Introduction
For A+ Certification, the examinee must pass both this examination and the A+ Operating System
Technologies examination. The Core Hardware examination measures essential competencies for a desktop computer hardware service technician with six months of on-the-job experience. The examinee must demonstrate basic knowledge of installing, configuring, upgrading, troubleshooting, and repairing desktop computer systems at the standard defined by this test specification
The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from an industry-wide and worldwide job task analysis which was validated through a survey of almost 2,000 A+ certified professionals. The results of the survey are used in weighting the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of that content to the job requirements of a service technician with six months on- the-job experience. The intent is to certify individuals in a body of knowledge that is identified and accepted as the baseline or foundation of any entry -level PC technician.
The results of the job task analysis and survey can be found in the following report: CompTIA A+ Certification Core Hardware and OS Technologies examinations Job Task Analysis. This report is available for distribution.
The exam is in adaptive format, therefore, will be presented with 20-30 questions. You will have 30 minutes to complete the exam. Please be aware that a score determination could be made before the maximum number of questions is presented. Once a score determination is made, the exam will shut off.
The exam is translated in the following languages: Japanese, French, Spanish and German.
Note: This examination blueprint for the A+ Core Hardware examination includes the weighting, test objectives, and example content. Example topics and concepts are included to clarify the test objectives and should not be construed as a comprehensive listing of all the content of this examination.
The table below lists the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented in the examination.
Response Limits
The examinee selects, from four (4) or more response options and the option(s) that best completes the statement or answers the question. Distracters or wrong answers are response options that examinees with incomplete knowledge or skill would likely choose, but are generally plausible responses fitting into the content area. Test item formats used in this examination are:
Multiple-choice: The examinee selects one option that best answers the question or completes a statement. The option can be embedded in a graphic where the examinee points and clicks on their selection choice to complete the test item.
Multiple-response: The examinee selects more then one option that best answers the question or completes a statement.
Sample Directions:
Read the statement or question and from the response options, select only the option(s) that represent the most correct or best answer(s).
1.0 Personal Computer Components:
1.1 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade personal computer components:
- Add, remove and configure internal storage devices, motherboards, power supplies, processor/CPUs, memory and adapter cards, including:
- Drive preparation
- Jumper configuration
- Storage device power and cabling
- Selection and installation of appropriate motherboard
- BIOS set-up and configuration
- Selection and installation of appropriate CPU
- Selection and installation of appropriate memory
- Installation of adapter cards including hardware and software/drivers
- Configuration and optimization of adapter cards including adjusting hardware settings and obtaining network card connection
- Add, remove and configure systems
1.2 Identify tools, diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques for personal computer components:
- Identify and apply diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques, for example:
- Identify and isolate the problem using visual and audible inspection of components and minimum configuration
- Identify the steps used to troubleshoot components (e.g. check proper seating, installation, appropriate component, settings, current driver), for example:
- Power supply
- Processor/CPUs and motherboards
- Memory
- Adapter cards
- Recognize names, purposes, characteristics and appropriate application of tools, for example:
- Multimeter
- Anti-static pad and wrist strap
- Specialty hardware/tools
- Loop back plugs
- Cleaning products (e.g. vacuum, cleaning pads).
1.3 Perform preventive maintenance of personal computer components:
-
Identify and apply common preventive maintenance techniques, for example:
- Thermally sensitive devices (e.g. motherboards, CPUs, adapter cards, memory).
- Cleaning
- Air flow (e.g. slot covers, cable routing)
- Adapter cards (e.g. driver/firmware updates)
2.0 Laptop and Portable Devices:
2.1 Identify the fundamental principles of using laptops and portable devices:
- Identify appropriate applications for laptop-specific communication connections, for example:
- Bluetooth
- Infrared devices
- Cellular WAN
- Ethernet
- Identify appropriate laptop-specific power and electrical input devices, for example:
- Output performance requirements for amperage and voltage
- Identify the major components of the LCD (e.g. inverter, screen, video card)
2.2 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade laptops and portable devices:
- Demonstrate the safe removal of laptop-specific hardware including peripherals, hot-swappable and non hot-swappable devices
- Identify the affect of video sharing on memory upgrades
2.3 Identify tools, diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques for laptops and portable devices:
- Use procedures and techniques to diagnose power conditions, video issues, keyboard and pointer issues and wireless card issues, for example:
- Verify AC power (e.g. LEDs, swap AC adapter)
- Verify DC power
- Remove unneeded peripherals
- Plug in external monitor
- Toggle Fn keys
- Check LCD cutoff switch
- Verify backlight functionality and pixilation
- Stylus issues (e.g. digitizer problems)
- Unique laptop keypad issues
- Antenna wires
3.0 Printers and Scanners:
3.1 Identify the fundamental principles of using printers and scanners:
- Describe the processes used by printers and scanners including laser, inkjet, thermal, solid ink, and impact printers
3.2 Install, configure, optimize and upgrade printers and scanners:
- Identify the steps used in the installation and configuration processes for printers and scanners, for example:
- Power and connect the device using network or local port
- Install and update the device driver
- Calibrate the device
- Configure options and default settings
- Print test page
- Install and configure printer/scanner upgrades including memory and firmware.
3.3 Identify tools, diagnostic methods and troubleshooting procedures for printers and scanners:
- Gather data about printer/scanner problem
- Review and analyze data collected about printer/scanner problems
- Implement solutions to solve identified printer/scanner problems
- Identify appropriate tools used for troubleshooting and repairing printer/scanner problems
- Multimeter
- Screw drivers
- Cleaning solutions
- Extension magnet
- Test patterns
3.4 Perform preventive maintenance of printer and scanner problems:
- Perform scheduled maintenance according to vendor guidelines
(e.g. install maintenance kits, reset page counts)
- Ensure a suitable environment
- Use recommended supplies
4.0 Security:
4.1 Identify the names, purposes and characteristics of physical security devices and processes:
- Control access to PCs, servers, laptops and restricted spaces
- Hardware
- Operating systems
4.2 Install hardware security:
- Smart card readers
- Key fobs
- Biometric devices
5.0 Safety and Environmental Issues:
5.1 Identify potential hazards & proper safety procedures including power supply, display devices and environment
(e.g. trip, liquid, situational, atmospheric hazards, high-voltage and moving equipment).
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