There are 4 components when it comes to studying: Videos, Practice Test, Books, and Labs. Sometimes you need all of them, sometimes just 1 is enough. Below are examples of what works for me. Keep in mind that everyone is different and what works for me may not be best for you.
the mandatory
I like to start every certification with a video course and taking detailed notes. Video courses lay a solid foundation for whatever cert you’re going for, so I see it as a must. While going through the course the first time, taking religiously detailed notes and screenshots is key. Pause and re-wind as needed to make sure your notes are done right the first time around. Nowadays I take all my notes digitally with Microsoft OneNote (paid software); The built-in search function makes it super easy to reference whatever I review notes. For screenshots I use “Greenshot” (free software), the built-in image editor makes for quick annotations before pasting it in your notes. If you don’t feel like paying for something like OneNote, there are probably some decent free alternatives. Here’s a link that might help you find something https://www.fossmint.com/microsoft-onenote-alternatives/.
After going through videos, take a practice test to see what areas you’re lacking in. Check out our links/resources for practice test recommendations. Once you understand what your weaknesses are, rewatch the videos and go through your notes. From here it’s just rinse and repeat until you’re ready. This is sufficient for most entry-level certificates, but still consider the optional methods mentioned in the next section.
optional jazz
Labs are the last thing I work on for a few reasons. Reason 1, they aren’t always necessary. Most entry-level exams are multiple choice and can be passed with just the methods mentioned above. If you’re a hands-on learner, you may want to include labs. Some courses or books line up the lab with the lesson you just covered. When possible, skip the labs while going through your study material and revisit them after completing the course/book. This forces you to go through the topics twice, once while watching/reading and once while going through the lab. The key phrase here is “when possible”, some labs may be time-sensitive and those should be done in-line with the courses.
Below are some lab examples for the A+
A + 1st exam:
Build a PC. If you’ve wanted to build a PC for yourself, you might as well do it and learn the components while studying. If you don’t have the budget for a personal PC build, do what I did and buy something dirt cheap (yet functional) off craigslist or eBay to practice on. I managed to find an old pc for 20 bucks from craigslist and used that as my “lab” for the A+.
A + 2nd exam:
Take your lab PC from the 1001 and practice your troubleshooting/commands on it.
