Well, now you’ve really done it. The fact that you hold this lab manual in your hands says one thing loud and clear—you’re deadly serious about getting that CompTIA A+ certifi cation! Good. Even though the CompTIA A+ certifi cation exams are considered entry-level, you’ll still need to take them seriously if you want to pass.
Because you’re serious, I’m going to let you in on a secret: The key to passing these exams is preparation. When I say “preparation,” I’m not talking about studying—although, of course, studying is important! I’m talking about preparing to study. You need to know exactly how to study for these exams, and you need to have the right tools to get that studying done. Sure, you’ve got a textbook and you’ve got a lab manual, but you’re not yet ready to hit the books.
In this chapter, you’ll go through the steps you need to start studying for the CompTIA A+ Essentials (220-601) exam. First, you’ll organize what you need to study. Second, you’ll learn how the CompTIA A+ certifi cation helps move you toward more advanced certifi cations. Finally, you’ll get some ideas on how to gather equipment so that you can reinforce what you read with real hardware and software. So stay serious, roll up your sleeves, and start preparing to study for the CompTIA A+ exams!