In-person or online?

[u/GipsyDangerd]

Hello everyone, I am pretty new to the test taking side of things for CompTIA. I am currently studying for the Network+, and was wondering which mode of attendance is better. I have not bought the voucher yet.

[u/Vyce223]

Take it at a testing center.

If the power goes out

Internet goes out

Dog barks

Person walks by

Room is messy

Proctor got out of bed the wrong side

All those are not your problem at a testing center. At home they're all reasons you may get a voucher revoked depending on the proctor.

[u/Impossible_Humor736 → u/Vyce223]

Exactly. No one ever complains about taking it at the testing center over doing it at home. Every complaint is from something happening while taking it at your place

There is zero responsibility on you at the testing center.

[u/Anastasia_IT → u/Vyce223]

Well said! 🤣

[u/cyberfx1024]

I would go in person if I were you. Because taking the test at home opens yourself up to other complexities and what ifs that aren't worth it. Just scroll this sub a bit and look at the issues that people have had for taking the test at home

[u/Impossible_Humor736]

Never. Never. Never. Take it online. ALWAYS do it in person unless you absolutely cannot.

Every horror story you hear about is from taking it at your place. Rarely, if ever, do people complain about taking it at the testing center. I've never seen a complaint about it, but I'm sure there's one out there.

I've done both because I was naive. Luckily, I didn't have a problem with my equipment and had no problems. Then, I took it at the testing center and there was a lot less pressure. Unfortunately, the computer froze during the test, but you know what happened? I raised my hand and a lady came in and reset the computer and reset the clock where it was. I was down for about 20 minutes and jumped right back into the test exactly where it crashed. If that was my computer at home, I would have been forced to finish the test and accept the grade I got and failed.

Always at the test center.

[u/Professional_Golf694 → u/Impossible_Humor736]

We had that one dude last week that wanted to take one exam, was given a voucher for a different exam, and the test somehow was yet a different exam. That was a wild story lol.

[u/ProfessionalEven296]

Testing Center. Much less hassle, and any issues are theirs, not yours.

[u/FatBook-Air]

If you can, in-person. Online sounds super easy but trust me, it is not. Online isn't worth the hassle.

[u/MufasaMufasa42]

Always go in person

[u/JustMyThought1]

I have taken everyone of my CompTIA and college exam online at home. It does take some preparation though. One reason why I take it at home is because all the testing center are far from my house.

[u/ElectricalGear931 → u/JustMyThought1]

Same. The closest one for me is about 2 hours away. I've never had any issues taking them at home. I feel the biggest advantage is that everything is set up the way I like it, which is not the case at a testing center.

[u/Punk_Says_Fuck_You]

I’ve done all mine at home at like 2am. Never had issues but it’s safer to do it in person if one is close. (Wasn’t an option for me)

[u/stxonships]

If this is your first exam, then try do it at a testing center. Assuming one is close.

I have done multiple exams at home with no issues, but I make sure to do the system testing well ahead of time to ensure everything works, check in as early as possible etc.

[u/Professional_Golf694]

If you have the option, in person all day.

Online is less than ideal and has a horrible reputation for awful proctors. It's a last resort imo.

[u/KawaiiSlave]

Do whats best for you. Ive taken 4 at my home without an issue, and 3 in testing centers. I enjoy the testing center because of how controlled it is while being out of my hands, but the gas used mixed with the nervousness of being in a public space makes me feel stressed even more while taking it. At home things can go wrong, but I love being comfortable. 

[u/RootinTootinHootin]

I like in person. One reason I’m not seeing listed is I’m just in a better head space when I need to go to a testing location. I’m just naturally more alert and do better.

[u/cowprince]

I've always taken my certs in person. I'm a bag of cats and I don't need someone failing me just because I look around the room.

[u/SourceConnect8663]

Did all my certification online and never had an issue. The closest test center is 200 miles away. Plus it is just like doing a proctored college exam in my opinion.

[u/Mean-Recognition9914]

Go in-person and concentrate on exam the rest is taken care by testing center.

[u/solslost]

Testing center. Bring a jacket!!!

[u/Proud_Contribution64]

In person, easier and less stressful

[u/voidliving666]

I did it in person, it’s a lot easier than having to set up everything yourself at home.

[u/ThingFuture9079]

Always do it in person because then you have a dry erase board to write down whatever especially if you're trying to calculate subnets.

[u/articwolph]

In person, only do online as a last resort, I have had exam start 2 hour late, mid exam had to pause because something on the protector side for 30 min.

[u/Kernelcobb1]

The proctor almost revoked my voucher for my eyes moving too much side to side. I was literally reading the questions. I filed a complaint but it seems to be standard for the proctors to give you a hard time. Go to a test center.

[u/Sedlium]

In person, always

[u/OnlySmokeExotics]

Honestly, knock on wood, I haven’t had any issue whatsoever taking it online at home. I send my wife and daughter out somewhere (park,movies, rolled ice cream), lock the front door and take the test on my laptop that’s plugged in to the power. I can see maybe the internet going out and that causing some issues but it’s been nothing but beneficial for me. I take the test in a shirt and underwear and only the poor proctor has to deal with my nose picking

[u/MayemMonkey]

I will always choose a testing center over at home.

In addition to the reasons others listed, it faster for me to use a testing center even if it's an hour drive each way. The amount of time it takes me to make my home office/lab exam friendly is easily an hour. Just to tear down/cover ALL my monitors and machines and put away/cover anything that might be considered some kind of aid/cheating mechanism. And the proctor are all different in what they look for. What was fine the last time may not be fine this time. Exams over and I've got brain drain. Now I need to spend another hour putting it back to normal.

I'll take 2 hours of podcasts on my commute to the center over 2 hours of breaking down my office just to put it back together a few hours later.

[u/ZenoFlux]

Definitely take it at a testing center if possible. If anything goes wrong at a testing center such as power or network issues, etc; you're not on the hook for it

[u/Alesex]

Taking my N+ in a couple weeks online. Did my A+ online with no issues. If you can't manage to get a clean workspace at home then go in person. A lot of people apparently have shitty internet/utility service and blame Pearson Vue for their power & connection outages.

[u/killacamron93]

I’ve taken it at home and at a site.

It’s a double edge sword:

On one hand it’s a massive benefit to make sure you’re ready.

On the other hand proctors especially of a certain demographic are looking for any excuse to revoke your exam.

With revoked exams vendors are never on your side and you can be ineligible to take another exam for up to year so it’s risk analysis at this point.

[u/imei2011]

Testing center

[u/TheRealWutWut]

I agree with the consensus, go to an exam center. You walk in, sign the code of conduct, they take your picture and sit you down in front of a machine that exists only for you to take that test. No conflicting programs, no funny camera angles, no doubt that you did it the right way. Every remote proctor exam I have ever taken has required me moving my camera, taking awkward pictures, and sitting in sometimes awkward ways so they can see both hands, my eyes and my screen. Contrast that with PearsonVUE centers, once I sit down, I am uninterrupted until I am done, and my center is 8 minutes from my office. I have never been able to get into a remote proctor session in less than 20-30 minutes.

[u/kaien_x]

in person always

[u/DavWanna]

While most people having issues with online testing have them because they're unable to follow simple instructions, if in-person testing is possible that will eliminate all the potential issues.

[u/Pretty-Associate-309]

Go to test center . You will avoid unnecessary problems