[Posted 09 May 2013 by Kathy Yale]
The A+ practice test can be highly beneficial to someone who is serious about building a long-term professional career in the IT industry. As anyone working in a technical field knows, industry certifications are a fact of life. Because many of the issues that you’ll face in IT require highly detailed knowledge of specific platforms or software packages, employers need to use certification exams to determine your level of technical competence.
Why Take the Test?
Some individuals who already have a good deal of knowledge in the field of IT may question the benefit of taking the A+ practice test. Indeed, taking the test will require a bit more of a time investment than simply going straight for your certification. However, you should look at the practice test as a tool rather than a time investment.
As A+ is considered by many employers to be an entry-level certification for anyone wishing to join the IT industry, there likely will be a fairly large pool of applicants for any position requiring the skills you’ll learn. Practicing before testing for your certification is one way to set yourself apart from potential competitors.
In an article prepared for the Learning Strategies Database at Muskingum University, it is explained that practice tests are perhaps the best way of preparing for any type of examination. The main benefit is said to stem from the fact that such tests impose an in-depth review of the material that will be covered on an actual exam. Additionally, the practice exam will generally follow the same format as the official one, thus allowing a student to get acquainted with the way information and questions will be presented to them.
Making the Most of the Test
If you do elect to take the A+ practice test, you’ll want to make sure that you maximize the opportunity that doing so gives you. There are two ways to do this deepening on your situation. If you’re not sure which elements of the test will be most difficult for you, you can work through the whole thing, and then go back for a more detailed review of any topics that you had problems with.
On the other hand, if you’re already aware of the fact that you are weaker when it comes to certain topics covered on the test, you can choose to focus all of your efforts on these areas until you’re able to attain a high degree of confidence when it comes to all the material.
By using the test in this way, you can greatly improve upon any areas of weakness you might have. This will make you a stronger candidate for employment even when it comes to entry-level positions. You’ll have a stronger grasp of crucial material then other applicants who did not take the same extra time for preparation.
A final benefit of taking the A+ practice test is the fact that it puts you in a better position for furthering your career down the line. Because A+ certification focuses on many of the fundamentals in the IT industry, the strong foundation of skills that you’ll be building by taking extra time to learn will likely mean that you’ll be better prepared to delve into the more complex areas of IT as you move up within the industry.
