Wednesday, December 15, 2010

STUDY Tips

First, and foremost this exam is tough for a lot of reasons. But the most common problem is….How to read the questions and figure out what your being asked. I know it sounds simple but tomorrow @8:30 am Eastern time I will start the class with some practice questions on the topics that we covered so far( exam Type not from the book). I want to see how you all read and interpret questions. That can help me help you figure out how to approach the exam. So if you can get there early tomorrow that would be great. I am hoping to do one question for each of you so far that’s eight. Trust me I can learn a lot about what you know from how you approach even one question. Besides that here are of couple of links I need you to look at(if you already have these links… tell what was helpful about them or not… whatever the case may be)




First link

Know what you could be asked!!!



http://www.comptia.org/Libraries/Exam_Objectives/Network2009_Objectives.sflb.ashx



the objectives clearly state the topics that could be covered. But you don’t have to memorize all of them. I will show you how to group them and memorize how they are different which is a smaller list than all of the details.. almost everything in networking is linked at some level. But I want you to see why you group them first



2nd link

How do they ask the questions?



http://www.comptia.org/certifications/testprep/practicetests.aspx



You need to study the question types as much as the materials. I know by how a question is written what they are looking for. The choice and order of the words matter and almost always point to an answer. If you have problem understanding the questions I want you to take a screenshot of a question and email it to me and you and I will go over the question. And I will “show” you what to look for?...the Good news comptia is predictable in how they set up questions( for that matter all test vendors are)





3rd link


Break the topics down to their base levels



Here are some examples



DNS

What is used for, Who configures it, What happens if it doesn’t work, how do host computers use it(remote or local)



DHCP

What is used for, Who configures it, What happens if it doesn’t work, how do host computers use it(remote or local)



Read the info @ these links and answer only those questions above for each topic (paste the answer you came up with in your reply to me)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHCP

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_Name_System

counterpoint(keep Wikipedia honest)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/169289 gives you an idea about how do hosts use this

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730921.aspx ( I know it looks like a lot of reading but remember only answer the questions above from the content…Trust me J)





Things like hardware you must know the following (using CAT6 cable as an example)



What speed

What is it made of

What distance

What network type

Cost



Answer these questions first when trying to study !!! About all hardware related questions. Even if you forget all the details other than it’s copper and gigabit speeds…. you know for sure that no copper lan cable is longer than fiber Right? Remember go for summary information and use what you know to figure the question down to the two most likely answers.



When you have looked over this info get back to me as soon as possible with the following information



1) If you are using pretest software, your last score report and two questions you don’t understand from the test(use screenshots)

2) What topics you know for a fact give you trouble on the exam i.e. dns, dhcp, subnetting ( so I send you materials that are pertinent to your needs)

3) Do you have problem taking test in general if so what are issues ( i.e. anxiety. Feeling rushed)

4) When exactly your taking the test( date and time)

5) Copies of your study notes..if you have some



Remember………… This is test of best practices and general knowledge of networking. So the details you need to know are “common” from the MEDIC or EMT point of view as well as

the Doctors point of view( remember todays analogy Network helpdesk vs. network designer or admin)



That’s all for tonight I will get more materials together tomorrow night when I am in mentored learning @ night till 9:00pm EST



No man or woman left behind….we all pass that’s the goal





Smile it could be worse….you could be sitting through a class with a know it all instructor….wait a minute…



Will

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