Course advice

5960xNvidiaGamer

5960xNvidiaGamer

5960xNvidiaGamer

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Hi guys, I am interested in doing the CompTia A+ course, but the colleges local to here don't even run the course. Does anyone know anywhere I can pay to complete the course from home? I have read up on Computeach and won't be going with them because of the negative reviews. Is there anywhere else I could look at that I'm missing? I have the money here ready to pay for the course but don't want to choose somewhere that is just going to rip me off.
I left school at 16 with just GCSE's. Gained them all above C but went straight into work, it is only the last 2 years I have had to change things a little since giving up my job due to an accident. I have been building Pc's for a number of years and needed to start some kind of course. So I just completed ECDL and ECDL extra and I know they ain't worth much, but I just wanted to get back into it. But now I am looking for a qualification that is more recognised and Comptia A+ takes my fancy.
What do you guys think? I clearly don't know too much about courses and maybe I am choosing the wrong one.
 
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Pleased someone is still doing the A+

The amount of interviews I've had for people wanting to get into IT, yet have zero qualifications is unreal. When we get cvs for 1st line positions, any without qualifications go straight in the bin.

I think most people buy the books and just take the exam. Should take you a month
 
Do you guys know the best place to get the books for this course? Computeach are asking £474 for it but say exams are an extra. So I think doing it myself is a good idea. Once I am ready to take it I just ring up the nearest test centre and make an appointment?. Never knew it would be so straightforward.
 
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XfXGamer2014 said:
Do you guys know the best place to get the books for this course? Computeach are asking £474 for it but say exams are an extra. So I think doing it myself is a good idea. Once I am ready to take it I just ring up the nearest test centre and make an appointment?. Never knew it would be so straightforward.
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474 for a book is ridiculous - have you looked at amazon, e-bay or even just go to your local library - you never know they might have one or might be able to get hold of one to lend you... why on earth would you pay 474 for a book on anything?

this took 2 seconds to find:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CompTIA-Certification-Edition-220-801-220-802/dp/007179512X

edit - seems that one has already been recommended above
 
Mike Meyers and Exam Cram A+ books should absolutely do you. Take a few free online practice exams when you've worked through the books, and you're ready to go.

Computeach are an absolute rip-off.
 
dowie said:
474 for a book is ridiculous - have you looked at amazon, e-bay or even just go to your local library - you never know they might have one or might be able to get hold of one to lend you... why on earth would you pay 474 for a book on anything?

this took 2 seconds to find:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CompTIA-Certification-Edition-220-801-220-802/dp/007179512X

edit - seems that one has already been recommended above
Click to expand...

474 for a book? no lol. Its £474 for the course with computeach. I will order that book and work my way through it guys, so the course will be around £300 is I go through it myself? Not bad that. To be honest I probably know most of what will be in the book, but I will go through it anyway. Thanks guys
 
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XfXGamer2014 said:
474 for a book? no lol. Its £474 for the course with computeach.
Click to expand...

what do they offer for that 474 besides a book/folder - do you get to attend classroom sessions/mock exams, feedback from a tutor in a classroom?

Might be worth it if you procrastinate or have difficulty studying... though I suspect with these training companies for 474 you're basically getting a book.... maybe they chuck in an exam for free too or something?

I'd check very carefully what they offer if you are considering it - chances are they don't offer much

FYI if you do CCNA later I believe the open university offers a course - they give you university credits for it too unlike other training providers + they're not just in it for the money...
 
The exam cost with Computeach is an optional extra, I have read too many bad reviews about them to sign up. I am going to follow the advice from you guys and order that book and do it myself. I am going to ring up the test center now just to see if they can tell me how much the exam would cost, just so I have an idea.
I get free college courses because I am off work on ill health, so was a little gutted my local colleges didn't do this course :(
 
can you get free OU courses? would be a seriously good benefit if you could get them

also have you taken a look at the likes of coursera, udacity, edx? Some of the courses on there don't require much prior knowledge - some others can get reasonably challenging too.
 
The only places I have looked is my local colleges and a few do it from home courses. Is the Open University a full time course? I get all my fees paid for through college but I am currently unable to travel very far,that's another reason I was considering doing this from home mate. I have just looked and it seems I wouldn't get it free from OU.
Have just ordered that book, also have just bought a PDF version from someone on Ebay for £3.00 to go through why I wait. I wish I had stayed in college after I left school, I am 34 now and only now realising what I have missed. Thanks so much guys for all the advice, I would have been lost without you. :)
 
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Where did you get £300 from? The book can be had for £20 and the exam is around £100-120. That's a big saving over a course price.

It's worth being aware that the CompTIA certification now expires every 3 years and requires resitting the examination. I'm not sure how critical this would be to a prospective employer though, probably not very.
 
Oh I thought someone said above it would be around 300, wow thats great news. Just had a look over the PDF booklet and there was 2 sample tests I tried. They where out of 15 and I scored 11 and then 14. So I will start reading up tonight.
 
Ok so the test will be £121 which is great, I am going to phone up and book it for the end of January/February time and then try and read through and learn what I don't know. Once I pass this hopefully I will post back to see what you guys think is a good next step. Thanks again for all the advice on this.
 
To become A+ Certified you need to pass two exams 801 and 802 they each cost £121 each.

The 801 Exam is about 100 questions in 90 minutes and the 802 is now a skills based exam where you will be presented with simulated PC environments to fix and diagnose.

I wouldnt say that 15 questions is a good gauge of your knowledge as there is a vast amount covered in A+...be sure that your PDF covers the current version of the exam (801/802) otherwise you are going to get a nasty surprise when you take the exam.

Your certification is only valid for three years then you need to resit the new version of the exam in order to still remain certified.

I deliver this course part time at Yorkshire College and have done for about 10 years :). Be aware that enthusiast knowledge will only get you so far with A+ It will touch on concepts such as LTI & ZTI Windows installation as well as expect a decent depth of knowledge and understanding of IPv4 and IPv6.

You may find these useful as a guide to what is covered by the course and its content

CompTIA 801 - Exam Objectives http://bit.ly/1vQF5z8
CompTIA 802 - Exam Objectives http://bit.ly/1yjssLg
 
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Thanks mate, yeah I will study as best I can before the exams. Yeah I forgot there is 2 exams isnt there. I may give myself a little more time then to read through it all. The book covered both tests and I think the practice text questions at the end of each chapter is a great idea.
 
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I didn't think the A+ was still available? Some of it's content is just no longer applicable. Legacy devices such as old PATA drives, dial-up modems, floppy drives etc.. just aren't around anymore.

I passed the exam about 8 years ago along with Network Plus.. I bought the books and self studied. Then when i was ready, I just popped into a local testing area.

Never really presented them but they are good to have anyway.
 
The content of A+ is refreshed every 3 years Huddy, very little in terms of PATA is now mentioned, its all SATA, SSD's DDR3 etc...its actually due for another refresh in 2015.

The links I posted before give you an idea of whats covered....I don't think we have ios and android in widespread use 8 years ago :)
 
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