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From: walte...@iname.com (walterbyrd)
Newsgroups: alt.certification.a-plus
Subject: Problems with a-plus exam - the whole approach.
Date: 4 Mar 2002 12:29:08 -0800
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Anybody agree/disagree with any of this:

1) Typical book to study for A+ is about 1200 pages, yet an exam may
have as few as 20 questions. I very much doubt you test that much
knowledge with only 20 questions.

2) About 1/3rd of exam is about laser printers - nothing to do with
PCs.

3) Any pre-pentium questions should be dropped. Who is going to pay
$45 an hour to upgrade or repair a 486, or a 286?

4) Why two tests? One test is useless without the other, so why not
combine the tests? Especially since they are only about 20 - 40
questions each.


I have never taken the test. I don't think I should have to. This
seems like a very poor test.

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From: "Junyr" <ju...@XXXXmchsi.com>
Newsgroups: alt.certification.a-plus
References: <2fe7b80f.0203041229.752002d0@posting.google.com>
Subject: Re: Problems with a-plus exam - the whole approach.
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I agree with some of you're saying, but from my expierence the majority of
comptuers the we as technicians work on are not cutting edge P4's or AMD's
with all of the latest gadgets.  Most of what I've worked on are PII's,
Pentiums....and yes the occational 486.  Business, for the most part don't
like to spend money....they like making it.

Should the tests' be combined into one , I don't know.  Two parts gives you
the oppritunity to bone up on one part and get it done then concentrate on
the other.  I kind of like that approach.

Printers are connected to computers, which to all of the "non-computer"
people out there means that we should know how to fix those as well..at
least tell them what is wrong so they can get it fixed.

As far as being able to answer 20 questions to test your knowelage of a 1200
page book;  go pay your $$$ with out knowing all 1200 pages and see how
confident you are taking the test.  The adaptive test is a good way to test
the information in your head.  The more you answer correct the harder the
questions get.

You don't "have" to take the test.  Certifications are not required to work
on comptuers, it most definately looks better when you are in an interview
to have certs.

What certs you take is up to you.  Skip the A+ and move on to a different
cert.  Personally I think the A+ is a great foundation to start with.

You'll get out of it what you put into it.

Chip


"walterbyrd" <walte...@iname.com> wrote in message
news:2fe7b80f.0203041229.752002d0@posting.google.com...
> Anybody agree/disagree with any of this:
>
> 1) Typical book to study for A+ is about 1200 pages, yet an exam may
> have as few as 20 questions. I very much doubt you test that much
> knowledge with only 20 questions.
>
> 2) About 1/3rd of exam is about laser printers - nothing to do with
> PCs.
>
> 3) Any pre-pentium questions should be dropped. Who is going to pay
> $45 an hour to upgrade or repair a 486, or a 286?
>
> 4) Why two tests? One test is useless without the other, so why not
> combine the tests? Especially since they are only about 20 - 40
> questions each.
>
>
> I have never taken the test. I don't think I should have to. This
> seems like a very poor test.

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From: walte...@iname.com (walterbyrd)
Newsgroups: alt.certification.a-plus
Subject: Re: Problems with a-plus exam - the whole approach.
Date: 4 Mar 2002 20:26:53 -0800
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Maybe I was unclear on a few points:

> Business, for the most part don't  like to spend money....they like making it.

My point exactly. So why spend more money on a computer than it's
worth? How many people would pay to repair or upgrade a 286 or an
8088? So why test that stuff. Who cares about 1200 baud modems?

> 
> Should the tests' be combined into one , I don't know.  Two parts gives you
> the oppritunity to bone up on one part and get it done then concentrate on
> the other.  I kind of like that approach.
> 

I'm sure the people who administrate the test like you to pay twice
for what should be one test.


> Printers are connected to computers, which to all of the "non-computer"
> people out there means that we should know how to fix those as well..at
> least tell them what is wrong so they can get it fixed.


A computer tech should know how to fix everything that's attached to a
computer?


> As far as being able to answer 20 questions to test your knowelage of a 1200
> page book;  go pay your $$$ with out knowing all 1200 pages and see how
> confident you are taking the test.  The adaptive test is a good way to test
> the information in your head.  The more you answer correct the harder the
> questions get.

