Monthly Archives: June 2013

[Posted 26 June 2013 by Kathy Yale]

The Network+ certification exam is critical for any networking professional, because it examines crucial knowledge bases such as networking, technologies, installation and configuration, media and topologies, management, and security using multiple-choice and performance-based questions. Successful completion of the Network+ test qualifies you for IT jobs such as network administrator, help desk technician, installer, certified computer technician, and IT cable installer. Many major companies, including Dell, HP, and Xerox, as well as the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, require their technicians to receive Network+ exam certification. This is why it is critical to take the Network+ practice test to ensure you are properly prepared to pass the exam.

Passing the Network+ test and receiving your certification shows that you can competently install, configure, maintain, and troubleshoot basic network infrastructure. The Network+ certification is vendor-neutral and internationally-recognized, and being Network+ certified proves that you are knowledgeable about networking features and functions, wiring standards, and testing tools. The Network+ practice test will provide you with the necessary tools to understand the actual exam.

Since the Network+ exam is so important for technicians to have, proper exam preparation is essential for passing the exam. Practice tests are the best way to prepare for the Network+ certification exam. Total Seminars offers certification studying materials for the Network+ certification exam. Here are some reasons why you can rely on Total Seminars for the best possible preparation for the Network+ certification exam.

Customizable Exam Approaches

With Total Seminars, you can simulate an entire actual exam, or you can simply focus on material that you need to review and study. The Total Tester lets you customize your tests by chapter content, objective, number of questions, and duration of the exam, or you can try a full-length exam using all the questions in the pools.

Variety of Questions and Tips

The Total Tester contains hundreds of different questions, so you’re sure to cover all of the material that could possibly appear on the real exam. If you get stuck, the program, can offer hints to help you reach the right answer. If you’re absolutely stumped, the program will give you the correct answer. Instead of just supplying the right answer, though, you get an explanation of the correct answer and a reference to the study materials to help you review the information. All of the practice test results are graded by topic, which makes it easy to identify where you need to review.

Easy Steps to Follow

The Total Seminar practice exam offers several steps that are easy to follow when preparing for your exam. Take the exam in Practice Mode, and review the study materials and explanations that are referenced. The Detailed Exam Results will help you identify the learning objectives that you need to review. If your knowledge is weak in one or more of these areas, study those thoroughly and keep reviewing the explanations for each question on the practice exam. Then, take the practice text in Exam Simulation Mode. The Detailed Exam Results from the Exam Simulation Mode will also identify weak areas of your knowledge. Always review the questions that you answered incorrectly.

 Guaranteed Success

If you score 90 percent or higher on two Exam Simulation Mode exams prior to sitting for the Network+ certification exam and if you still don’t pass the certification exam, you may be eligible to claim the guarantee.

Maximum PC just posted an article about Razor’s new positional-audio system. Razor claims that you can transform stereo headphones into 7.1 positional audio. And they’re so convinced of the awesomeness of the new system that they’re making it available for free through the end of 2013. Here’s the link to the full article:

Maximum PC

[Posted 20 June 2013 by Kathy Yale]

Across various industries today, the tight labor market is causing both employers and employees to take a closer look at the skills and educational background of job candidates. Employers want to hire the most qualified candidate for the position; with competition for jobs fierce, employees must do what they can to differentiate themselves from others in some way. While the competition for positions varies from industry to industry, competition for positions in the IT industry is often competitive. For IT professionals who want to improve their likelihood of getting hired, one great option to consider is to earn a Network+ certification.

What is Network+?

The Network+ certification is a general certification that is not designated for any specific vendor or operating system, and this makes it a popular certification for many employers to look for regardless of the type of system they are running. It is an entry-level certification that covers networking topics like installation, configuration, troubleshooting, maintenance, and management of the network. While it can stand alone for professionals seeking an entry-level IT position, it also can be used as a stepping stone to the more coveted MCSA, or Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, certification. It also is recognized by other system brands like Cisco, HP, and Novell. The certification can provide the basis for further growth, development, and specialization in the IT field.

Job Positions that May Require Network+

The Network+ certification is an entry-level certification, and it can help new IT professionals prove their knowledge and proficiency in entry-level IT tasks and topics. It may be required for positions like a PC tech, help desk administration, or network administration. It should be noted that even when the certification is not a requirement, it can give job applicants a competitive edge over others. This is because a certification proves to employers that certain objectives they may be looking for in a candidate have been mastered. Employers know when they hire a professional who has this certification that they do have a certain knowledge base in subject matter that is relevant to the position.

How to Get the Certification

To pass the certification exam, you will need to study hard. There are numerous classes available online and in classroom settings that cover all of the material found in the certification exams. There are also training DVDs and instructional books available to help those who are interested in passing the exam. However, this is one of the few certification exams in the industry that can be taken without any formal training. It is not required that students sit through a class before taking the test. Studying the material may increase the likelihood of passing the test and will ensure that students with weak areas in the material are fully ready. However, those who feel that they are proficient in the material can sign up to take the test when ready.

For IT professionals who are struggling to find a position in their field, who want to move into a new position, or who are just getting started in the IT industry, earning a Network+ certification may help. This certification can help IT professionals to meet their current goals, and it can also provide them with a wonderful stepping stone to earn more advanced certifications in the future.

