valuable test time for such questions, which you could have asked earlier.

Jot Down Important Points Before Exam: Before you start the exam, ask for scratch paper and jot down points that you may require to recall when taking your exam. This is always allowed and proves to be very helpful while taking the exam. These may include:

Laser Printing Process
Any mneumonic or table commited to short term memory

Mark Answers For Review: When not sure, instead of spending a lot of time, mark the question for review and re-visit it later. Doing so will ensure that you have time to read each question carefully (watch out for the double negatives) and don't have to rush through the exam at the end. However, do make sure you answer all the questions before the time limit expires.

Don't Panic. There Is No Negative Marking:There are no negative marks for a wrong answer. The Aplus exam does not penalize you for wrong answer, so never leave any question unanswered. If you are not able to find out the correct answers to some questions, eliminate the possible answers that cannot be correct and narrow down your guess.

Few More Tips For Exam- Retakes
Don't Expect The Same Questions: The CompTIA APlus questions database is massisve. Don't expect to see the same questions on your second or third attempt. Instead, spend your time trying to truly understand the material and working on your weak areas.
Use Your Score Report: The CompTIA A+ Score report can help pinpoint your weak areas e.g. verbs like install or set up can indicate insufficient practice. If you unable to gather much information from it, show it to your trainer and ask for suggestions. Concentrate on building the study areas you lost the most marks.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is an organization dedicated to the advancement of the IT industry. One of CompTIA's largest contributions to the IT world is its development of vendor-neutral, certification exams that span across a wide range of IT areas. Most in the IT world have heard of CompTIA in one form or another because many of its exams have considerably grown in popularity. A+, Network+, Security+, to name a few, have grown in popularity as relevant examinations that evaluate the readiness and preparedness of examinees to perform at a baseline of knowledge for a specified IT area. To develop an exam that measures a baseline of skills in an IT area, CompTIA pulls subject matter experts (SME's) along with corporate, education, and government representatives from the specified IT areas to develop exams that will measure baseline skills.

A+ Exam
The A+ exam is by and large the most successful exam CompTIA has developed to date. A+ was developed to measure baseline skills and abilities of computer service and support technicians. This exam is now ten years old and boasts nearly 500,000 A+ certified people. It is so popular that many large corporations, such as Sears, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and State Farm Insurance require members of their IT departments to have A+ certifications.

A+ candidates who achieve this certification will demonstrate a knowledge level equal to that of a computer technician with 6 to 12 months of on the job experience. While no work experience requirements are needed to take this exam, it will be helpful if the candidate is doing at least junior level support and technician work while preparing for the certification. Being somewhat familiar with hardware components and the basics of Windows operating systems will go a long way in helping the candidate pass this certification.

To achieve this certification one must pass two exams. The first exam we'll cover is the Core Hardware Exam. The second exam we will cover is the Operating Systems Exam. Let's examine these two exams in more depth.

Core Hardware Exam
The Core Hardware Exam tests the candidate for abilities with installing, configuring, troubleshooting, and upgrading computer hardware. Technicians will be tested on a broad range of categories. Hardware items such as bus architectures, processors, memory, expansion cards, printers, and basic networking topics are among some of the more popular topics covered in this exam. The A+ candidate will have to also know about hardware resources, such as configuring IRQ's, DMA channels, and I/O Ranges of hardware items. As of November of 2003 (exact date is yet to be determined) both A+ exams will undergo minor upgrades. On the hardware exam there will likely be coverage on wireless hardware items as well. Stay tuned to www.comptia.com for finalized objectives for the 2003 exams.

The following table breaks down the major knowledge domains and the percentage of the exam that particular domain represents on the Hardware Exam.

Domain % of Exam
1.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 30%
2.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting  30%
3.0 Preventive Maintenance 5%
4.0 Motherboard/Processors/Memory  15%
5.0 Printers 10%
6.0 Basic Networking 10%

Operating Systems Exams
The operating system exam tests the candidate's knowledge of installing, configuring, upgrading, and troubleshooting desktop computer systems. The current exam requires the candidate to know about DOS, command-line capabilities and tools, Windows 9x, and Windows 2000 technologies. As mentioned above, November 2003 will see upgrades to both A+ exams. The 2003 OS exam will see coverage on Windows XP Professional and Me as well.

