CompTIA Exam Strategies: What to expect and how to be ready

Johnny Carrera, a veteran in the classroom of 20+ years and now one of TestOut's Instructional Designers, reviews CompTIA Exam Strategies: What to expect and how to be ready on "Test Day."

Test Delivery Location - Home

When you registered for the exam, you were asked to choose between Home Delivery or Test Center Delivery.

• If you chose to take your exam from home, you will want to watch the video at this site to prepare. It is important to watch it a few days before your test day. https://home.pearsonvue.com/comptia/onvue
  

• For home test takers there is a Whiteboard Tool that can be used in the test software.
  
  

Test Delivery Location - Test Center

• If you are taking your test at a Test Center arrive at least 30 minutes early. If you are 18 years of age or older you will need to present two forms of ID. (See web site for ID Policy). 

• ID Exception for Minors/Students (17 years of age and under):

  • Pertains to minors/students who only have one form of photo ID (school ID is permitted)
  • Minor/Student needs to be accompanied at the testing center by an adult who has proper government-issued ID
  • The adult needs to sign next to the minor/student on the log in sheet to verify the student's identity
  • The minor/student must have guardian authorization for each testing event.

• You will have your picture taken and asked to sign a signature pad.

• Once you are checked in the Proctor will ask you to store your electronic devices and bags in a locker.

• At this time, the proctor should ask if you want a dry ease board for notes. Always say yes. If the proctor does not offer a dry erase board, ask for one. You will need it.

• The proctor will escort you to a test station and log you in.
  
  

ID Requirements

Make sure you have a proper ID for online testing

• General:
  • All IDs must be valid government-issued in their original form (not a photocopy)
  • Acceptable IDs include International travel passport; driver’s license; military ID; identification card (national, state, or province ID card); alien registration card (green card or permanent resident/visa), if you are a student a school ID.

• Name requirements:
  • IDs must include the candidate’s name
  • The first and last name on the ID must match the first and last name the candidate used to register for the exam.

• Photo requirements: ID must include a recent, recognizable photo

• Candidate under 18 years old: During check-in, parent/guardian must present their own ID and give consent for candidate to be recorded. Candidate also to present government issued ID if they have one, or student ID if they do not have one.

Note: For all ID questions, regardless if you are taking the test from home or a test center, see this web site: https://www.comptia.org/testing/testing-policies-procedures/test-policies/candidate-id-policy

Test Delivery Location - Test Environment

The information can also be seen at this website:
https://www.comptia.org/testing/testing-options/about-comptia-performance-exams

• The Welcome Screen

  • The first thing you will see is the welcome screen.

  • Make sure your name appears under candidate.

  • Don’t take someone else's test!
    
    

• CompTIA Candidate Agreement Screen The NDA

  • You will have to click the Agree button.

  • They give you 28 minutes to read this agreement.
    
    

• Navigation Buttons 

  • CompTIA exams allow you to go forward and back.

  • Previous | Next
    
    

• Timer and Question Number
  • Always be aware of your remaining time and how many questions are left.
  • Remember you have less then one minute per question.
  • Previous | Next
    
    
•  Flagging (or Flag for Review)
  • The exam allows you to flag or mark questions and save them for later. It is important to practice flagging questions during practice tests.
  • Because of a tight time limit, students should spend enough time on questions that they can comfortably answer first.
  • Then they should work on the questions that they struggled.
  • When to Use:
    • Long question that needs more time, save for last.
    • You don’t know the answer, save for later.
    • You want another look.

• Review Screen
  • Your flagged questions.
  • White Flag- you did not flag.
  • Blue Flag- you flagged.
  • You can review any question white or blue

• End Review Confirmation

  • Once you hit the “End Review” button you will no longer be able to return to the question section.

  • Don’t hit it till you are ready!
    
    

Test Delivery Location - Question Types

• Multiple Choice, Single Selection

  • The single choice question.

  • round selector buttons.

  • Previous | Next
    
    

• Multiple Choice, Multiple Selection.

  • Square selector buttons.

  • Previous | Next

• Drag and Drop

• Exhibit
• Performance
  
  

Guidelines or Best Practices

• Keep an eye on the time and use it wisely. Exam time goes fast.

• If you do not know the answer to a question or you are spending more than 1 minute to answer a question, you should pick the best answer, flag the question, and move on to the next. Once you have answered all questions, you can then use the review screen to go back to those flagged questions.

• Don’t forget to write down the question number and a short description of the question topic (e.g., Q20 Wi-Fi security) when you flag.

• You may also use the next and previous buttons to go back and forth to find questions but try not to go too far back. This takes time searching. Using that flag button is a better strategy.

• Use your finger or cursor to read questions to focus on reading.

• Don’t waste time switching their answer multiple times. If they’re not 100% sure about the answer, the best practice is to stick with their first response.

• Read each question carefully. Some questions ask which is NOT a correct answer.

• Remember round choice buttons mean single choice, square buttons mean choose all needed.

• Remember CompTIA does not employ negative scoring and a wrong answer does not hurt you any more than an unanswered question. So, make sure to answer every question even if you do not know the answer.

• Make an educated guess, and do not leave any questions un-answered. Know that you can miss several questions and still pass the certification.

• CompTIA exams are rigorous certification exams. This means that preparing for the exams takes several months of extensive preparation.