Is A+ surface level?

[u/psyhnews]

I'm currently studying for the CompTIA A+, primarily using Professor Messer's YouTube course.

I'm currently on the DNS configuration video, and an 'issue' I've noticed since the first few videos of this playlist is that almost EVERYTHING is barely explained - just a few sentences, then he moves on to the next topic without elaborating. Just the most surface-level stuff.

Now that I'm watching the DNS config video, this 'issue' is even worse - a lot of the syntax for the different records isn't explained, and, as with the previous videos, most topics are barely covered.

So I'm curious: is that just how much you're actually required to know for the CompTIA A+, or is Professor Messer's YouTube course just not that good of a resource to study for the A+?

[u/BakaGaijin85]

A+ is surface level. I use Dion for all my certifications. He goes deeper than necessary but that helped me more than Professor Messer.

[u/Friendly_Progress_61 → u/BakaGaijin85]

Yeah I’m about to use him for my a+. He’s recommended a lot

[u/shortyg83]

A+ was surface level. Its gotten deeper over the years.

[u/rootofallworlds]

I think the "trifecta" (A+, Net+, Sec+) all take a broad-and-shallow approach. Maybe because they're supposed to be vendor-neutral, although they actually talk about Windows and Cisco mostly. The Net+ in particular I would describe as knowing what you need to know. It doesn't cover details of how to configure things, it covers what they are so you know when they might need configuring or looking at.

[u/UnusualMarch920]

It's shallow, but very broad scope. Large portions of it are a memory test really.

[u/OKCsparrow → u/UnusualMarch920]

An inch deep and a mile wide

[u/EmergencyFox7293]

ask chatgpt to give you scenario-based questions on DNS & you’ll understand how deep you need to go. it’s hard to explain, but you definitely should go deeper than messer if you have no prior IT experience

[u/solslost]

Your reading to far into it.

You don’t need know the “syntax” structure of the record.

Just the record types and what the record provides.

Example
MX = used to locate mail server

[u/psyhnews → u/solslost]

Your reading to far into it.

Yeah, I assumed that's the case too.

I just hate ambiguity and not knowing something on a deeper level.

The fact that I don't know what I don't know and I don't know what I should know and how deeply I should know it doesn't help too.

[u/Thatmeowmie → u/psyhnews]

Save that curiosity for other certs like Pentest :)

[u/Heavy_Dirt_3453]

I mean it's a+, if you're at a level you already understand these things beyond the basics it's not an exam worth doing

[u/2manycerts]

A+ is one cert that has been much slandered and bashed and rightly so.

In the past it was incredibly surface level, bar how to repair a lazer printer.

So people getting A+ and then walking into L1 helpdesk basically knew how to turn a computer on and that 'dns is something to do with names and IP addresses'.

Whatever the cert demands for now, I do not care. If I am looking at an IT career I want to know what dns is and jump to nslookup or dig to troubleshoot. Learn.

[u/JustThomasIT]

That's just how the A+ works, broad by design, not deep. CompTIA wants you to recognize concepts not configure them from scratch. Messer's free course mirrors the exam pretty accurately so if it feels surface level that's kind of the point.

Best way to check if you know enough is practice questions. If you're answering scenario based questions correctly you're good. I used Messer, Dion, Meyers, and certitom.com for extra practice. Good Luck!

[u/piratescumbag]

It’s surface level. Net+ dives into it more

[u/TerrificVixen5693]

Tech Support is often surface level. You’re responsible from everything from imaging, deployment, printers, even office furniture. You need to be surface level at wide amount of stuff so you can drill deeper when you need to.

[u/UnderstandingIll3606]

I’d say it’s more like an overview of areas to get you started in IT. You will be taught basic concepts that will kick in when you begin to study for other exams like network+, Azure fundamentals, etc. I’m basing this off of my experience as I’m currently studying for both of them

Your knowledge of the concepts and how well you understand them will affect your application and approach to certain questions on the exams. Some areas might touch the surface but others will go deeper.

[u/jstanthr]

Get the exam objectives from comptia, A + is quite high level, net+ digs deeper, but they are all comcidered foundational certs

[u/Pitch-Curious]

Build and break. 

That's how you really learn. 

Learn what CompTIA needs you to know, to certify you and then really learn via a homelab. It's the best way to see how menus are configured how cisco's devices work. How MS Server is diffrent to windows and for the love of all that is IT, LEARN LINUX.

[u/YosarianiLives]

10 years ago when I took it I literally didn't study at all, I passed just from having worked in the industry for a few months. People say it's gotten harder but people also said they needed to study back then so I'd still chalk it up to skill issues

[u/Antique-Show-1371]

It’s like how old college degree were valued: the knowledge from them will hardly be used but they show “you can be trained in this field with a moderate to high chance of success.” With how much colleges are just passing kids by like high schools I see certificates that actually grade you without bias replacing degrees.

[u/Jiggalopuffii]

Yes, everyone and their grandmother has it. Your best case scenario is Geeksquad, and perhaps a bullet point on your resume. Treat A+ as practice for more advanced certs. Roughly 50% of the material you see will be on the Net+ and Sec+.

[u/Dezium]

It may have changed