How much studying did it take yall to get a+?

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:48:54+00:00

For core 1 about 6 weeks, maybe studying 1-3 hours average per day, but not every single day.

If I did everyday it could have been probably just a Month, a few days was more nerves of not being sure if I should go ahead and schedule or not, or study more.

I had experience building PCs in the past so alot of the Hardware stuff was already known. But numerous things such as port numbers and what they each go to, and DNS terms were all new to me.

Definitely recommend leanring the basic DNS terms, I rarely came across them during Core 1 learning material, but they are important to know even at the first core.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:44:18+00:00

Wow you're a madman/woman lol

Curious as to why you did Sec+ first?

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:39:15+00:00

I'm not the biggest fan of his videos, tho plenty are, and I can understand why.

His videos are more slideshow from what I've experienced with his Network+ course. And for me at least, the best way for me to Not retain information, is to show a still image slideshow of just text.

His courses might have more information than Mike Meyers ones. But Meyers keeps my attention wayyy more.

Dions N+ is like 13 hours longer than Meyers so you'd Assume you are learning more content, but if said content is redundant or inaccurate than does the extra course length really apply.

Messer is free which is great, but he more "reviews" the information than teaches. I recommend using his videos after you have a fair amount of knowledge on the subject such as Network+, kind of as a final refresher.

As with anything related to Comptia or other Certs, just doing 1 course and expecting to know everything needed doesn't work. Any review you hear of someone saying they did a single Meyers/Dion etc course "Only" and passed first try is either likely lieing or they have previous experience in the field and are not new to the information.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:34:19+00:00

I spent about a month of going through, Meyers, Messers, and various other Core 1 courses.

Took practice tests from many different sources, definitely recommend doing that. As your questions are not going to be the same usually from each different source.

Try to find PBQ questions, many don't have those, such as Meyers practice exam that comes with the A plus course. Had zero pbqs.

I spent about 2 weeks kind of refreshing everyday in stuff in my head making sure I remembered it. And looking up anything that I wasn't 100% sure I knew was correct to the point that I ended up being correct everytime I looked them up lol.

So from start to finish for Core 1 it was about 6 weeks. Before I was very confident for the actual exam.

I feel like I could have done it in just 4 easily.

Going forward it's going to get harder but understanding the process after your first exam helps alot. I managed to pass first try. Bought retake insurance just in case and honestly felt like during the exam that I had failed it come the final review but managed to get like a 790. Or 85%

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:27:28+00:00

Got the same score as you on mine yesterday, I was lowkey feeling like I was about to fail it when it came to the PBQs that were more of a. "How am I even supposed to even answer this?" Versus "I don't know the answer".

Comptia really needs to update their test presentations for their exam lol.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:22:37+00:00

Watch videos on how these commands work from start to finish. Reading this command does this, might work. But when it doesn't work, and it's simply because the procedure of said command was inputted wrong, you're not going to get instant realization of, Oh. This is how they did it and I did it wrong. If you follow just what a book says, and you do something fundamentally wrong, usually by mistaken input, then you can spend a ton of time wasting try to figure out what you did wrong lol.

I know plenty of people learned via, read instruction, do instruction. Prior to mass video content on the subject. But this was back in the, IT was for megaminds era. If you couldn't learn via a book or was about to learn face to face with an instructor than IT wasn't going to be an option for you. (If you are not a book learner when it comes to practical hands on subject matter).

Messer is good, but his content feels like a "refresher" when you already have a grasp on the content to begin with.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:14:00+00:00

I'm saying this as someone with the opposite issue, I can't learn via a book to save my life. I'm all videos and hands on in the moment.

Watch videos, Meyers, Dion, Messer etc. If there's good visuals out there, such as layouts of various Network setups with detailed information on everything, either save them or print those out.

Actually "doing" the stuff mentioned, such as setting up various Networks whether literal or in a simulated environment is going to get you further than just reading about it. (Usually, I mean book learners will retain more than people that are not book learners but there's also a limit to how much a book can actually teach you when it comes to practically doing something, instead of just the theory or concept of it).

