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HELP! Novice needing some help
Hi there
I have decided on a career change into cyber security. I'm currently working full time as a chef and have done so for the past 13 years. I have enrolled on the cyber security course and im struggling with my mock exams for the comptia a+. I have passed some and failed some. Have any of you guys got any tips and advice for a total novice in IT on how I can progress? Thanks in advance
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Hi @Alexbunn89, thank you for posting your first discussion! We have a bunch of fantastic cyber security graduates and certified graduates that would be able to help you. @Sam_L or @jason would you have any advice you could share?0
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hi @Alexbunn89, my recommendation if you're struggling with the A+ is to branch out - in addition to the skillsoft videos, buy a book! i find it helps to have some non screen-based study materials. Also I recommend checking out the Professor Messer A+ series on youtube, he's great and holds live online study groups every now and then, plus it's all totally free. Stick with him for the Net+ and Sec+ courses too.
I found the best way to remember stuff like how a laser printer works is to write up your own materials on it - reference other materials and rewrite it in your own words and draw your own diagrams. I rarely revisit everything i write, but simply writing it in your own words is sometimes enough to retain the knowledge. For port numbers (can't remember if these are part of A+) and acronyms I wrote flash cards I would carry with me, they're a great way to remember associations and small nuggets of info.
If you find yourself consistently failing the practice exams, note which sections you seem to be struggling in and focus on them, always refer to the comptia exam objectives PDF for what you need to be learning under each objective. the PDF is king!
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When you review the answers after a mock exam, take a screen shot of the Question and Answer Combo. I'm like @jason I bought books, get the eBooks then they can be stored on a phone or tablet and can be taken anywhere. Save the screenshots to the phone/tablet and just reference the books or a trusted internet site. Don't forget you have access to the lectures in written form too. You also have an online mentor to ask questions and guidance. By taking a screenshot of the question/answer combo you can constantly refer to it without trying to remember what you got wrong. By the way, don't look at the mock exam question fails as a failure, any questions that you get wrong are guidance for passing the exam.
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With any mock test remember it is not a true reflection of the exam so never try and memorise a question and answer. Instead make a note of the questions you got wrong and research why you got it wrong and understand the concept that the question is trying to test you on. That way if a question is asked in 10 different ways you will still get a correct answer because you now understand the concept.
In regards to resources you can grab books, and there are some very good videos on Udemy that can assist with your learning (PM me if you want to know a good trainer on Udemy). Also use google, it is your friend and can really help when looking into concepts as well as using you tube for practical demos of building PC's.
Another recommendation is to look at the game "PC Building Simulator" on steam, its currently £14.99 and although you don't get a real feel of having a PC in front of you (As it is a game), it will help increase you knowledge on the different parts of a computer and how to fault find issues.
For any other advice let me know I am happy to help.
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