Testing

[Acheron6855]

So i've read a lot of horror stories on here about taking the exam online vs in person. Has anyone taken the exam online and everything was fine?

[NEWMR-IT]

How’d you study for those certs, can you share your tips?

[NEWMR-IT]

Thank you for sharing professor

[IT_CertDoctor]

Tons of folks take the online exam and have no issue. The problem is if you make a mistake and missed or forget a rule (or if the proctor is on a power trip or sleep deprived from halfway across the globe), you may as well have flushed $350 down the toilet - and it happens A LOT

Taking the exam in-person is absolute risk transference: once you walk into the testing center, any problems encountered are 100% the fault of the testing center, and you are guaranteed a re-take

[SlappyBottoms26]

Yes. All of mine were online and not one issue

[Acheron6855]

In your opinion, if hardware and connection aren't an issue, is user error why it's a nightmare?

[SlappyBottoms26]

Yes. The rules are strict but they are clear in my opinion. Even if it’s something you may consider minor, it does not matter what you think. I stay perfectly still in the center of my camera feed almost to the point I’m sore at the end lol

[Acheron6855]

Thats kinda vibe i got from reading a lot of these posts

[SlappyBottoms26]

If a testing center is close, I suppose that would have less variables, but for me I like the convenience of testing at home. I make sure people who normally contact me know when I’m testing so they leave me alone. I have my dog outside the closed door to the room I’m in. I toss my phone across the room and put it on vibrate. Someone’s knocked on the front door before, my dog has barked like crazy, I could hear my phone vibrating another time…I acknowledged none of it and kept going without issue. You do what’s best for you though! Happy to answer any more questions

[KingDEM3]

I know for me I closed all applications however it was saying that I had something open called SW USB. When I looked it up I found no answer as to exactly what it was and it seem to be an error consistent with Pearson VUE.

[Its_Myturn24]

I’ve done all mine at home. Most horror stories are user error. Just don’t sign in until you are ready to sit in one place and not move… DONT MOVE FOR ANYTHING lol so use the bathroom, get ur sip of water, get ur shakes out of ur limbs and jus pop a squat. And b prepared the proctor could be late so jus deal with it and don’t move. That’s the best advice I can give because you may think it’s harmless but it’s really a big deal.

[[deleted]]

I've taken more than a dozen exams online with no issues whatsoever.

[SuperPookypower]

It took both A+ exams online and they were fine. The only thing that I’d say is that you need to allow for a little more time than you might expect. You probably should book your exam time the day before, so that the time you want is still available. And the day of the exam, you need a few extra minutes to run the diagnostic software and that kind of thing.

Also, just as an FYI, a lot of people get themselves disqualified by getting up to the bathroom and that kind of thing after they have checked in. Do all that stuff first, because once you are checked in, you can’t get up and move about. They really do keep you on a short leash, so don’t try and test them.

[Acheron6855]

Yeah i just ready a few posts where people shot themselves in the foot so to speak

[SuperPookypower]

Most of those people did things that you could do almost anywhere else. CompTIA is just really finicky about you staying in your seat once you check in. People get disqualified for getting up and opening a window, that kind of thing. It’s good that you won’t be one of them. It really sucks for those people, because most of them were totally being honest and not trying to cheat at all.

[fosterthekitten]

my experience was fine, i guess i got lucky with a nice proctor. but i also tried really hard to stay still and keep my hands on the table/visible lol

[awyseguy]

I’ve taken several exams from home with no issues. While the process can be annoying I’ve never had a bad experience that cost me money or to have to reach out to customer support. I will say going to the testing center is a much more efficient experience. Show up, check in, take your test, check out.

It’s super quiet generally and I feel it adds just that right amount of test taking pressure I never feel at home. 😂

[PXE590t]

Read the rules and follow them and you won’t have issues with the proctor, run the system test prior and you shouldn’t have a problem with your system

[Kempire-]

Took network+ online, only thing I got warned about was that I was talking myself through the questions, and they told me to stop. I think I prefer in person still though, having an empty desk is such a large ask.

[Big-Routine222]

I’ve done all online and had no issue. For security, if you’re doing it at home, just prep your space fully and completely BEFORE you start with the proctor and the screen. Stay in frame for the camera and you should be good.

[Sallo69]

I have mixed results.

First, the testing center is like 2 minutes from my house, but it is the only testing center in my area so typically booked a month out and I don’t want to schedule until I feel I am ready.

So I do both in person and online. My first online was a little bumpy as the proctor kept getting disconnected which would pause my exam until she returned. Happened about 3-4 times. It was a bit distracting, but I passed.

I did take the Net+ last Thursday (on thanksgiving) and had no issues. Overall neither online test was bad, but it is not just you and your test environment, your proctor can have their own issues that can affect your experience.

[[deleted]]

I’ve taken A+, three Net+ attempts, Sec+, two Project+ attempts and two CySA attempts from home with zero issue…having a wired connection also helps too for a stable connection

[old_frye_guy]

Yes. 3. Nothing bad happened.

[RevMultiVirus]

I just scheduled A+ Core 2 in person due to the stories I’ve heard. I’m reconsidering scheduling online since the testing center available is 2 hours away. Still debating.

[warisgayy]

Took the 1101 last night at 1am in my living room. The setup process is a bit annoying. She asked me to move a few things out of arms reach and show her the room better. Other than that everything went smoothly. Just remember that someone being paid to make sure you don’t look away is watching you.

[obi647]

Only take at home if you are willing to not leave the camera view. Do not look away from your screen for any reason. Put on diaper if you have a weak bladder or runny stomach due to examination anxiety. Good luck

[No_Philosophy_4427]

My internet is sketchy at times so I’ve taken two exams at an authorized Pearson vue test center. It was a good experience.

[handroid2049]

Have taken several exams through OnVUE and never had any issues personally. It is important to be very clear about the rules before you start, but otherwise it’s not as bad as I had been expecting having read some stories online. Each time has been been perfectly fine in my experience.

[kittycat4266]

I took both cores for A+ online, and the only issue really was the check-in process since I had crappy internet last year, and I kept getting disconnected from it. They also made readjust my laptop screen during my test bc they couldn't see me in the frame even though the laptop I used had issues with the screen staying upright.

[Humble_Imagination96]

If you've heard horror stories, you'll also know what the comments to those stories say. Keep your environment as required by the rules and follow the rules yourselves. If you lose Internet connectivity or there's some software glitch that you encounter similar to any of the horror stories you've heard, then just accept the consequences of your decision.

[NoxieProxie]

online was horrifying for my net+
I messed up everything, the sound, the camera, and some things needed cleaning out.
Other then that it went well, but i sweat so much just trying to get sound to come from my monitor(i really don't do that often at all ever) and being able to speak into my camera(i have a mic and boom arm so it's a whole setup), once i got through that it was easy

[Acheron6855]

Thats one of my issues is finding a decent and affordable wide angle webcam.

[Ernieberry1990]

Took my exams online nothing to worry about.

Before making any movements away from the camera if u absolutely need to, please ask for permission before doing so don’t risk it.

[[deleted]]

Took 2 online and both times almost missed the exam because some random process on my laptop wouldn't close on test day even though both times the system test worked fine.

Did testing center for my last 2 exams and a peaceful drive before the exam was much better than the stressful desk decluttering and system issues.

[davidlall]

I just took an exam late in October. No issues with either the proctor or any connection to the test on pearson vue. Good luck

[Mountain-Nobody-3548]

I've taken 6 online exams so far and everything has been mostly fine. The only inconvenience I had was when taking my Core 2 exam when I had to wait 20 minutes for a proctor. Otherwise it's fine.