[Posted 13 June 2013 by Kathy Yale]

IC3 certification is one of the best ways to promote computer literacy. Candidates who want to prepare for IC3 certification must study for a test that assesses the individual’s knowledge. There are many test preparation materials available, but Total Seminars provides IC3 preparation and exam vouchers that are a cost-effective way to gain this valuable certification.

Why Should I Seek IC3 Certification?

IC3 stands for Internet and Computing Core Certification. This certification documents computer literacy skills and never expires. Once an individual receives IC3 certification, he or she can use that certification for the rest of their career.

IC3 assesses several aspects of computer and Internet literacy, including:

• How computers work. The test covers basic functions of computers such as CPU, RAM and other designations of memory and operations.
• How to work within the Windows operating system. IC3 certification focuses on Windows as an operation system and covers the basic functions of manipulating files and data with Windows OS.
• Basic operation of Office applications. IC3 tests an individual’s ability to use Office applications effectively at a basic level.
• Networking. IC3 tests the applicant’s knowledge of networking basics such as how networks are constructed, connectivity issues and types of network configurations.
• Electronic communication. IC3 assesses knowledge of email and other forms of electronic communication using basic programming skills.
• The Internet. The IC3 exam covers basics of how the Internet is structured, computer language used in Internet applications and basic manipulation of web site structures.

Who Accepts IC3 Certification?

All jobs with exposure to computer systems demand the skills tested by IC3. Many employers are recognizing IC3 certification as a good way to screen potential employees for job-ready skills. If a job candidate has IC3 certification, the employer already knows that he or she has a basic understanding of programming and operations of computer systems that will serve the company well.

The potential to obtain a job is not the only reason to seek IC3 certification, however. IC3 certification can be a first step to achieving higher-level computer certifications and credentials. Individuals who successfully pass MOS, CompTIA, Strata, CompTIA A+ and other certification tests often begin with IC3 certification. 

Not only does passing the test give a candidate a valuable certification, it can also inspire him or her to seek higher goals in professional training and testing.

What Does the IC3 Exam Look Like?

The IC3 exam consists of three test sections. Each section contains 45 multiple choice questions. The four sections are:

• Computing Fundamentals
• Key Applications
• Living Online

Candidates have 45 minutes to complete each section. The passing scores for each section are, out of 1,000 points each:

• Computing Fundamentals, 800
• Key Applications, 750
• Living Online, 660

How Can I Prepare for IC3 Testing?

Seeking IC3 Certification can be the first step in a lucrative and satisfying computer career. Total Seminars offers preparation materials that are easy to use and fully prepare candidates for the IC3 exam. Total Seminars also includes testing vouchers so that candidates can take the IC3 test at their own convenience. Support is available for students that will help them understand the material and feel confident when they take the IC3 Certification exam.

[Posted 4 June 2013 by Kathy Yale]

The field of information technology (IT) is one of many occupations that benefit from professional certification. Obtaining professional credentials provides confidence to both prospective employers and clients that an IT professional has received proper training and is competent to work in the IT field. Total Seminars provides a range of examination preparation materials for the CompTIA A+ certification and other IT certification examinations. 

Overview of the Comptia A+ Examination

Successfully completing the CompTIA A+ certification examination is important for anyone who wishes to be employed as a computer technical support specialist or computer repair technician. The basic certification process includes two separate examinations that cover a full range of computer hardware and software repair, installation, networking and troubleshooting. The examination is administered at testing centers throughout the United States. Each section of the examination is 90 minutes in length, and no reference material or notes are allowed during testing. 

General CompTIA A+ Examination Guide

As part of a complete array of test preparation materials, Total Seminars offers a general CompTIA A+ guide, the All-in-One Examination Guide. This comprehensive guidebook, authored by expert Mike Meyers, is broken down into chapters and reviews all the material that might be included on the CompTIA A+ examination. The book also includes diagrams and pictures, as well as information about the examination itself. A CD accompanying the book contains several additional lessons and helpful bonus material.

Practice Tests

A great way to prepare for any examination is by taking one or more practice tests containing similar questions presented in the same format as the test itself. Practice tests can alleviate fear of the unknown while helping a student prepare more effectively. Total Seminars offers a set of CompTIA A+ practice tests comprised of realistic questions presented with the same time constraints as the actual examination. The practice tests are computer based and also available on CD. 

Specialized Examination Guides

In addition to the general CompTIA A+ certification, certification examinations are available in numerous IT specialties. Total Seminars offers guidebooks and other material designed to prepare test takers for several of the most popular specialized certifications, including Network+, Strata IT and Security+. These study guides are written and presented by experts in each respective field and may be available in video or textbook format. Practice tests for each specialized examination may also be purchased. 

Bundle Packages

Package deals are available that include many of the top-selling Total Seminars books and videos. The “Ultimate Arsenal” combines either the Mike Meyers Network+ Course or the All-in-One Guide with the Practice Test package, while other packages bundle test preparation material with examination vouchers good at VUE testing centers. These packages save money while providing the knowledge that a future IT expert needs to become certified. 

Total Seminars is a leader in preparatory material for the CompTIA A+ and related IT certification examinations. Preparatory courses and guides are available for purchase using a convenient on-line checkout system. Course demos are also available at the Total Seminars website. The IT field is constantly evolving and the CompTIA examinations are frequently updated to reflect these changes. Total Seminars is committed to staying ahead of the curve when it comes to new information and CompTIA examination updates. An individual seeking IT certification can find everything needed to prepare for their examination at Total Seminars.