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Posted: Sep 30 2012 09:54 pm

Attention all computer/networking people:

So a few weeks ago, I passed my Security+ exam, which is a good thing (it's one of the requirements for passing SBOLC.) We had six days of instruction. Ouch.

Now, I have a job offer I can accept if I am Network+ certified. What I'm wondering, for those of you who know the test, is how difficult is it/how does it compare to Sec+? I've got plenty of study resources thanks to the Army, but I'll be studying for this one on my own. Is it the kind of thing I can pass with self-study? Or do I need to find classes somewhere?

(I'm also looking at A+ and the Cisco series of certs, but that will be for a little later down the road, once I'm safely in a job that actually pays.)

Posted: Sep 30 2012 11:00 pm

I don't know how relevant it is, but when I got A+ certified, all I did for studying was repeatedly take the practice tests over and over. I got an 88% score on the actual test.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

I have the first half of my Cisco CCNA done and I have a Cisco IT essentials cert. Cisco is a powerful cert, but getting them is pretty strenuous.

I've been looking at Comptia Certs but haven't decided anything

EDIT: Hawk, if you get on the IRC sometime I'll share my Cisco login with you for a bit and you can see the course materials for yourself. I have an alumni thing so I can review anything I've done

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I have my A+/N+.

I took classes for both of them even though looking back, I could have just studied.

Classes will give you real experience (at a good school). Also, most classes include the taking of the tests.

So here is the deal. Classes help for two major reasons.
1. You will have an instructor who will teach for the test. You will learn the things you need in order to pass the test. They help you pass over the stuff you don't really need.
2. Classes demonstrate via visual and auditory means. If you are not a book learner, there is no substitute.

If you don't need audio/visual or you don't care about learning more than you need to, I suggest you review an ExamCram book:
http://www.amazon.com/Network-Exam-Cram-N10-002/dp/0789728656

Once you have read through it once, take a practice test. You will fail, but take your score into account.

Reread over the sections you felt the worst about for a day. Take the test again. Continue this cycle until you are steadily scoring over 80%.

Once you can steadily score over 80% on practice quizzes, take the real thing.

I over studied... I finished my A+ exams in 4 minutes and 6 minutes. They no longer offer the type of tests that I took though. It used to be that if you got more questions correct, they lowered how many you needed to answer.

My Network+ took me about 45 minutes if I recall correctly.

Posted: Oct 01 2012 10:28 pm

Hmm. Exam Cram eh? That sounds like a good place to start.

Is there a particular site you recommend for the practice tests? Or is any google result pretty much as good as the other?

Posted: Oct 01 2012 11:15 pm

Best of luck to you on your studies and goals, Hawk!

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Hawk,

First up, make sure you get books for:

Exam Code N10-005
http://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-N10-005-Authorized-Exam/dp/078974905X

Practice Test:
http://www.measureup.com/Network-N10-005-P2911.aspx

If it were me, I would read the book, take any practice tests along with it. Find some online free stuff and see how I was doing. If you are scoring better than 90%, just take the test. If you feel like you are getting in the 50-70% range, it is worth it to pay for the quality test prep for 1 month.

The practice test they offer isn't worth your time until you know enough from the book to get that 50-70%.

Also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model

That is like 25% of the test. At least it was for me. Understanding the OSI model beyond memorizing it was hugely helpful for questions that weren't even related to it.

Posted: Oct 02 2012 12:10 pm

Grr. Just found out I only have until November 18 to take advantage of the (free) voucher the Army is giving me. Looks like I'll be getting that book and some online free tests, and will just cram as much as possible until test time. If I don't pass, I'll do more methodical prep work, and take it again out of my own pocket.

Thanks for the links, GP! Lifesavers.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

The cisco IT essentials course I can re-access is designed to help for A+ prep and has quizzes you can take during it.
Again, if you want, you can use my login and go read through the course if you'd like.

Posted: Oct 02 2012 04:03 pm

I may well take you up on that when I look towards A+, Hack. That doesn't have a deadline and will be out of my own pocket no matter what though, so it's a little less of a priority atm. Thank you though--I'll be in touch about it.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Hawk, out of curiosity, what is the job offer you can accept?

In many cases IT positions can be filled by people who have experience beyond certification. For example, my current job requires Microsoft Certifications and a college degree... I have neither. Instead I have actually done the things they need done. Never discount real world experience.

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

SoldierHawk wrote:

I may well take you up on that when I look towards A+, Hack. That doesn't have a deadline and will be out of my own pocket no matter what though, so it's a little less of a priority atm. Thank you though--I'll be in touch about it.

there's also the first half of the CCNA course on there, networking stuff. Even though it teaches a lot and I learned a hell of a lot I'd go with GP's suggestion. His stuff is specifically for Net+, and helps you pass the test. This stuff is for Cisco, and even though the IT essentials is an A+ prep, no clue about the networking course

... Though my school advertised it as net+ prep...

Anyway just PM me or get on the IRC if you ever need it, and by that I mean. Get on the IRC. We miss you Sad

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Hey Hawk, I know you have a deadline to pass this thing breathing down your neck, so I was thinking... If you need some motivation to pace the studying over the next month, feel free to use this thread to both keep us informed, but also as a secondary benefit, you might feel compelled to study more often if constantly reminded or if you know we are caught up in your run to a successful Net+ exam.

Posted: Oct 04 2012 10:53 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

Hey Hawk, I know you have a deadline to pass this thing breathing down your neck, so I was thinking... If you need some motivation to pace the studying over the next month, feel free to use this thread to both keep us informed, but also as a secondary benefit, you might feel compelled to study more often if constantly reminded or if you know we are caught up in your run to a successful Net+ exam.

Hah, thanks GP! My first HUGE act of studying this weekend will be absorbing almost 40 hours of online coursework from the Army, and then taking an aptitude exam. (It's apparently a prerequisite for receiving the free voucher for the exam.) This weekend will be my only opportunity to knock them out, since we go into the field next week.

I've had experience with these online courses while studying for Security+, and they actually aren't too bad. They aren't as in-depth as they probably need to be, but if you pay attention, they're a good foundation. (I didn't even realize that the Army offered them for Net+ til I was told I had to take it. Apparently they have courses for A+, Cisco, and all sorts of crap. It's like a free IT college you guys! Only your teacher is robotic and super boring!)

But yes, I will keep you updated since I will apparently be shackled to my desk for the next five days getting through these. I'll also post any questions I might have that Google can't answer. (The hint about being sure to focus on the OSI model is great. I kinda glossed over it it Sec+ and never really memorized it. Time to remedy that.)