I think you completely missed my point here. I was saying that 20
questions is not enough of a sample to adequately test your knowledge.
Considering the amount that the test taker is expected to know, 200
questions would be a fair gauge.

>
> You don't "have" to take the test.  Certifications are not required to work
> on comptuers, it most definately looks better when you are in an interview
> to have certs.
> 

Unfortunately, I think, this particular certification has become *the*
standard for PC technicians. It really it a shame there is no
competing certification. I think I know much more about real world
computer technology; but if I wanted to start a business fixing
computers, an A+ would be expected.

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From: "the HEATHEN" <jonl...@nospamhotmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.certification.a-plus
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<EA4h8.50088$%b6.13101163@typhoon.ne.ipsvc.net>
Subject: Re: Problems with a-plus exam - the whole approach.
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It sounds to me like he wants something for nothing....
When you finally do wake up in the real world my friend..and i know you
will...
You will come to find that the little piece of paper (degree or cert.) means
a
Heck of a lot more to the guy thats gonna pay you, then you telling him you
know how to do it...
there are loads of people running around with experience and no paper..
these are the same people who
also complain about not getting paid what they are worth...
The Reality is the Boss generally has some sort of degree and has set that
as a standard for his employees...
In order to win at the game you got to play by other people's rules...
Sorry I didn't make them ..thats's just how it is.....

--
Jonny Bravo



If it doesn't kill you it makes you stronger..Nietzche
Ya but I bet it still Smarts like the dickens...J. Bravo

http://boneheadgrafix.tripod.com

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From: walte...@iname.com (walterbyrd)
Newsgroups: alt.certification.a-plus
Subject: Re: Problems with a-plus exam - the whole approach.
Date: 7 Mar 2002 06:24:57 -0800
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Huge mis-understandings here. 

1) To the poster who accused me of "wanting something for nothing" let
me mention that I have 7 years of post-secondary education, degrees in
math, computer science, and business administration; also over 20
years of professional experience in I.T.

2) When I said that it is pointless to test old technologies, I did
not mean to imply that 486's were *never* used. My point was/is: why
test about MFM or ESDI drives, or 360K 5.25 floppies, or 1200 baud
modems? Those standards are long since obsolete. Makes more sense to
focus on technology that is less than 15 years old. BTW: I know a lot
about old technology, I just think it is stupid to test newcommers.

3) I have no objection to the idea of certification. I just think
there are serious problems with the present comptia exams. I think
comptia needs some competition. There should be other recognized
pc-tech certifications.

4) Actually, I think I know the reason there are two exams instead of
one. Used to be that a tester could opt for either MAC-OS or
DOS/Windows OS. The hardware part was the same. Now that the MAC-OS
exam has been dropped, why not combine the tests? Not as if 40 - 60
questions is too much for one exam.

5) PC-techs have no more business fixing a laser printer than they
have fixing a photo-copier. The laser printer part of the exam should
be dropped from A+ certification. Offer laser printer tech as seperate
specialization.

6) If it matters, I have no intention of trying to get a job as a
PC-Tech. I am thinking about starting a business, which, among other
things, may do some work with pc technology. It might help to have an
A+ certified shop. For me, getting a certification would be a
formality.

7) I used to do statistical work in accademic testing. I'm sorry but
20 questions is just not enough to get a fair sample of the testers
knowledge. Maybe you could get away with 50, but that is really pusing
it. What dont' they really streamline the test and just ask one
question?



walte...@iname.com (walterbyrd) wrote in message news:
<2fe7b80f.02030...@posting.google.com>...
> Anybody agree/disagree with any of this:
> 
> 1) Typical book to study for A+ is about 1200 pages, yet an exam may
> have as few as 20 questions. I very much doubt you test that much
> knowledge with only 20 questions.
> 
> 2) About 1/3rd of exam is about laser printers - nothing to do with
> PCs.
> 
> 3) Any pre-pentium questions should be dropped. Who is going to pay
> $45 an hour to upgrade or repair a 486, or a 286?
> 
> 4) Why two tests? One test is useless without the other, so why not
> combine the tests? Especially since they are only about 20 - 40
> questions each.
> 
> 
> I have never taken the test. I don't think I should have to. This
> seems like a very poor test.