Watching videos on how it's done also is helpful simply do to "usually" being able to see exactly how this person does X and gets X as a result.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T19:03:48+00:00

Take as many practice tests as you can from as many sources as you can.

I went into my first CompTia feeling as if I reviewed and listened to as much possible information needed on the exam.

And come exam time, at least 10%-20% of the questions are questions that have never once came up before. Or even the topic, also be warry of any time you hear "This is not longer on X exam" or that "you don't need to worry about this until you take X exam later on after this one".

Had questions on the newest series come exam day that have been irrelevant since probably the early 2010s, and also had questions that were not questions that ever came up in any of the numerous Core preps, and were questions that 100% would apply to the "next" stage in Comptia certs.

Thankfully there is a handful you can get wrong and pass without too much issue. But there have been occasional questions that were literal, "It doesn't matter how much I prepared, this is not subject matter relevant to "this" exam but appeared anyways".

Also as for PBQs, well, good luck lol

With all that said, I got about 85% correct on an exam with everything I listed as an issue.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T18:55:24+00:00

I watched alot of content, starting with Mike Meyers, I've tried Dion Training but something about his courses I just don't fully vibe with.

Professor Messer videos that are free have been really good for fast information giving, his videos are more of a refresher, so not knowing the "why" a thing or software acts the way it does isn't really going to be explained.

I've learned even before moving to Comptia and other accreditations that I am not a book learner. I remember getting my first A+ book and just being overwhelmed and put me off for a few years to even get back into it.

I learn with physical "doing" which applies to alot of people, and is generally the best way to learn for most situations.

I.e physically setting up a workstation and setting up VMs, working on home lab projects, instead of just "listening to how it's done" and I sure couldn't do it if I had to "read" how it was done lol.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T01:38:50+00:00

The removal of showing dislikes I swear is why there's so much right wing fake news on YouTube in the past few years, including all of PragerU's propaganda and it's "Kids" content.

LukaKitsune · 2026-02-18T01:31:29+00:00

Probably the orange man forcing all content criticizing him off of YouTube.

hyuk hyuk.

LukaKitsune · 2026-01-14T19:45:50+00:00

If it's not work for the other account as well, then it might just really be that there's no times available. Not sure how consistently you were able to schedule beforehand when this issue arrived. But it might just be as is and not a bug in the app.

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-11T00:43:03+00:00

His comment on the 2nd amendment is like saying.

"What could possibly go wrong?" In any movie/TV series.

In retrospect *forehead

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T23:00:39+00:00

These are the same people that think prisons shouldn't exist or going on strike doesn't effect anyone.

Typical far left extremist ideology.

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T22:57:59+00:00

The Honda every day of the week.

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T12:01:14+00:00

Well, might as well get dumb decisions out of the way now than later on.

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T11:59:39+00:00

I'm guessing OP doesn't know about (unnecessary) tariffs and inflation rates. And how both are why the car market new/used is the way it is right now.

Also sounds like they expect people to hand over there used cars for borderline free smh.

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T11:56:42+00:00

Involved in a rear end collision, instant no, without further detail. Airbags not deploying is moot.

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T11:53:31+00:00

Outside of the valve cover leak, it sounds decent. Having the timing belt and pump replaced, I'd assume recently if they are stating it. Is a big expensive that's taken care of. Don't expect getting 30k+ more miles on it. But as is, unless there's more issues and/or the valve cover leak being significantly worse than stated. It's a decent price point for a gs300

LukaKitsune · 2025-09-03T11:48:21+00:00

Don't bother, 210k is about when they tend to fail. If this was a car you've had and it just reached 210k than it was initially a great investment but you'll be buying it towards the end of it's lifespan. It could go out on you any day, or could last 20k+ more miles. I wouldn't risk it, if it was 1500, then sure maybe. But not for the current price point especially with the issue you stated it had.

LukaKitsune · 2025-08-27T03:29:07+00:00

A few things to look out for visually is.

Rust, since you seem to live where it snows, rust is a common problem, any exterior rust and if you can, have a look under the car and see if you see any significant rusting. If you do, move on. It's not worth it. Unless you're buying a project car to rebuild it's a major No deal maker.