The following table breaks down the major knowledge domains and the percentage of the exam that particular domain represents on the Operating Systems Exam.

Domain % of Exam
1.0 OS Fundamentals 30%
2.0 Installation, Configuration and Upgrading 15%
3.0 Diagnosing and Troubleshooting 40%
4.0 Networks 15%

The following items are general bits of information pertaining to the A+ certification:

The current A+ exam (which will appear as the 2001 objectives exam on CompTIA's Web site) is done in the adaptive format. The exam contains 20-30 questions primarily of the multiple-choice format, with 30 minutes to complete the exam. For the 2003 exams, CompTIA looks to drop the adaptive format at this point. If you take the 2003 set of exams, be sure to consult CompTIA's Web site to get up-to-date information on formats, assessment methods, and exam times.
If you have already taken one of the two A+ exams under the 2001 objectives, the current A+ exam set, you can finish your certification under the 2001 exams even after November of 2003. At this point, questions that cover 2003 objectives content are on current A+ exams, but they are not counted. After November 2003 these questions will begin to count for or against the candidate if they have not already passed one of the 2001 exams. You can also take one exam on 2001 objectives and the second on 2003 objectives and still get certified, so there is some flexibility for candidates during this period of transition for the A+ certification. Always consult the CompTIA Web site to check for any sudden policy changes, though.
In the past, CompTIA has required candidates to pass their second A+ exam within 90 days of passing their first exam. This requirement has now been dropped.
Individuals taking the test, who are not CompTIA members, will have to pay $145 to take an exam. Corporate pricing and volume-based pricing deals are available as well.
Both VUE and Prometric Testing Centers offer this exam. Check out the Web sites for VUE Testing and Thomson Prometric for information on how to sign up for these exams.
The A+ certification also can count toward credit for obtaining the Microsoft MCSA certification. Check out www.microsoft.com for more information on how your CompTIA credentials can apply toward Microsoft certification.

Conclusions
Why would someone want to pursue the A+ certification? It is the premier entry-level certification for those wanting to break into the IT field. Passing this certification will expose the candidate to a comprehensive look at all the hardware and software components that make a PC work. This is a fantastic foundation to build on. Maybe you are a technician or help desk person now who feels a need to expand your knowledge and repertoire for future advancement. Even if you are in a completely different area of IT than PC support, you may find that the comprehensive look at the PC A+ offers will give you a broader knowledge that will enhance your abilities. In any situation, the A+ certification is a comprehensive and very popular certification that is certain to enhance your knowledge of computer hardware and software.

If this certification interests you, there are good training guides and exam cram books that will teach you the principles found on the A+ test. Also, you might learn better in a classroom scenario. Several options for classroom training might exist for you. Check out computer training centers in your area, or you may also find adult education classes in local school systems that offer a more affordable alternative for an A+ class. Whichever study method you choose, be sure to have some older hardware on hand that you can take apart and look at while studying. Make certain that this is hardware you can afford to lose if something goes wrong during your study time! Also, have plenty of practice exam questions on hand as you study. It is important to prepare yourself for the types of exam questions and the exam format you will face on exam day as well as learning the technical objectives posted by CompTIA. Lastly, most study for one of the two exams, take it and pass, and then concentrate solely on the second exam. This is a good method of approaching the A+ because your focus stays on one exam during study. As always, assess your preferred learning style; approach your study time with this knowledge in hand, gain hands-on experience, and best of luck in your endeavors!

After you study your text books it is important to test your newly acquired knowledge and see just how well you have absorbed the material. Practice exams:

* Reinforces what you learned - fill in the gaps of what you missed
* Gets you used to answering questions to build confidence and familiarity

Here are 10 Multiple choice exams questions for you to practice on:

Question 1# - Which of the following is non-routable?

