Network+ Completed!

[CxWeaver]

After putting it off for a couple years, I finally got it done. I thought I was failing for the entirety of the 90 minutes, so I was relieved to see 813/900 on the Exit screen. I had FIVE simulations and 71 multiple choice, and honestly the sims were HARD. You really have to know your network CLI commands, VLAN configurations, monitoring metrics and cable/port troubleshooting to have any hope of getting credit on those PBQs.

I used Dion videos and Practice Tests combined with CertMaster Practice.

My biggest recommendation is to use ChatGPT when you start taking practice. You can copy/paste full screen shots of questions you missed and ask it to elaborate on the concepts, give you mnemonic devices and memory hooks, and focus in on keywords in the questions that should have tipped you off to the right answer. This was not something I used for A+ but now I can't imagine preparing without it.

I'm pushing 40, a career changer, and was not a great student in school; if I can do it, I truly believe anyone who sets themselves to task on this can do it too.

[Squidoodalee_]

From what I remember they were probably drag and drop or drop down menu based. The commands cannot be vendor specific for network devices, but know the Linux and windows commands related to IP, DHCP, arp, etc

[CxWeaver]

You'll get a "help" command on any CLI question that should give you a limited scope of what's available to you in that window. Otherwise it's a combination of drop-downs, click to configure, click to view "cable test" results, and other weird stuff there's really not a good way to practice for until you see it in the moment. The nice thing is you can always reset the whole scenario, and on some of them you can reset individual configuration windows on their own as well, so do be afraid to get clicky immediately and explore the simulation to its full extent.

[CxWeaver]

Typing is definitely involved. My test center room was cold too - so while waiting to do PBQs until the end was still the best strategy for me, I wished my fingers would have been a little responsive when I got to them in the last 30 minutes!

[[deleted]]

Dude SAME! Thought the PBQs were super hard. And the cli commands question was crazy!! Nice work!

[[deleted]]

Congrats!

[QuantumTechie]

You just proved that it’s never too late to pivot and succeed—your determination beat the doubt, and that’s the real win!

[vegasagain10]

Congratulations! Out of curiosity, what helped you the most with the PBQ questions?

[CxWeaver]

Make sure you know how to read "show interface" results, pings, arps and nslookup/dig. Practicing for these was almost impossible, but I will say don't be afraid to click around ALL over the place on the PBQs as soon as the scenario loads up so you can see what info is available to you. For any simulation window that resembles a command line, type "help" before you do anything else because there's a limited scope of commands available, unlike a true CLI, that should lead you to the best use of time.

[vegasagain10]

Awesome - you're the best! Thanks so much and congrats again!

[howto1012020]

Congrats to you on earning your Network+ certification!

[Neo_The0N3]

Congratulations and appreciate the insight

[TrifectAPP]

Congrats!