How to Study For and Pass the CompTIA Network+ Exam

By Stephen Bucaro

CompTIA certification is a great advantage to a computer technology professional because it provides proof to employers that they have the competence required to perform the job. Certification can help you acquire employment in the computer technology profession. In fact, many employers require CompTIA certification.

If you are already working in the computer technology field, certification can help you advance and earn a higher salary. Being CompTIA certified can give you the self confidence and recognition you need to compete in today’s demanding job market.

In this article, you'll learn how to study for and pass the CompTIA Network+ exam. You will not be learning any tricks here. Passing the exam is hard of work, but nothing worth while is ever easy. But, is it worth while? The median salary for a Network Administrator with 2-4 years of experience is $52,493.

Here's how to study

Get five or six good quality comprehensive self tests and take them. If you miss a question on a self test, re-study that subject and take the test again. Keep re-taking the self tests until you regularly pass them with a score of 90 percent or higher.

Why five or six self tests? Because if you use only one text, you'll have the answers to the questions on that specific test memorized. When you take the actual exam, you'll be presented with an entirely new set of questions. Even if you purchase an expensive application that generates tests by randomly selecting questions from a data base of thousands of questions, those questions where created by the one individual or company. Each test creator has their own point of view that may not be in agreement with the point of view of CompTIA's test writers.

Why pass with a score of 90 percent? Because the minimum passing score for the CompTIA Network+ exam is 82 percent. You need a safe margin between your self test scores and 82 percent. If you frequently pass your self tests with a score of 82 percent, you'll need luck to pass the actual exam. If you're not lucky, you'll pay $185.00 to take the exam twice (or more).

Shouldn't I wait until I always pass the self tests with a score of 100 percent? Even the best self tests (and the CompTIA exams) contain questions that use improper grammar, have incorrect answers, or are just plain stupid. Sometimes you can't get a 100 percent unless you deliberately answer the question incorrectly - and that's not good practice.

Setup a Computer Lab

I recommend that you set up a lab with three computers, one to act as a server and two to act as work stations. Then design a fake company and set up home directories and user accounts for the employees of the company. It's very difficult to pass the certification test without some hands-on experience. Straight memorization won't prepare you for the scenario type questions on the exam.