A. TCP/IP
B. IPX/SPX
C. NetBIOS

Question 2# - What is the main difference between an ATA/33 and ATA/66 cable?

A. Cable color
B. Number of wires
C. Connector
D. Twists in cables
E. Prong layout
F. Cable pin out

Question 3# - A 1xx POST error code indicates a problem with the:

A. Video
B. RAM or ROM
C. Hard Drive
D. System Board

Question 4# - Authentication technologies are which of the below?

A. Public key infrastructure (PKI)
B. Hardening of passwords
C. biometrics
D. all the above

Question 5# - Which of the following command line tools is used to locate the name space and information about a particular domain?

A. IPCONFIG
B. PING
C. TRACERT
D. NSLOOKUP

Question 6# - which of the following is most likely to protect a personal computer system during an electrical storm?

A. Use surge suppressers on all AC outlets
B. Disconnect the line cords
C. Totally disconnect all cables and power cords
D. Turn the AC power off

Question 7# - The acronym "POST" refers to....

A. Power-On Start Test
B. Power-On Self Test
C. Preliminary Operating System Test
D. Proprietary Operating System Test

Question 8# - A technician is diagnosing a customer's computer and observes that the computer is sluggish and unresponsive. Which of the following actions should the technician take?

A. Explain to the customer that the computer is outdated and the technician needs to take it back to the shop to fix it.
B. Explain the problem to the customer and show the customer how to defragment the system.
C. Perform a system restore on the computer.
D. Explain the problem to the customer in basic terms and recommend a solution.

Questions 9# - What is the I/O address for COM3?

A. 3E8
B. 3F8
C. 3G8

Question 10# - where can the first division of any hard drive be found?

A. Active
B. Primary
C. extended

ANSWERS

Question 1 - Correct Answers: C
Question 2 - Correct Answers: B
Question 3 - Correct Answers: D
Question 4 - Correct Answers: D
Question 5 - Correct Answers: D
Question 6 - Correct Answers: C
Question 7 - Correct Answers: B
Question 8 - Correct Answers: D
Questions 9 - Correct Answers: A
Question 10 - Correct Answers: B

CompTIA is a non-profit trade association which provides vendor-neutral information technology (IT) certifications for industry professionals. The A+ certification is a basic, entry level certificate for computer support related fields. Certificates are obtained through CompTIA, who can also supply copies of your certification to be sent to employers and potential employers. Request your certificate no earlier than five business days after passing your examination.
With a Score Report
Go to the CompTIA website. Mouse over the "Certifications and Exams" link, then select "Your Certifications." If you have your score report, you create a login by registering on the CompTIA website using the registration number or testing ID printed on your score report.

Once logged in to the candidate database, you request your certificate. You also have the option to send the certificate to your employer or to a potential employer.
Without a Score Report
Without the score report, you use your email address to get instructions and links sent to your email box to create a login ID. Alternatively, contact your testing center to obtain a replacement score report if the test was recently taken. The testing center is an independent entity. CompTIA does not run the testing center.

If you have your CompTia CareerID, use the ID number to create a login on the CompTIA website. If you don't have your CompTIA CareerID, contact CompTIA through customer service at questions@comptia.org or by calling (630) 678-8300.
Requesting the Certificate
Once logged in to the CompTIA site, verify that all your information is correct and current. Back out of the web page and contact CompTIA through the customer service email address if your name is not correct. For all other information, make the appropriate corrections, then click "Submit." CompTIA will generate your certificate and mail it to you. Allow four to six weeks for the certificate to arrive.

One of the important uses of the internet is that people have started to learn various things even from their home. It has made learning much more convenient and easy. It saves a lot of time and allows a person to learn at his or her own pace. There is no hurry as in a class room environment. This has also allowed people to take upon certification courses and clear these certification exams with ease. Doing certifications have always been important for professionals but it is due to internet that it has been made much easier. A lot of training intuitions have been created on the internet and they have started giving tips and course materials and adequate training to help aspirants to clear the various certification exams. One such examination that has a lot of institutes providing training to it is the 220-602 certifications from CompTIA.

