The CompTIA A+ is one of the best entry-level information technology certifications that have helped numerous beginners kick start their careers and excel in the tech industry. Quite often, seeing the tag of “entry-level”, candidates assume the CompTIA Certification known as the 220-1001 and 220-1002 are a piece of cake. However, this is not true, and so this article talks about why the A+ is a tough certification to earn.
What Are Reasons Behind Exam Difficulty?
Well, below you will find some causes why passing the Core 1 and Core 2 tests is a tough process:
- Ignorance
One of the biggest reasons behind the hardship that candidates face during the exams is their own ignorance. Like we mentioned previously, candidates tend to underestimate the A+ certification exams just because they are entry-level. Don’t let that label fool you, and let’s cut you some slack. Most of the Network+ Practice Test are either high school pass outs or freshers at college who have experienced only some standardized tests like SAT. They wouldn’t know what the 220-1001 and 220-1002 have in their pockets. Usually, students are only ready for about a week before their official exam and they make this a habit. But the IT certification exams are a whole different breed.
Not only do they require practical knowledge, but also a couple of months to understand everything. Thus, candidates preparing for the Core 1 and Core 2 certification exams usually study for months and gather enough practical experience. To keep it simple, you should be studying a semester’s worth before even thinking about the A+ tests. And also, this certification is often the first professional one anyone ever opts for. So, a bit of ignorance or even arrogance is to be expected but should be greatly reduced if you want to succeed.
- Great deal to study
If you have checked out the list of topics included in the CompTIA A+ certification exams, you can see how huge it is. You will need to excel on each and every domain to get a good score. To compare, the exam topics in colleges and high schools may seem huge but usually, you are only tested on a few of them. However, that is not the case with the concerned certification. You will be tested on multiple areas as the A+ designation is vendor-specific. And this means after you earn the certification, you will be able to work anywhere no matter what technologies the company uses. This sounds great but it comes after the huge number of content you have to go through. For example, the Security+ Practice Test evaluations cover hardware, software, networking, and security, and as a result, most of the candidates get overwhelmed by this and then ultimately quit.
- Lack of practical experience
Since the A+ certification is your gateway to working in the IT industry, just theoretical knowledge will not be enough as you will need an adequate practical understanding of how performance-based questions work. This can be a bit challenging when you’re straight out of school with high determination and the will to do something. And although passing the 220-1001 & 220-1002 certification exams solely on theoretical knowledge is not impossible, it can be quite difficult. And this is one more reason why the exams for the CompTIA IT Fundamentals FC0-U51 so tough.
Conclusion
Even though the CompTIA A+ is an entry-level designation that virtually any aspiring candidate can pursue, it’s not an easy feat to accomplish as it requires nailing two distinct exams known as Core 1 and CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 . And if you want to know the reasons behind the difficulty of such tests, read this post, and try not to make the mistakes that many candidates do by labeling the A+ the easiest milestone in their achievement lists.
