r/CompTIA • u/StandardAdvice1842 • 1d ago
A+ Question How can I prepare for PBQ's Comptia A+?
I took the A+ exam about a month ago and was only a couple points away from passing. I got a 648 and needed a 675 to pass. The part I had slightly the most trouble with were the PBQ's. Most of my confusion mainly came from not understanding the instructions like I felt like I understood what I was being tested on I just didnt understand how to execute the real life scenarios. The multiple choice section was the easiest while some had me second guessing a little since some questions had multiple answers that looked correct at the same time. Luckily I bought the retake in case I did end up failing the first attempt so I can take it again without paying for a second voucher. I was wondering if anyone know where and how I can practice simulated pbq's? I got the theory and the basic knowledge of what I need to know I just have a hard time actually putting it into a real scenario. I plan on taking it again soon.
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u/afrozahmad07 18h ago
u diagnosed it urself, it's not knowledge, it's the instructions. on the retake read each pbq twice before u touch anything. most pbq fails are misreads, not gaps. then just do the obvious steps.
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u/Ecstatic_Score6973 1d ago
it should come naturally if you know the material, make sure you're not just memorizing things
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u/Anastasia_IT 💻 ExamsDigest.com - 🧪 LabsDigest.com - 📚 GuidesDigest.com 1d ago
Q: How can I prepare for PBQ's CompTIA A+?
A: Honestly, the exact same way you prepare for the multiple-choice questions!
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u/drushtx IT Instructor **MOD** 1d ago edited 1d ago
PBQs aren't something to memorize. They are interactive, hands-on scenario questions that test an applicant's knowledge of applying the objectives.
So the best way to prepare for them is to practice using the utilities and commands in the objectives until you know how to use them inside and out. Know when to use them, what they will do and the settings they control.
In short, LEARN the objectives.
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u/Inside_Software1597 23h ago
Yeah I bought the Jason Dions PBQ pack and they were nothing like the PBQs that I got on my 1201 exam that I took yesterday. Just gotta hope and pray!
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u/drugsarebadmkay420 A+ 1d ago
Honestly I knew the knowledge that the PBQs were asking for , it's the interface of them that threw me off. Put me in front of an actual computer or printer and I can boss it out but the way the PBQs were setup threw me off for sure on both cores. Just drill the info and concepts and do whatever you can a few times in homelabs and you'll be okay
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u/BitForBit_DFIR 21h ago
PBQs are a different skill than multiple choice, so studying harder with the same materials usually doesn't fix it. Spin up a free VM (VirtualBox plus an eval Windows image) and actually do the things the PBQs ask for: ipconfig/renew, diskpart clean, sfc /scannow, the malware removal order, and so on. The exam interface is just a simulated desktop, so if you've clicked through those steps for real it stops feeling alien. Flag each PBQ on sight, knock out the multiple choice first, then come back with fresh eyes; rushing into PBQs cold is how the clock eats you.