This is the certification that helps a person to establish himself as an IT technician. When a person has completed this certification he could work in various entry level computer operations. This paves a way for people to get themselves placed in good entry level positions in various organizations. For a person to be able to attend this exam he must have worked for at least 5000 hours as computer support for a company. The 220-602 exam consists of various domains and some of them are laptop and portable devices, networks, security, safety and environmental issues, communication and professionalism etc. The examination also has questions relating to soft skills and office communication. A person aspiring to clear this 220-602 examination must possess good knowledge with regards to office communication and basic computer. He should know the basics of various computer related things such as networking. Good practice and regular practice would help a person to win over the exam.

CompTIA 220-602 (2007 Edition) IT Technician Exam is more commonly known as 220-602 certification exam. This exam is conducted by CompTIA Inc., which is a well known and popular software company. Besides this exam, there are several exams conducted by this company in the sphere of Information Technology. The attitude of the job market towards you can dramatically alter, once you have this certification.

The only pre-requisite condition to appear for this certification is the A+ Exam 220-601 "Essentials" exam. This exam has been designed for the IT professionals having 500 hours of experience in the actual work domain. The candidates who can appear for this exam include: remote administrators, depot assemblers and desktop support specialists and other entry level professionals

The exam has around 80 to 90 questions, in the multiple choice format. A total of 100 minutes is allocated for these questions. A score of 700 is considered to be a pass. Though the rules regarding the number of questions and the questionnaire format is subjected to alterations any given time. The candidates are always advised to check the official website of the examination prior to attempting the paper.

The following are the topics which are covered in this exam. This list is not the only topics covered:
1. Operating Systems
2. Networks
3. Security
4. Printer Scanner and Other hardware
5. Safety and Ecological issue: Environment Hazards
6. Desktop, Laptop and other portable device

This certification is one of the mandatory requirements for the CompTIA A+ 2003 certification. The other requirements are: A+ certification and a minimum of 09 months hands-on experience in the field of Network Support or Administration in the laboratory.
Any entry level job as a technician or data entry can effectively build the foundation for this certification

The creator of A+ Certification is a non-profit organization called CompTIA. It basically turns one, competent enough to work as a computer technician. CompTIA A+ certification is independent of operating system. One must have the relevant knowledge in various areas of Microsoft Windows and IBM style of personal computer. This course enables one to take apart a computer, identify its parts, assemble the computer effectively and practice it on different operating systems. This certification consists of two exams to be passed: A+ essential (220-701) and one elective (220-702).

The A+ essentials exam consists of 8 domains each having different weight age. One for the elective exam student has an option to choose any one out of three. The 3 elective exams are IT technician (220-602), Remote support Technician (220-603) or Depot Technician(220-604).A+ essential exam tests whether one is having necessary competencies of an IT level professional with minimum 500 hours working experience in lab or in field or 6 months or less experience in computer science and tests one for fundamentals of computer technology, networking and security and communication skills as well as professionalism which is a must for all entry level IT professionals.

Elective exam is an extension of knowledge and skills tested in CompTIA A+ essentials with focus on hands-on experience about trouble shooting and tools that are used to resolve problems. Till 2003 the pass rate of A+ certification was mere 2-3% but after it was updated in the year 2006 the CompTIA A+ exam has been redesigned to have 30% pass rate. Those who have been certified under by CompTIA A+ certification need to update their skills. So either they go for CompTIA A+ 2009 edition or update their currency by taking the CompTIA A+ Bridge exam (one exam). The best way to prepare for this certification is getting hands-on experience of assembling and dissembling of computer hardware and understanding and identifying hardware inside a computer. Also one thing you should keep in mind is that CompTIA A+ certification is ISO 17024 accredited and must be reviewed and updated every 3 years to maintain its accreditation.