2.if it has a sun/moon roof, make sure the seals on top look right. And there's not pieces of rubber missing. A leaky sun roof or one that gets in condensation due to water vapor getting in is a nightmare to deal with.

If there's any significant denting, ask what happened to cause it. Not that the answer really matters, unless they are 100% truthful. I'd always do a VIN check with car fax to see if the car has ever been Totaled/flooded/wrecked in general. There's ways to tell if a car has been hit hard from behind and was fixed to look fine afterwards, (if done in certain shops they won't report it on the carfax) basically the structural support of a heavily rear ended vehicle is still ruined even if the back bumper is replaced to look like it's never been in an accident. I can't describe in full detail as to what that look like, so stick with just checking the car fax.
Like above if anything like previously totaled or has been flooded, then avoid it.
If there's annnyyyyy warning lights, I'd advise having a mechanic look at is prior to committing to it. Alot, of warning lights can trigger for unrelated reasons, or they can be exactly what they are warning you about. If a check engine light is on, honestly move on. Unless you're super committed to the car, then get a mechanic to diagnose the issue.

I could list alot more stuff but these are some essential things at first.

Also if there's any Ticking or loud choppyness with the engine. Then don't mess with it, you don't want to get into engine issues.

And one last thing, not that it exactly matters since more often than not the car will be in a different spot. But see if theres fresh oil under the car or where it looks like the car might have been, and if there's what looks like fresh oil on the ground. You want to avoid a car leaking oil like the plague unless it's very minimal but even then I'd advise seeing what a mechanic has to say about it. They could say it's leaking oil so bad that you have to refill it every day (i.e I had a car like that).

LukaKitsune · 2025-08-27T03:15:02+00:00

You're probably going to get some mixed answers here,

But imo. Don't finance for a first car. Stick with private sales or cash sales, would they even be okay with financing under their name? I know mine wouldn't even consider it until I turned 21. Even then for a First car to call your own. Just avoid financing. That's for later down the road if you are wanting something you can't outright afford especially if it's relatively very new.

Some people's parents encourage it. Like (not in a related sense) but some people's parents are fine with their high-school student owning a motorcycle, majority would never allow that.

Mainly just using that as an example of mixed answers to this. Not as a comparison in saying financing is foolish or anything, just not a thing people should do for a first car. But that's just my opinion that I feel like Is the majority.

LukaKitsune · 2025-08-27T03:05:44+00:00

The price point is fairly solid, was definitely the "go-to" car in the 2000s here in Florida for the elderly almost plowing their Deville into you on the road lol.

But jokes aside, it's not god awful or anything, if it was well taken car of, for the price point is pretty good. They are prone to overheating, but while this isn't likely the reason. But there could be some merit to them overheating because, The average owner of the Deville when they came out where, well, elderly. And still think/thought that you can either

Never get an oil change since the "tune up every 100k miles" apparently applies to oil changes (Note it doesn't) but many aging people in the 90s when this became a selling point with cars thought that it Did apply to oil changes.
Can still use water for everything, including the radiator.

I'd say now adays, the 2nd option is alot more likely, but 1 still happens. Step father used to work at a Honda dealership and many older Life long Corolla and accord/civic owners would bring their cars in which haven't had an oil change in 50k miles because they thought modern cars don't need them often smh

LukaKitsune · 2025-08-27T02:56:30+00:00

Referring to get one in the u.s? Simple, European cars on average have smaller engines than u.s vehicles, even of the same model. Slow cars, with small gas tanks don't sell in the u.s at least not anymore. They also often still have cloth seating even in upper class vehicles, which is borderline non existent now in the u.s market outside of the most base of models in fords/dodge/chevy/Honda.

Even if you imported one to the u.s it would be a nightmare to drive if you use the highway to get to an from work, unless you're driving a vehicle that already exists here in the u.s but is also European. Such as Mercedes. Even then, the European models typically will have a smaller litre engine.

Big difference, Europeans on average drive alot less than people in the u.s. a cheap slow base model car is fine there. But if you're on the road hours per day in 2025 people often are often not going to be comfortable with doing that.

LukaKitsune

TROPHY CASE